Objective
Activities will help students understand how artists use titles to bring context to editorial cartoons
This is the twelfth lesson in the series "Using Editorial Cartoons to Teach Social Justice [1]."
Introduction
Sometimes artists use titles to help explain what is happening in an editorial cartoon. The cartoon itself usually has art and/or text, but may seem a bit confusing. The title can clarify the context, or big picture view of the topic.
Editorial Cartoon
Examine the cartoon below.
Artist: Bob Englehart. Reprinted with Permission. Teachers may purchase individual cartoons for other lesson plans at PoliticalCartoons.com [2]
What text is repeated throughout this cartoon?
How would you describe the people in this cartoon?
How does the title help you understand the cartoon?
Activities
1. In the cartoon above, all of the characters are calling each other “racist.” What effect does this name-calling probably have on others?
2. Discuss the following as a class:
a) How would you define name-calling?
b) How do people usually feel when someone calls them a name?
c) How do people usually react when someone calls them a name?
3. Imagine that you have a friend who engages in name-calling, using a racial slur or some other slur. How could you respond to that person? Here are some sentence starters to use:
“What you said troubles me because…”
“I’m surprised to hear you say that because …”
Work with a partner to brainstorm ways to combat name-calling. Also, include a list of appropriate responses similar to the sentence starters above. Share with the class.
Links:
[1] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/using-editorial-cartoons-teach-social-justice
[2] http://www.PoliticalCartoons.com