Rhetorical Analysis of Cagle's Political Cartoon of Trump, the Media, and Republicans:
Daryl Cagle's political cartoon addresses many interesting points and has great subliminal messages as to how the public is addressed by the media, as well as the distortion it causes to the political race. Daryl Cagle masterfully represents all three of the aspects that make this political cartoon such a great visual rhetoric. He clearly depicts the stupidity and uproar that is caused in this situation, which just makes this a figurative gold mine.
Political Cartoons have often been used in the past to poke at politicians and display aspects that aren’t particularly a speaking point. Daryl Cagle effectively focuses this into his liberal agenda in this cartoon and targets Trump, the Media, and the Republican Party in a fashion that is unbecoming. If you look at Trump, Cagle has Trump standing there with poor posture, embellished hair, and a grimace. Cagle does this to portray Trump as someone who should not even be considered to be a candidate for President just by his appearance. Next, Cagle then brings the media in a raucous mass asking all kinds of incriminating questions that could very well end political careers. Cagle’s liberal ideals are just pinpointing the fact that the crazed media is looking to gain the public’s attention in any fashion and that Trump is in no form a good presidential candidate.
The Republican Party is displayed as the elephant in the suit having a psychotic episode due to Trump’s affiliation with him, as the party. The elephant is in a state of outrage because all the media wants Trump to do is comment upon statements that have no relation to the race and only provide entertainment for the viewers to spur their numbers. Cagle’s view as this displays that the media is drawing away from what matters and resolves to go to the trivial matters instead of trying to cover pertinent information.
Daryl Cagle, through this cartoon, shows his own liberal take on the buffoonish actions of Trump and the republican media. The message he is portraying is clear, there needs to be more focus on the development of the race and actual coverage of discussions as to what will be done in the future, as well as what should be done now. Cagle in my opinion is displaying that the public is careless with their votes nowadays. Cagle also obviously does not wish to see Trump in the White House, and I think that his liberal idealism is actually a clear depiction as to why Trump should not be voted for.
