V I S U A L S

CARTOONS
Note: This section has been put together using VCE Study Guides, '10 Things to look for in cartoons'.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Shading
If you get a piece with a cartoon it will be in black and white, but you can still look at the shading.
  • Heavy shady - may infer power/solidity, whilst light shading - may infer insignificance or fragility
  • Smooth or rough textures

Size
  • Is something in the image disproportioned, exaggerated or under-exaggerated?
  • What is large or small in the image?
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Labels/Speech bubbles
  • What is labelled and what is said?
  • Who is speaking and what are they saying?

Symbols
  • What symbols can you see in the cartoon?
  • Is the symbol well-known?
  • Is there one symbol for the meaning or multiple?
             Tip: brainstorm what the symbol may mean generally, and                               then relate it to the image (e.g. if an iceberg is used - what                       words would you use in general to describe an iceberg)

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Focus
  • What is the focus? This generally indicates the main issue.
  • What is in both the foreground and the background?

Angle
  • Sloping down: image or person becomes smaller so may indicate weakness, inferiority
  • Sloping up: may infer power, authority or superiority

Tone​
Facial expression
  • What facial expressions are present?
  • Do they change? (if sequential)
  • How do they compare to others in the cartoon?

Context
  • Does the cartoon support the article?
  • Is it focused on the past, present or future?
  • Does it relate to all of the article or only part of it?