Editorial Review
by
Jim Butcher
Editorial
Review:
This cartoon was designed to highlight issues regarding
the changes in leadership in United States of America. The title “Okay… First
Order of Business” plays off the opinion of party lines. The picture also shows
the United States on the map upside down and backwards, challenges the reader
to determine the meaning. Centered in this picture is a caricature of current
President Elect Obama. He is in-front of Uncle Sam or a caricature of a patriot
telling them we need to work together. To the bottom right in small letters is
a note, “RED AND BLUE STATES WILL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.” The whole picture
portrays the globe and you can clearly see the shape of Europe, Arica, and
Central America. The thing that is wrong is the position and orientation of the
United States.
The first thing I notice was
the US place on the map upside down and backward. This suggests to me that the way
of thinking is totally wrong contrary to what the artist feels it should be and
backwards. The cartoonist creates feeling of chaos with this image. Making it
seem that the new administration is going about things completely incorrect.
The imagery helps tremendously with the argument and I do not feel that an
argument written by the author would have been as effective without it. In
another sense, the image leaves room for interpretation and is ambiguous as to
the cartoonists intentions.
The written words in the cartoon stay “Red and blue
states will need to work together”. This with the caricature of President-elect
Obama with a dumb look on his face implies to me that the cartoonist feels that
the argument of on partisan politics with something that is not new. Also by
referring to red and blue it seems to cartoonist is implying a divide otherwise
he would he use the term Americans need to work together. The claim it is only
half a parent in the words and the rest becoming more apparent with the
picture.
The intended audience is anyone who is concerned about
the elections and how it will influence their lives. For those who understand and
don’t understand politics, there is no surprise in this cartoon. I find the
argument opinionated, persuasive, and very current. It is attacking the issue
of people saying one thing and doing another, telling things that have been
said time and time again, and dealing with issues first that don’t need to be
dealt with
Works Cited
Toles, Tom. “Red and blue
states will need to work together Cartoon. Washington Post. 8 December, 2007. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/opinions/cartoonsandvideos/toles_archive.html>.