Cartoon Analysis

Cartoon Analysis

Objective: The primary learning objective is to develop analytical and interpretive skills for decoding visual media, specifically political and social cartoons. Students aim to understand how visual metaphors, symbolism, and narratives are used to communicate complex societal issues, such as gender roles and power dynamics. The framework is designed to move from basic comprehension to high-level critical reflection.

Contents and Methods: The worksheet focuses on the interpretation of a choosen cartoon through the following methods:

  • Visual Decoding: Identifying symbols and interpreting their interaction within a specific context.
  • Comprehension Check: Using True/False questions to verify the initial understanding of the cartoon's intent and tone.
  • Critical Reflection: Engaging with open-ended questions that require students to connect visual content to contemporary societal discussions, power structures, and the potential implications of specific artistic choices.
  • Symbolism Analysis: Evaluating how the narrative of a conflict is constructed through non-verbal elements.

Competencies:

  • Media Literacy: The ability to analyze, deconstruct, and interpret visual messages in cartoons.
  • Critical Thinking: Evaluating the underlying messages of media and their impact on public discourse and social norms.
  • Analytical Competence: Interpreting symbols and metaphors to uncover deeper meanings and narratives.
  • Communication Skills: Articulating complex thoughts on social dynamics and power structures in a structured and reflective manner.

Target Audience and Level:

English learners at C2 level

PI
RL
SO
TS

240 other teachers use this template

Target group and level

English learners at C2 level

Subjects

English

Cartoon Analysis

In this cartoon, we see a shoe store setting with shelves of shoe boxes and a customer sitting on a bench. The salesman is holding a shoebox labeled "USA" and presenting it to the customer. The text of the cartoon reads:

"Here's what you asked for ... 'shoes made in the U.S. by adult U.S. citizens' ... that's going to be $1,795."

The cartoon is satirical and comments on the higher costs associated with goods that are made in the United States by adult workers, contrasting with the often cheaper goods produced overseas or potentially in contexts where labor laws might be less stringent. It plays on the notion that products made domestically, particularly by fairly compensated adult workers, can be significantly more expensive than those produced in countries with lower labor costs. The punchline is in the extraordinary price quoted by the salesman, which is meant to be shockingly high for a pair of shoes, thus exaggerating for comedic effect.