¶ … Cartoon Analysis Political Cartoon on Obamacare

A political cartoon is a type of drawing that utilizes imagery and text to present comments, opinions or criticisms on a contemporary national or social issue, individual or event. In most cases, these drawings provide important information that is presented in a visual and memorable manner. Generally, cartoonists use various techniques to portray their messages including caption, symbols, and caricature. However, an individual needs to examine the pictorial components of the cartoon i.e. imagery and text in order to understand its message. An example of a political cartoon that has been utilized to present opinion on a national issue is the cartoon by Scott Stantis on Obamacare. Scott Stantis uses imagery, text, and irony to show how Obamacare health policy is failing through contradictory court decisions.

Context of the Stantis' Cartoon

One of the national issues that have become increasingly controversial in the United States in healthcare policy given increased governmental expenditures on health and limited accessibility and affordability of healthcare services. The Obama Administration has attempted to address is this issue through the enactment of a healthcare policy that is commonly known as Obamacare. Since its enactment, the policy has generated significant concerns and court decisions while the government continues to defend it. Scott Stantis drew the cartoon after two contradictory court decisions on this health policy (Stantis par, 1). First, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled to remove the federal government's ability to offer subsidies of insurance exchanges by the federal government. Secondly, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond Virginia issued a contradictory ruling on these subsidies at relatively the same time.

Techniques Used by Scot Stantis

Similar to other cartoonists, Scott Stantis utilizes a specific technique to portray his message through this political cartoon. The cartoonist uses some physical elements like text and colors and figurative elements like irony and symbolism to convey his message on Obamacare. For this cartoon, Scot Stantis utilizes two techniques i.e. caricature and caption to achieve his goal of the seeming ineffectiveness of the health policy. Caricature involves exaggerating some physical features whereas caption entails summarizing the message in the image either below or above the drawing (School Improvement in Maryland par, 2). Using caricature, Stantis exaggerates how the wheels have come off an ambulance while on the road. Moreover, he exaggerates how the ambulance continues to move with relatively one wheel while the driver claims all is well to two onlookers. Through caption, Stantis provides a summary of two court decisions that were contradictory despite being issued nearly simultaneously.

The ambulance used in this cartoon is an imagery of the healthcare policy and providers while the two individuals are the intended beneficiaries of care services. Stantis utilizes the ambulance to demonstrate how Obamacare is experiencing problems (wheels are coming off) that hinder its implementation and effectiveness. These wheels represent the court rulings and other controversies that surround the policy resulting in its failure. While proponents may contend that everything is okay, it's quite clear that the intended beneficiaries of healthcare can see the failings of this health policy. Moreover, the cartoonist uses three major colors in the ambulance i.e. red, white, and blue that represents colors in the American flag. This shows that the ambulance represents healthcare policy for the whole nation. Therefore, while states are enacting different laws on certain provisions of this policy, it's becoming ineffective throughout the country.

Irony in the Cartoon

The single most important element used by Scott Stantis to reveal the message of this cartoon is irony. The irony is the statement by the ambulance's driver that everything is well while it's evident that the wheels are coming off. The assumption that Obamacare is the most suitable policy to address healthcare affordability and accessibility issues in the United States is wrong given the evident failings and contradictory court rulings. Therefore, these contradictory court rulings demonstrate that Obamacare is seemingly going back to the Supreme Court and an indicator of its failure (Chicago Tribune Editorial Board par, 1).

In conclusion, political cartoons are images or drawings that are used to present comments regarding national or contemporary issues. Scott Stantis' cartoon is an example of a political cartoon that is used to provide opinion regarding the controversial Obamacare. The cartoonist has used caricature and caption to reveal his message whereas irony has been his most important element. Scott Stantis uses...

"Obamacare Will Have Another Date with the Supreme Court." Chicago Tribune. Chicago Tribune, 23 July 2014. Web. 11 Mar. 2016. .
Stantis, Scott. "CARTOON: The Wheels Are Coming Off!" Online posting. Yellow Hammer. YELLOWHAMMER MULTIMEDIA, 23 July 2014. Web. 11 Mar. 2016. .

United States. Maryland Government. POLITICAL CARTOON INTERPRETATION. By School Improvement in Maryland. Maryland State Department of Education, n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2016. .

Composition II

Evaluation Essay

Evaluation of Critiques on Frankenstein

Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein, is a book that has attracted considerable attention among scholars. This novel basically focuses on telling the story of Victor Frankenstein who was a brilliant but unconventional scientist. The main character, Victor Frankenstein, rejected his creature i.e. an artificial man who eventually escaped and promised to revenge. Since its initial publication, this novel has been utilized for different purposes in the academic world and other spheres of life. In addition, this novel has been the subject of increased evaluation by scholars, which has resulted in the existence of several critiques. Walter Scott uses Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine 2 (March 1818): 613-20 to inadequately argue that the novel is an intelligent and happy power of expression that enhances fascinating enjoyment when reading.

Evaluate the Critic/Author

Walter Scott wrote a critique of Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein, in which he argues that the book is primarily a romantic fiction. The critique was published on The Mary Shelley Chronology & Resource Site, which was created by Shanon Lawson. Even though this resource is published by the University of Maryland, the author's (i.e. William Scott) credentials are unknown. It is difficult to determine the William Scott's education and professional career despite the existence of his various publications.

Thesis of the Article

The author begins by arguing that the novel is a romantic fiction that requires description of species prior to attempts to examine its production (Scott par, 1). However, this publication does not have an explicit thesis that shows the focus on the author. Despite the lack of an explicit thesis, a thesis can be identified through a critical evaluation of the content of this publication. The author's thesis is that Frankenstein is an intelligent and happy power of expression that enhances fascinating enjoyment when reading.

Evaluation of the Thesis

I don't agree with this thesis because the author does not provide a critique of the novel but seemingly appraises the writer. While Scott begins by describing the species or characters in the novel, his assessment of the individual production does not incorporate a critical review of the content. Actually, Scott's claims that the novel enhances fascinating enjoyment are primarily based on evaluation of few segments of the book rather than a holistic evaluation. Moreover, Scott simply focused on one division of works of fiction i.e. events that are not bound by laws of nature and ignored other aspects, which offers a biased view. According to Hetherington, the author wedged between sympathy and the manifestation of this power in external situations (par, 85). Scott ignored the manifestation of this power in external situations in his evaluation of the Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

Evaluation of the Support

Walter Scott only relies on the novel or text for his critique and does not incorporate other supportive materials. I disagree with the thesis because Scott does not provide sufficient research or evidence from outside references, which implies that he does not incorporate other people's views. Therefore, his assessment is biased and one-sided because of lack of proper supportive evidence. A good critique or evaluation is not based on one-sided view but incorporates valid supportive reference and evidence.

A publication by the Romantic Circles entitled, The Literacy Panorama, and National Register, N.S., 8 (1 June 1818): 411-414, does not agree with Walter Scott's critique. This publication disagrees with Scott's assessment by arguing that Frankenstein is a feeble imitation that is very disappointing. While this novel provides glimpses of talent, a critical review of its content shows that it's very much disappointing and demonstrates a high tendency towards materialism (Romantic Circles par, 1). The novel is seemingly written in great haste as evidenced in its ill-digested plan and gross and obvious inconsistencies in its details. An example of these inconsistencies is when Frankenstein has endowed with life the former inanimate creature he created. In this instance, the author strongly suggests that Frankenstein has ability to communicate life to inanimate beings. If this is true, the creature wouldn't have been able to walk without previous acquisition of the habit of doing so. Therefore, these inconsistencies and other aspects show that the novel does not enhance fascinating enjoyment as…