When Art is more than Art

“Ten Commandments” by Nick Anderson. Copyright 5/2/23. All rights reserved. Used with permission by the artist. Follow Nick Anderson at https://patreon.com/editorialcartoons

When I was first starting to read, the funny papers were a huge attraction, drawing me in with comical drawings and simple word texts. Speaking animals, little kids, and outlandish caricatures were common. Subtleties and hidden meanings were a bit over my head, but for a six-year-old, just the fact that I could make out the words and grasp some of the humor fueled my sense of accomplishment.
 
It wasn’t until I reached puberty that I began looking at political cartoons. They used the same art form as the funnies, but they differed in that they were usually contained in a single frame and were seen on the editorial pages. I was astute enough to grasp the intentions of most of the daily renditions, however, some of them were not comprehensible to me. It wasn’t until I became more politically aware that I started to fully appreciate the biased commentaries on politics, politicians, and current events.
 
I now love political cartoons. They make me laugh more than the funnies. Even the ones that I wholeheartedly disagree with can induce a big chuckle. And I am so gladdened by the fact that our society provides such freedom of speech and the press that conflicting views can be equally represented, and criticisms—especially of our government leaders—can be printed without prosecution. This is not the case for most of the world’s population.

Today’s news is especially ripe with great political cartoons. The polarization and schisms in our society have increased interest and readership in cartooning. Here in Santa Cruz, we have the Comic News. I always pick one up when I see it on the newsstand. Chicago has The Onion.  Of course, Biden and Trump are the main subjects of most cartoons currently being published. I laugh equally at all of them.

“There’s been a lot of talk lately about political cartoons and their impact on an individual’s point of view.”

I think it’s fun to look back at political cartoons from different historical eras. Through the use of analogy, irony, symbolism, satire, and exaggeration, the themes and problems of a particular period can be understood within the context of their time. I especially like the cartoons surrounding the Civil War, the time leading up to WWII, and the anti-Communist movement of my youth. It is widely believed that Randolph Hearst, who owned most of the major newspapers at the end of the 19th century, printed so many inflammatory political cartoons against the Spanish Empire, that he personally brought about the Spanish-American War!

Let there be no mistake—political cartoons are powerful. In a few seconds, a reader can form an opinion about public issues and public individuals that can lead to repercussions at the ballot box. Unfortunately, (or some would say fortunately) extensive reading on a political subject to ascertain facts and truths can be substituted by a single opinionated cartoon that can influence an individual’s decision-making.

“Ten Commandments” political cartoon by Nick Anderson. Copyright 5/2/2023. All rights reserved. Used with permission from the artist. (Thanks, Nick!) Follow Nick Anderson at https://patreon.com/editorialcartoons

All other political cartoons are in the public domain.

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