Comparing Political Cartoons, today and back then?

Question

Do you think that cartoons today seem to be making fun of people more so today than they used to, say as during WW2? After doing some work with political cartoons I feel as if that in the 1940's the cartoons expressed more of a view as to what is going on. Today it seems that the majority of them are targeting people and making fun of them rather then serve a political purpose. What are your views on this?

Answer 1

Absolutely...

Politics, in general, today are ruthless in comparison. I watched Jimmy Carter in an interview about his book after he had been attacked for a phrase in it.

In the interview he said blatantly he never meant what ppl were saying and immediately, in not wanting to harm anyone, informed his publisher to change it.

He went on to actually tear up and said that his family had been attacked, etc...

I remember thinking to myself, '.. politics today shows no mercy.. we have become barbaric and ruthless... destroying each other to win.. take no prisoners as they will rise up and try to bring you down later...'

That is the motto today. Sad, very very sad...

Answer 2

I agree with you. The political cartoons they made back then were more creative and more meaningful. Today these cartoons are just jokes and only make fun of political leaders, whereas, during WW2 these political cartoons were the views of the people and they pointed out any flaws the government had.

Answer 3

i like your line of thinking,,, art expresses truth and collective judgments.... making fun or truth,,,
It seems that lib talk shows do the best job spewing truth, and cartoons are a little outdated as entertainment,, but i think there is a market for the right few artists...
Also slander is a paying business now a days... i expect that your perception will filter things... there is much going on today that most Americans are unaware of and do not find the humor in as they might when this time is behind us....

If you want to pursue this i suggest checking the conspiracy theorists, they will have some truths,,,,, forget your ego... and beliefs.... and express/cartoon from a blank place...

Answer 4

It could have something to do with literacy rates. Even though cartoons had writing it wasn't hard to get the idea from them, now that everyone and his uncle can read, theres not as much a call for them on the real issues as they can be addressed in plain English, a long shot but just off the top of my head.

Answer 5

Cartoons in the past were about ideologies and concepts of politics. Now, the cartoons are insults or funny caricatures of politicians. Personal attacks rather than political criticisms are shown on the cartoons.

Answer 6

With the ability to communicate world-wide almost instantaneously, things have gotten much more personal. Thank the Nixon administration for the distrust of our government, which they earned. Nixon made the government fair game with Watergate and it's being proven once again it still needs watching. I'm not of your era but I grasp the patriotism of the second world war where we were fighting a real flesh and blood enemy, not an army of phantoms, not that they don't exist but they are like "Charlie" in Vietnam. Everyone knew about them but nobody knew who they were. Life has changed we seem to have lost common decency towards one another.

Answer 7

You are presuming people have seen both kinds of political cartoons. Without some link to click on that will take us there I doubt anyone can really comment.

Answer 8

Create Your Own Animations - http://3dAnimationCartoons.com/?WoKi

Answer 9

chicken is good for the soul.