Political Cartoons vs. Propaganda
What is a political cartoon and what is propaganda
A political cartoon is a drawing, (typically a caricature) made to convey editorial comments on current events. These events typically involve politics, politicians, and society. These cartoons are especially important because it facilitates discourse between a society that allows free speech and freedom of the press. Many of these cartoons are opinion based and can be found in newspapers and magazines or other journalistic outlets.
Political cartoon: Watergate Scandal
In this political cartoon, Nixon's features are exaggerated in a caricature style of art. The artists uses Pinocchio's nose to symbolize the lies told by the president in regards to Watergate. He could of drawn him as a real person, but instead he opts to draw him as a wooden puppet. Could he be referring to Nixon as just another political puppet? Is he trying to say that Nixon is all wood no heart? Like art itself, this too is left to interpretation.
Where it stops, nobody knows!
(Artist: Unknown)
To understand this cartoon we must first understand what Vietnamization is. Vietnamization was a policy that helped pull soldiers out of Vietnam. It released the responsibility of the Vietnam war out of US hands and into South Vietnams hands. This lead Nixon to gamble on South Vietnamese victory. Not only was he gambling on the over all outcome of the War, but also the U.S’s resources and money. No one knew where anything was going or when this was going to end.
What is Propaganda?
“War Propaganda Posters are well known. But at its core, it is a mode of communication aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position, and that doesn't have to be a bad thing. Art constantly proved that it was the best way to effectively promote propaganda. Images present a clearer message rather than words. Words are capable of explaining situations, ideas and opinions yet fail to add detail and references to the message.” (Philosophy-Question. Com)
Propaganda posters will typically use a bright color pallet to attract the viewers /public eye. The words are not many but the font is always big. The Posters often times were simple and easy to read, yet the message was always persuasive in conveying its ideology or event. The Image itself was always big and hardly any left any space blank.
Vietnam: Propaganda Posters
During the 70s, outcry against the Vietnam war was very prevalent. The Us went to war with Vietnam to stop communism from spreading. Protest against the was was everywhere ranging from public speech to movements. You may recall the armbands in which highschool students used to protest the Vietnam war and the famous walkout from college to high school students that took place in may 4th.
Who will be next? Your Son?
In the poster you see a gravestone with a US soldier helmet. On the tombstone it says “your son next”. This poster used the ever growing fear of mothers all around the US. Men as young as 17 years old were being drafted into the war. Many of these young men were not physically or mentaly prepared for war. Moms had a resaon to be scared.
Make love, not war
Year: 1967 by Tarot Press and Weisser, based on a student’s sweater who was photographed during a protest.
Vietnamese War Poster.
In this Vietnamese propaganda poster, we see a fist coming down on a it is showing an arm with the Vietnam flag on the sleeve crushing an American b-52H Stratofortess. The Stratofortress was a heavy bomber long ranging jet. Making this an Anti- American propaganda poster.
Is This Tomorrow: America Under Communism
This anti-Vietnam poster is trying to scare the public by showing Vietnamese attacking Americans as their way of spreading communism. They are steering fear into the public with the words “Is This Tomorrow” with the American Flag burning in the background showing Vietnam as Anti -American
In this propaganda poster you can see bright colors are used to catch the attention of viewers. Pictures are shown of girls being powerful by displaying fighting positions, doing things that would have been considered “for men” in the 70s such as playing pool and having certain jobs like photography. This poster was made in the 1979s, artist unknown.
In a majority of women rights posters you will see the symbol of a fist and the women’s symbol. The symbol is bright red with a muted background to put focus on the symbol, artist unknown.
