Mel and Cartoons

I found Mel’s presentation to be very interesting—political cartoons combine visual and written rhetoric, which I think is definitely a more effective method of persuasion, in many instances, than the power of the written word alone. This is especially true when dealing with politics, considering many people do not choose to keep themselves thoroughly informed about what each party supports or is against. I think that most people would be more inclined to glance at a cartoon than at a political column in the newspaper. This clearly a good way to communicate logos. Cartoons are also often humorous, which appeals to pathos, and this is helpful in that humor can be used as a gateway into the minds of an otherwise close-minded audience. Mel mentioned that they tend to be satirical, and I think that that would appeal to people’s pathos as well—considering people tend to be curious by nature and would enjoy making connections between the cartoon and the subject that it is satirizing. I think that the cartoons are mostly forensic and epideictic, as they mainly show a depiction of something that has happened, and imply an attitude of praise or blame in their pictures and captions. The main purpose of a political cartoon would clearly be deliberative, as they attempt to influence the public in their political decisions and supports. Before this presentation, I was unaware that there are four specific techniques used when creating a political cartoon. Condensation, combination, domestication and opposition are all unique ways to communicate logos to an audience. Mel also established her ethos in a very unique way early on, as she asked us all to draw the first mental picture that came to mind when thinking of the presidential debate and Clemson University. The interactive activity proved that most of us do have similar landmarks and images that come to mind, mostly due to visual rhetoric in the media. The media also plays off these key images by incorporating them into their newspapers and magazines, many times with the usage of the political cartoon.