CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
Newspaper cartoons are the study drawing or series of art drawings that tell stories about human actions or inaction in the society. Cartoons Amuse, yet they are veritable means of exposing social ills, Ukonu (2013,) they as well commercials are convey message of deep meaning and magnitude.
A cartoon is a medium of expressing criticism without appearing harmful, Ukonu (2013). It educates attacks, irritates, teases or satirizes societal ills and gross misconduct of people. They may tell stories in single panel format with single picture in a box. Here, the story may begin and end in box. Multiple panel cartoons involve more than one cartoon in the box or sequence of boxes.
Editorial cartoons are single panel graphics that comment on political events and policy, and serve to define the significant topics of political discourse and record them, thus creating a “snapshot” of the political climate in a given period (Delouse and Midhurst, 2002)
Some scholars see cartoons as an important medium for the formation of public opinions on salient social issues (Agberia, 2003) They are seen as “both, opinion- mounding and opinion –reflecting”, and they provide subtle frameworks within which to examine the life and political process of a nation (Caswell, 2002) Cartoons are intended to transform otherwise complex and opaque social events and situations into quick and easily readable depictions that facilitate comprehension of the nature of social issues and events (Agberia, 2003). In doing so, they present the society with visually palpable and hyper-ritualized depictions (selectively exaggerated portions of reality) that attempt to reveal the essence and meaning of social events.
Cartoon is defined as “a graphic presentation typically designed in a one panel, non-continuing format to make an independent statement or observation on political events or social policy”, (Edwards and Winkler, 2007). They often employ humour or irony to point out short-comings or hypocrisies within the political system. While many studies use the terns “political cartoon” and “editorial cartoon” interchangeably, others differentiate between comic strips with political contents, and single panel cartoons that make commentary on politics and policy. The latter would generally appear on the editorial page of a printed newspaper, and are the focus of this study.
Historically, cartoon is coined from Italian word “cartoon” meaning, “a big paper” of a full-size drawing made on paper as a study for further artwork. The use of cartoon on print media dates back from 1843 when” punch Magazine” applied the term to satirize the action of John Lee in its pages, (Obasi 2011, p.84)
What we may refer to as modern cartoon started to appear on newspapers and magazines since 1900, although later entered electronic media when the system of communication development came up in 1920s. In 1906, the first animated film in the United States, “The Humorous Phase” was developed by cartoonist James Stuart Blackton.
The advent of news interpretation and analysis of print media provided another class of newspaper and magazine cartoons called “Editorial cartoons”. Editorial writers use cartoons on editorial pages to depict or illustrate any controversial issue under discussion which editorial focused on. Most of these cartoons are very satirical in relation to what idea the editorial carries on its pages (Iyida, 2000)
Cartooning has been one of the most significant tools in propagating and promoting cultural heritage in Nigeria. Newspaper cartoons throughout Nigerian history reveal that they have served as unique windows useful in understanding local and national politics. Using imagery, metaphor, symbolism and others rhetorical devices, the cartoonist defines political situations and attempts to interpret them visually in a way that is both amusing and thought provoking. The exploits of Akinola Lasekan with his editorial cartoons in the” west African Pilot in the 1940 and 1950s reflect colonial life, and also depict the struggle for nationhood which later culminated in Nigeria’s independence in 1960 (Olaniyan,2001:5).
Additionally, and perhaps must importantly, newspaper cartoons serve as a unique record of the particular events, attitudes and narratives present during a moment in political history (Defocus and Midhurst, 2002)
Newspaper cartons feature prominently during military rule in Nigeria. The period (1983-1999) witnessed remarkable events in the democratization of the country. Characterized by abusive use of power by the military government beginning with General Muhammadu Buhari’s coup d’état on 31 December 1983, followed closely was a the tenure of General Ibrahim Babangida, who was described as the “Maradona” of Nigerian politics due to his methods of politics visible in the annulment of the presidential Election in 1993, and the eventual transmission to democratically elected president in 1999.
However, this study aims to examine the effects of newspaper cartoon as a tool for political communication, focusing on Sun newspaper from January – April 2015.