Political+Cartoons

H.W: 4 Images on Website - Analyze

Standard Oil Cartoon:



Class: Standard oil company has become extremely powerful, monopolizing the oil companies, and controlling politics in the United States
 * MI** - The Standard Oil company has become an uncontrollable "monster" that has grown out of control. It is up to the government to stop it.


 * POV** - The cartoonist might be against big companies and monopolies. Probably believes there should be a limit on how big companies can get and grow in order to prevent things like this from happening.

Something has to be done to stop the standard oil company from growing even more. It's up to the government to protect the people from this "monster". Another example of how capitalism can be a bad thing and should be regulated and limited. Class: Critic of pure capitalism growing too strong, too powerful, and becoming out of control. Cartoonist pushing for government regulation.
 * Analysis** -

Boss Tweed Cartoon:




 * MI** - The "Big Boss" is in control of the votes and what is done with them. Corrupt and in control.


 * POV** - The cartoonist is probably looking at this cartoon through the eyes of the people or the press. When going to vote this is what they see.

Class: The black and white may represent the corruption. Why not make it a big colorful cartoon?
 * Analysis** - The people are misrepresented and are being cheated of their votes because of this big boss.

New York City



Class: Portraying NYC as a __Utopia__.
 * MI** - New York City is a great city. Full of lively hood, it's beautiful, and full of opportunities.


 * POV** - Probably taken by a New Yorker, or perhaps a supporter of New York. Portraying the good part of the city and its beauty as apposed to the slums and violent corrupt parts.


 * Analysis** - Only shows what the photographer wants people to see. It may look good in picture, but its very gilded, there is a lot going on that the picture doesn't show. Things such as poverty, disease, and even hunger.

Ford Assembly Line:




 * MI** - To show the reality of hard labor and work in the factories. Emphasize new technologies and the the assembly line.


 * POV** - Perhaps the photographer is trying to show the hardships of labor in the factories while still highlighting the effectiveness of the assembly line. May not have a one sided stand. Unbias toward good and bad of the picture, leaving it up to the viewer to decide.

(No class discusion/group discussion on image)
 * Analysis** - The picture gives the viewer an inside look on these big factories and the assembly line. The focus of the picture perhaps may not even be the people themselves, but the machines they are working on. Industrialization and technology is rapidly advancing in the United States.