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  • 09-06-2009 8:02pm
    #1
    Chanandler Bong
    Closed Accounts Posts: 514 ✭✭✭


    Quick question, could anyone tell me the advatanges of a political cartoon to a historian?:confused:


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    #2
    Eastofeden
    Closed Accounts Posts: 30 ✭Eastofeden


    a political cartoon is very useful to a historian. It lets them know what people thought of politicians, can show them arguments taht were made during the time etc. ALot of info can be gathered from them. Take for example the Irish Press a Fianna Fail newspaper. Cartoons were used in it as propaganda for the party and as a way of criticising the opposition party Cumann na nGaedhal( cng). Similarly although cng didnt have a paper of their own they used similar tactics in some of the national newspapers like the Irish Imes which was a very Protestant paper and despised FF. Hope this helps.


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    #3
    Weekend Warrior
    Closed Accounts Posts: 78 ✭✭Weekend Warrior


    Yeah, basically the same thing as above, it can show the attitudes and opinions of the general public at the time as well as how leaders/events were percieved.


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    #4
    randylonghorn
    Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 29,509 Mod ✭✭✭✭randylonghorn


    All good points.

    - it can reflect the attitude / political stance of the paper

    - it can reflect the public perception of events / parties / individuals

    - it can also be a way of hinting at things which the paper / publisher doesn't want to come right out and say for fear of being sued

    In general, political cartoons are a form of satire, and satire has always been a very useful weapon in politics / life ... think Jonathan Swift, or Juvenal's Satires in ancient Rome. Because they make us laugh, they stick in our minds more quickly than a long written diatribe. Because they are / were used effectively in this way, they are useful to historians in guaging / illustrating the mood of the time.



    I have to stop using " / " so much! :(


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    #5
    ateam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 986 ✭✭✭ateam


    Disadvantages:

    - Could be offensive
    - Might make a joke of a serious matter
    - Biased - might only give one perspective


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    #6
    randylonghorn
    Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 29,509 Mod ✭✭✭✭randylonghorn


    ateam wrote: »
    Disadvantages:

    - Could be offensive
    - Might make a joke of a serious matter
    They're not really disadvantages to the historian though.
    ateam wrote: »
    Biased - might only give one perspective
    Spot on, +100

    Almost guaranteed to be biased, in fact.


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    #7
    ateam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 986 ✭✭✭ateam


    randylonghorn wrote: »
    They're not really disadvantages to the historian though.
    .

    Yes good point.


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