Analysis of Political Cartoon and Frankenstein Essay

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Cartoon Analysis

Political Cartoon on Obamacare

A political cartoon is a type of drawing that utilizes imagery and text to present comments, opinions or criticisms on a contemporary national or social issue, individual or event. In most cases, these drawings provide important information that is presented in a visual and memorable manner. Generally, cartoonists use various techniques to portray their messages including caption, symbols, and caricature. However, an individual needs to examine the pictorial components of the cartoon i.e. imagery and text in order to understand its message. An example of a political cartoon that has been utilized to present opinion on a national issue is the cartoon by Scott Stantis on Obamacare. Scott Stantis uses imagery, text, and irony to show how Obamacare health policy is failing through contradictory court decisions.

Context of the Stantis' Cartoon

One of the national issues that have become increasingly controversial in the United States in healthcare policy given increased governmental expenditures on health and limited accessibility and affordability of healthcare services. The Obama Administration has attempted to address is this issue through the enactment of a healthcare policy that is commonly known as Obamacare. Since its enactment, the policy has generated significant concerns and court decisions while the government continues to defend it. Scott Stantis drew the cartoon after two contradictory court decisions on this health policy (Stantis par, 1). First, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled to remove the federal government's ability to offer subsidies of insurance exchanges by the federal government. Secondly, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond Virginia issued a contradictory ruling on these subsidies at relatively the same time.

Techniques Used by Scot Stantis

Similar to other cartoonists, Scott Stantis utilizes a specific technique to portray his message through this political cartoon. The cartoonist uses some physical elements like text and colors and figurative elements like irony and symbolism to convey his message on Obamacare. For this cartoon, Scot Stantis utilizes two techniques i.e. caricature and caption to achieve his goal of the seeming ineffectiveness of the health policy. Caricature involves exaggerating some physical features whereas caption entails summarizing the message in the image either below or above the drawing (School Improvement in Maryland par, 2). Using caricature, Stantis exaggerates how the wheels have come off an ambulance while on the road. Moreover, he exaggerates how the ambulance continues to move with relatively one wheel while the driver claims all is well to two onlookers.

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Through caption, Stantis provides a summary of two court decisions that were contradictory despite being issued nearly simultaneously.

The ambulance used in this cartoon is an imagery of the healthcare policy and providers while the two individuals are the intended beneficiaries of care services. Stantis utilizes the ambulance to demonstrate how Obamacare is experiencing problems (wheels are coming off) that hinder its implementation and effectiveness. These wheels represent the court rulings and other controversies that surround the policy resulting in its failure. While proponents may contend that everything is okay, it's quite clear that the intended beneficiaries of healthcare can see the failings of this health policy. Moreover, the cartoonist uses three major colors in the ambulance i.e. red, white, and blue that represents colors in the American flag. This shows that the ambulance represents healthcare policy for the whole nation. Therefore, while states are enacting different laws on certain provisions of this policy, it's becoming ineffective throughout the country.

Irony in the Cartoon

The single most important element used by Scott Stantis to reveal the message of this cartoon is irony. The irony is the statement by the ambulance's driver that everything is well while it's evident that the wheels are coming off. The assumption that Obamacare is the most suitable policy to address healthcare affordability and accessibility issues in the United States is wrong given the evident failings and contradictory court rulings. Therefore, these contradictory court rulings demonstrate that Obamacare is seemingly going back to the Supreme Court and an indicator of its failure (Chicago Tribune Editorial Board par, 1).

In conclusion, political cartoons are images or drawings that are used to present comments regarding national or contemporary issues. Scott Stantis' cartoon is an example of a political cartoon that is used to provide opinion regarding the controversial Obamacare. The cartoonist has used caricature and caption to reveal his message whereas irony has been his most important element. Scott Stantis uses imagery, text, and irony to show how Obamacare health policy is failing through contradictory court decisions.

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