week14-Weekly Editk   LYU YANGCHENG여양승


1. Summary

This week, I read the Wikipedia article on Political Cartoons and explored how this visual form functions as a mirror of media and society. From a media-sociological perspective, political cartoons are more than just art—they are tools of political participation. The article traces their evolution from 18th-century Britain to the modern media landscape, showing how cartoonists use exaggeration and satire to turn distant power struggles into something tangible, inviting the public into critical discourse through humor.

2. Interesting Points

I was particularly intrigued by how cartoons interact with the structure of media systems. The article notes that while cartoons seem free in form, they rely heavily on mainstream published sources. This reminded me of the framing theory in media sociology—content presentation is often shaped by invisible institutional frameworks. Symbols like Uncle Sam or John Bull repeatedly appear in cartoons, reinforcing national narratives and cultural stereotypes, rather than challenging them.

3. Discussion

This raised a question for me: In the digital age, has the voice of political cartoons become more democratic—or is it still shaped by existing media hierarchies? While it's true that anyone can create and share cartoons online today, those with real social influence still tend to circulate within dominant platforms and cultural contexts. Perhaps we should rethink whether political cartoons are truly a form of "public media," or if they now simply echo the existing power structures they once challenged.


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