American Political Cartoons: From 1754 to 2010 / Edition 1

by Sandy Northrop

Overview

From Benjamin Franklin's drawing of the first American political cartoon in 1754 to contemporary cartoonists' blistering attacks on George W. Bush and initial love-affair with Barack Obama, editorial cartoons have been a part of American journalism and politics. American Political Cartoons chronicles the nation's highs and lows in an extensive collection of cartoons that span the entire history of American political cartooning.

"Good cartoons hit you primitively and emotionally," said cartoonist Doug Marlette. "A cartoon is a frontal attack, a slam dunk, a cluster bomb." Most cartoonists pride themselves on attacking honestly, if ruthlessly. American Political Cartoons recounts many direct hits, recalling the discomfort of the cartoons' targets—and the delight of their readers.

Through skillful combination of pictures and words, cartoonists galvanize public opinion for or against their subjects. In the process they have revealed truths about us and our democratic system that have been both embarrassing and ennobling. Stephen Hess and Sandy Northrop note that not all cartoonists have worn white hats. Many have perpetuated demeaning ethnic stereotypes, slandered honest politicians, and oversimplified complex issues.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781412811194
Publisher:	Transaction Publishers
Publication date:	01/15/2011
Pages:	204
Sales rank:	903,860
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Sandy Northrop

Table of Contents

IntroductionThe Birth of a National Identity:1754-1865The Rise of the American Cartoon:1865-1896The Cartoon Comes of Age:1896-1918The Art of Uncertainty:1918-1947The Cartoonist versus the Television:1947-1974Coming Full Circle:1975-1996Cartooning at a Crossroads:1997-2010

Editorial Reviews

This is it. On these pages are the drawings and the points that truly make our politics, government, and democracy the enjoyable mess it is. Nobody could have assembled and explained it better and more completely than Stephen Hess and Sandy Northrop." —Jim Lehrer, PBS NewsHour

From the Publisher