The Role of Humor in the Construction of Satire in Nigerian Political Cartoons
Journal Title: Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies - Year 2012, Vol 2, Issue 3
Abstract
Abstract The communicative functions of humor and its visual power have made political cartoons an interesting research field across academic disciplines. The first decade of the Millennium has witnessed a considerable research on editorial cartoons. This increasing research demonstrates that editorial cartoons have successfully constituted a genuine genre within media discourse. Cartoons are used to express opinions, construct valuable arguments and provide specific knowledge on contemporary social issues. The goal of the genre is to provide political commentary, address crucial issues and criticize political leaders and their contemptible practices in an artful fashion. In a nutshell, the genre serves as a medium of political reporting articulating a particular message from a particular point of view using language as its prime tool. Given their contents mostly expressed through visual illustrations, political cartoons are best understood through investigation of incorporated visual rhetoric. This paper aims at unfolding the nature and function of humor in Nigerian political cartoons using theoretical perspectives of humor as method of analysis. To this end, content analysis was used to sort out contents of the cartoons. 35 cartoons texts were extracted from the two most prominent Nigerian newspapers namely: Vanguard and Daily Trust. The findings indicated that cartoonists use humor in Nigerian political cartoons to relive audiences of stressful situations and persuade them towards making opinion on contemporary issues in society. More specifically, Nigerian cartoonists manipulate aggressive and affliative humor styles purposely to construct criticisms pointed to political leaders and comment on current socio-political issues of the moment in order to initiate social and political reforms.
Authors and Affiliations
Sani, I| Department of English, Faculty of Modern Languages and Communications, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia, Abdullah, M. H| Department of English, Faculty of Modern Languages and Communications, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia, Ali, A. M| Department of English, Faculty of Modern Languages and Communications, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia, Abdullah, F. S| Department of English, Faculty of Modern Languages and Communications, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
Journalism in the Age of Digital Technology
Abstract The information age has created many challenges for every profession. In the case of journalism the introduction of information technology has altered considerably various aspects of the profession. The high te...
A Qualitative Textual and Comparative Analysis of the Representation of Masculinity in the Action and Romantic Comedy Genres
This study is an exploration of the representation of masculinity in film, with particular focus on the way in which leading male characters in action genre and romantic comedy genre films represent masculinity. It is...
Mediatization in the Arab World: A Cross-Cultural Comparison of New Media Use
New media (including online and cellular technologies) are being embraced around the world, and younger people have led the way in their adoption. These technologies have spread particularly quickly in the Middle East...
An Examination of Academic Studies Covering Israel Palestine Conflict Over its Reflections Through Media
The media plays an important role in during the periods of wars and conflicts. The media ensures public knowledge of the events by carrying the messages to the masses in these periods. The contents of media messages us...
Digital Storytelling Viewed though a Post-process Lens: Reflections from the Fulbright-Hays 2010 China Seminar
Post-process theory asserts that writing is public, interpretive, and situated and considers the larger social and political forces that affect a writer. Writing is viewed as a cultural activity by which writers positi...