A Visual Analysis Of A Political Cartoon By Mike Keefe

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Wemightbethroughwithourpast Who is the man in the suit? A political cartoon is a cartoon that makes a point about a political issue or event. These cartoons are known for their unique art and symbolistic nature. Mike Keefe has created a political cartoon that touches on a recent issue, gun control. At first glance, you may see it's merely a man pointing a gun, but there is more than meets the eye. A detailed description of the visual will help in interpreting the symbolism within the cartoon and how it's related to gun control. Showing on the right side of the cartoon is a balding middle-aged man in a suit wearing a red baseball cap. That man is none other than James Porter II. Porter is the current president of the National Rifle Association. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama and grew up to be a lawyer before ultimately bearing the mantle of the …show more content…

The suit that the man is wearing in the cartoon represents his occupations. The formality and look of the suit is reminiscent of a lawyer. The suit sports the phrase “NRA LOBBY” which suggests that he is an important part of the NRA. A red baseball cap exemplifies his strong American patriotism. The red is also a throwback to the Republican Political Party because they're notably represented by the color red. The Republican Party also strongly supports anti-gun control measures. The grin that the man expresses, personifies his excitement for using guns. The White House as the foundation of the gun represents the NRA's ability to use the government against gun control enthusiasts. The phrases stated in this cartoon also embody a deeper meaning.”It's Semi-automatic” is a mock of the Semi-automatic gun ban passed between the years 1994-2004.”I keep it well-oiled so I can shoot down anything that smells like gun control” is a parody of the government's need for oil, the man uses the oil to attract and appease the government so he may get on their good