In a political cartoon created by Jeff Parker of Florida Today, a unequal balance of power and wealth is represented through symbols, mockery, and juxtaposition of the United States and a third world country. Uncle Sam, a well-known symbol and representative of America, is placed directly next to an obviously poorer group of individuals, indicating a comparison of two distinctly different countries. The enormous size of Uncle Sam as compared to the frail, hungry others represents the significant gap of power between them.
The culturally recognizable figure of Uncle Sam, well-groomed and dressed in fancy clothing, stands out among the rest of the components in the cartoon. When paying closer attention to the words being spoken from each side, Parker addresses the problem of obesity in America, an issue that third world countries will never be faced with because they are less fortunate and face malnutrition on a daily basis. The juxtaposition of America's supreme wealth and power, and the state of the third world country, pokes fun at the fact that obesity is taking over a large population of Americans, while others around the world are struggling to stay alive. It appeals to pathos, causing the audience, especially Americans, to consider how silly it is that obesity is an issue in America. This encourages viewers to pay more attention to the state of third world countries, and opens them up to a more mature perspective that they otherwise might have been too self-consumed to recognize.
This metaphorical comparison, through the usage of symbols, mockery, and juxtaposition clearly expresses the differences between America and third world countries. These differences, unrecognizable by many Americans themselves, are extremely prevalent in the lives of impoverished minorities. Jeff Parker is able to cleverly expose the ignorant side of America in this cartoon, further exemplifying the fact that the United States has much less to worry about than they think.
No comments:
Post a Comment