Gotta say, this seems a little politically lopsided. Looks. Yesterday, our political cartoon analysis also seemed to pick on the Democrats (Putin's parallel declaration that "If you like your democracy you can keep your democracy. Period." statement). But the deal is, that we are NOT here to make any formal statement or assessment about a particular political party or notion. We are simply here to figure out the "grammar" of rhetorical analysis in regards to media--and political cartoons happen to be one form of fair game for analysis. There's a good chance you may see one in the synthesis essay on the AP exam. That said, we are only looking at what argument is being made--not at the truth or the validity of that argument. So, if everything's an argument (and I would argue it is), then what's the argument in today's cartoon?
First period analyzed the political cartoon to the left and came up with the following class data (this only represents some of what we came up with):
Class Data:
* We can only see the "right" side of the President, suggesting the "left" is hidden from view.
* The ancient Sphinx may represent the Egyptian problem of Democracy.
* The question mark may represent a lack of "sight" into the solution.
* The red on his tie may represent his inner vs. outer conflicts.
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER
Class Claim: This political cartoon suggests that our current administration does not see the solution to the problem in Egypt. Just as the story of Oedipus Rex has a riddle that must be solved, so does current affairs in the world. We hope that unlike Oedipus the King, Prezdipus Oebama doesn't marry the wrong solution, leading the United States of Thebesmerica into destruction...
Period 2:
Class Data:
Roberto F suggested: The red tie may suggest that the Prez is a Democrat in name but with more Republican policies.
The left hand suggests the liberal side. It is up, while the right hand is down.
A Aron suggested: The sphinx is asking the President a riddle.
The problem is: should US intervene in a situation where the "people" are "speaking" if we object to what they are saying?
Hopson pointed out: The world community labels the US isolationists if we don't get involved, and imperialists if we do. Thus the sphinxish riddle of do we answer correctly and like Oedipus suffer the consequences of our own making or do we answer incorrectly and allow the sphinxy situation to eat us up? Catch 22.
Class Claim:
This political cartoon suggests a big problem in our country's involvement or lack thereof in the current affairs of Northern Africa (Egypts) and the Middle East in general. The riddle we are faced with is a catch-22: should we intervene or allow democracy to bring things we disagree with? The question mark suggests blindness to the correct solution, and the proportion of the images suggests that the problem is much larger than our capability to deal with it.
First period analyzed the political cartoon to the left and came up with the following class data (this only represents some of what we came up with):
Class Data:
* We can only see the "right" side of the President, suggesting the "left" is hidden from view.
* The ancient Sphinx may represent the Egyptian problem of Democracy.
* The question mark may represent a lack of "sight" into the solution.
* The red on his tie may represent his inner vs. outer conflicts.
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER
Class Claim: This political cartoon suggests that our current administration does not see the solution to the problem in Egypt. Just as the story of Oedipus Rex has a riddle that must be solved, so does current affairs in the world. We hope that unlike Oedipus the King, Prezdipus Oebama doesn't marry the wrong solution, leading the United States of Thebesmerica into destruction...
Period 2:
Class Data:
Roberto F suggested: The red tie may suggest that the Prez is a Democrat in name but with more Republican policies.
The left hand suggests the liberal side. It is up, while the right hand is down.
A Aron suggested: The sphinx is asking the President a riddle.
The problem is: should US intervene in a situation where the "people" are "speaking" if we object to what they are saying?
Hopson pointed out: The world community labels the US isolationists if we don't get involved, and imperialists if we do. Thus the sphinxish riddle of do we answer correctly and like Oedipus suffer the consequences of our own making or do we answer incorrectly and allow the sphinxy situation to eat us up? Catch 22.
Class Claim:
This political cartoon suggests a big problem in our country's involvement or lack thereof in the current affairs of Northern Africa (Egypts) and the Middle East in general. The riddle we are faced with is a catch-22: should we intervene or allow democracy to bring things we disagree with? The question mark suggests blindness to the correct solution, and the proportion of the images suggests that the problem is much larger than our capability to deal with it.