Welcome to the Cooper's Troop blog on Gay Marriage -- where all false misconceptions on the issue will be dissolved and truth will be revealed, through the depiction and analysis of editorial cartoons.
Important Things to Understand
Before proceeding to the rest of the blog, here's a few things to know:
Media Effects Theories
1. Framing: A theory used to analyze different forms of media and the way they present information to the public. This theory states that the media presents information to viewers in a certain "framed" way in order to effect the audience's way of thinking about certain issues. Framing includes adding emphasis, excluding details, using personal biases to create an agenda. However, in the case of editorial cartoons, framing is an acceptable tool as it expresses an opinion. Because the frame of the picture is limited, we as viewers must think not only about the message and opinion being portrayed, but also the context surrounding the issue - We must ask ourselves, what is going on in this situation? Who and what are being portrayed and in what way? What are the actual facts? Without all the facts and context information, in a cartoon or a news story, framing can cause biased misconceptions about topics that hinder our ability to think critically about both sides of an issue before making a judgement. This is why understanding framing is so important and vital to our project. For more on framing, click here.
"Framing and perspective certainly matter. The framing of news stories has been shown to influence readers’ attributions of responsibility, general attitudes, and knowledge level pertaining to crime, disaster, and public policy issues." -Sara Tiegreen and Elana Newman
2. Cultivation: The theory that a stable set of images portrayed throughout the media have a long term effect on the way we see the world. With editorial cartoons, this isn't too much of a problem because there are many different cartoonists, each with their own opinion. However, cultivation could be an effect of media if editorial cartoons were read without any outside context, resulting in a biased opinion. For more on cultivation, click here.
1. Humor: The use of wit, satire and humor to convey meaning in a cartoon should be understood before viewing this blog and forming an opinion on gay marriage. Almost all cartoons use some sort of humor in their cartoons, therefore, depicted images and words in cartoons should not be taken seriously. Rather the viewer should ask why humor is being used and in what way, to convey what meaning. This will help unveil what the artist is actually trying to say not only about the issue, but also about people in our society.
"The thought that there is a right and a wrong way to approach what we do overlooks that there are infinite means by which to assail a blowhard politician or to deconstruct a boneheaded piece of legislation."
2. Fact: While editorial cartoons depict opinion in a comedic manner, they must still be based on fact so as not to present false information. It is these facts that readers must know in order to understand the opinion expressed in the cartoon.
"As with the best essayists and columnists, an editorial cartoonist can often make a universal point with a local angle and give readers an original perspective."
3. Inform: Editorial cartoons must encourage critical thinking and try to inform readers. They are not only for pleasure. In order to fully understand editorial cartoons, the reader must look beyond the comedic content and understand what message the artist is really trying to convey. The underlying message can be revealed by analyzing what type of humor is being used and for what purpose. What meaning lies beyond the humor and why is such humor used? What people/places/things/ are depicted and why are they depicted that way? What is the background for this issue and how is it depicted in the cartoon? If the editorial cartoon does not raise such questions as well as provide factual, informational content with a comedic aspect to it, the cartoon proves ineffective.
Truth vs. Truthiness
Truth: A fact that can be verified or backed up "In accordance with fact or reality." (Oxford American Dictionary)
Truthiness: According to Stephen Colbert Truthiness is "Feeling the truth...from your gut."
Watch the following clip and you'll understand.