From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An editorial cartoon, also known as a political cartoon, is an illustration or comic strip containing a political or social message.
Editorial cartoons can be very diverse, but there is a certain established style among most of them. Most editorial cartoons use visual metaphors and caricatures to explain complicated political situtations, and thus sum up a current event with a humorous picture.
Over the years, certain common metaphors and symbols have been repeatedly used by many different cartoonists. Examples include the use of a donkey and elephant to represent the United States Democratic Party and United States Republican Party respectively, Uncle Sam to represent the United States, John Bull, Britannia or a lion to represent the United Kingdom, a bear to represent Russia, a dragon to represent China, and so forth.
In modern political cartooning a division has started to emerge between two styles of cartooning. The traditional style, involving visual metaphors is described as the ‘nasti‘ style, named after Thomas Nast, an American cartoonist generally considered to be the modern founder of political cartooning. The second style is a much more text heavy ‘a(chǎn)lti‘ style that tells a linear story, usually in comic strip format. Although their style, technique or viewpoints may differ, editorial cartoonists draw attention to important social and political issues.
Editorial cartoons can usually be found on the editorial page of most newspapers, although a few, like Garry Trudeau‘s Doonesbury are sometimes found on the regular comics page.
Notable editorial cartoonists of the past
- Ewen Bain, Scottish, Daily Record, Scots Independent
- Bill Crawford, American, Newspaper Enterprise Association
- David Low
- Herblock, American, The Washington Post
- Jeff MacNelly, American, Chicago Tribune
- Bill Mauldin, American, Saint Louis Post-Dispatch
- Thomas Nast
- Kari Suomalainen, Finnish, Helsingin Sanomat
Notable editorial cartoonists of the present
- Nick Anderson, American, The Courier-Journal (Kentucky)
- Robert Ariail, American, The State (South Carolina)
- Tony Auth
- Steve Bell, English, The Guardian
- Clay Bennett, American, Christian Science Monitor
- Steve Benson
- Steve Breen, American, The San Diego Union-Tribune
- Jim Borgman, American, Cincinnati Enquirer
- Charles Brooks, American, Birmingham News
- Daryl Cagle, American, MSNBC.com
- Paul Conrad, American, Los Angeles Times Syndicate
- Matt Davies, American, The Journal News (New York)
- John Deering, American, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
- Brian Fairrington, American
- Daniel Fenech, American, 21st Century Newspapers
- Ed Gamble, American, The Florida Times-Union
- Brian Giovannini
- Bob Gorrell, American, AOL News
- Walt Handelsman, American, Newsday
- David Horsey
- Etta Hulme, American, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- Mike Keefe, American, The Denver Post
- Dick Locher, American, Chicago Tribune
- Mike Luckovich, American, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Jimmy Margulies, American, The Record (New Jersey)
- Doug Marlette, American, Tribune Media Services
- Pat Oliphant
- Mike Peters
- Geoff Pryor, Australian
- Ted Rall
- Michael Ramirez, American, The Los Angeles Times
- Chris Riddell, United Kingdom, The Observer (London)
- Bob Rogers, American, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- Steve Sack, American, Star Tribune (Minneapolis)
- Jeff Stahler, American, The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)
- Scott Stantis, American, Birmingham News
- Ann Telnaes
- Mike Thompson, American, Detroit Free Press
- Bruce Tinsley, American, Mallard Fillmore comic/editorial strip
- Tom Toles
- Garry Trudeau, American, Doonesbury comic/editorial strip
- Don Wright, American, Palm Beach Post
- Larry Wright, American, The Detroit News
- Yaakov Kirschen, Israeli, Dry Bones comic/editorial strip
