Political Cartooning, Satire and Propaganda
have been a mainstay of our democratic political process.
Throughout this course, we will view and analyze many
different forms of commentary used to influence the vote
and/or opinions related to various social, political, cultural
and economic issues.
Advances in technology, and specifically
the internet, have changed how these materials are delivered
to the public. Your first internet based assignment is
to review a current political satire attempting to
provide a visual perspective of the shortcomings and
individual traits of the Republican and Democratic candidates
for the Presidency.
Your task is to :
Part I
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View this satire and make a brief list of
the points made regarding each candidate.
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What is your response to this satire?
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Did it portray each candidate equally?
Explain
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General Comments
Go to this site, click on THIS LAND and
SECOND TERM
http://www.jibjab.com/
Here is another to watch--recently created for
the Bush Campaign:
http://www.scaryjohnkerry.com/taxes.htm
Part II
Visit
http://cagle.msnbc.com/
There are new political cartoons daily from
all over the world and a marvelous archive for numerous well
know political satirists. For this assignment, select
a cartoonist from the United States (listed on the left
side of the page). Choose a current work or one from any
day in July or August. Find a cartoon that is
related to a personal interest or that you find amusing.
Print and be prepared to discuss the
cartoon--contents, message, etc. via the Distance Learning
Network.
Part III
Election 2004 is rapidly deteriorating into a
collection of diatribes and less than substantial information
on the pressing issues. To review some of the issues,
visit this website and visit some of the materials available.
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/issues_in_depth/20040128.html
For this assignment: On the right side
of the page you will see First Choice 2004, Click on the
topic they provide or you may go directly to:
http://www.publicagenda.org/firstchoice2004/taxes.cfm
Choose the topic of the day or visit one of
the topics on the left of the screen that is of interest to
you. BE SURE TO LOOK AT THE
ISSUE GUIDE DROP DOWN BOX FOR ACCESS TO A WIDE RANGE OF
SIGNIFICANT DATA. Then...visit the links provided and be prepared to
discuss your findings:
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Choose Your Topic
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Test Your Knowledge on the Issue (if that
option is available for your topic)
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Use the Topic Button and Issue Guide to
obtain information on the various perspectives of the issue.
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ON A TOTAL OF ONE PAGE--Briefly Summarize
each of the opposing perspectives.
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PRINT an article or viewpoint that you
believe is opposed to your own--UNDERLINE AREAS OF
DISAGREEMENT
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Briefly State Your Opinion Regarding
the Issue
BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS IN CLASS