McCord Museum



Student Handout

LESSON PLAN

“Introduction to Interpreting Contemporary Editorial Cartoons”

Based on the virtual exhibition

“Where to draw the line?

Editorial Cartoons in Québec, 1950-2000”

LEARNING TO DECODE CARTOONS

Expected production:

• decode two cartoons connected to the language debates from among the dozen suggested,[1] using if possible one cartoon from the French-language media and one from the English-language media;

• and compare the points of view expressed in these cartoons.

Related resources:

• the text “Language Conflict in Québec ;”[2]

• the text “Six Editorial Cartoonists and Some Favorite Subjects.”[3]

Note some of their main components, based on the following grid:

INTERPRETATION GRID FOR AN EDITORIAL CARTOON

Note the data for the cartoon:

• Cartoon title:

• Author:

• Media-newspaper (if known):

• Date of first publication and page # (if known):

• Accession number (identifying number in the McCord Museum collection):

Describe the cartoon:

➢ The “WHAT” or the SHAPE-FUNCTION key

• What words are used in the cartoon?

• Find definitions for any unusual words or expressions.

• If there is a dialogue, what does each cartoon say?

• What is happening?

• Are visual elements, signs or symbols being used?

• What rhetorical device does the cartoonist use? (examples: opposition, combination, condensation, domestication) 

Document the cartoon:

➢ The “WHO” or the PEOPLE key

• Who is depicted in the cartoon? What do we know about these people?

• What are the characters’ physical gestures and facial expressions?

• Are characters stereotyped?

• Are these characters symbolic?

➢ The “WHERE” or the PLACE key

• In what situation are the characters placed?

• Is the illustrator using analogy (by comparing one situation to another)?

➢ The “WHEN” or the TIME key

• What historical event or fact does the cartoon depict?

• Are these people or these issues still important today?

• Can you associate this news event with a similar event in the recent history of Québec?

Interpret the cartoon

➢ The “WHY” or the MEANING key:

• In a few words, what message is this cartoon trying to send?

• Can the point of view or values (political, religious, regional, ethnic, economic, etc.) of the cartoonist be identified?

• What does the cartoon teach us about the historical context of the period or the treatment of a present-day issue?

Produce, as the final assignment, a visual and written presentation to be saved on the McCord Web site that presents your interpretation of the targeted cartoons.

• You must first create your MyMcCord account on the McCord Web site, by going on the page “MyMcCord”, and clicking on “Sign Up.”[4]

• Then you will be able to select images and display them to create a folder. You will save this folder on the McCord Web site and be able to access it at any time. You can arrange the images in a specific order and enter text to write up your assignment. For technical assistance, consult the page “Your images folders,” in the EduWeb.[5]

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[1] mccord-museum.qc.ca/en/folders/langues

[2] mccord-museum.qc.ca/cartoons/explore , choose “Language Conflict in Québec.”

[3] mccord-museum.qc.ca/cartoons/words/subjects

[4] mccord-museum.qc.ca/mymccord

[5] mccord-museum.qc.ca/en/eduweb/folders

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[pic]

Bilingual Signs Aislin, 1978,

M989.363.172

© McCord Museum

The Quebec Games and Bill 101

Berthio, 1977

P173_S5, BAnQ

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