There are many famous, maybe infamous cartoons about industrial imperialism. Students can have difficulty connecting with them. The strategy I tried today was Living cartoons. We used some props (including a fire hose in the rubber coil) and pose as the cartoon. I think it really helped the students dig deep into the analogies and symbols in the cartoons. I was worried about the racist aspect of some of the cartoons but it was not an issue. I did establish some guardrails just in case. I also tried to make the point that cartoons did not exist before political cartoons. So, do you still teach about political cartoons?
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Eric Schulz what a coincidence because today I used political cartoons to introduce the concept of imperialism and its many dimensions. Since I teach freshmen, I find that imperialism can be a complex concept for them to grasp; however the use of visual sources made it much more accessible.
I asked students to do a quick web search to build context for each cartoon (this is the first time imperialism appears in our Big History course). Working in groups, they were able to interpret the meaning, identify the cartoonist’s point of view, and analyze the poignant use of symbols.
Like you, I was mindful of the racist elements present in some cartoons—particularly those depicting American imperialism. Through guided questions and observations, I helped students navigate these aspects and better understand the historical context and intended message.
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Eric Schulz what a coincidence because today I used political cartoons to introduce the concept of imperialism and its many dimensions. Since I teach freshmen, I find that imperialism can be a complex concept for them to grasp; however the use of visual sources made it much more accessible.
I asked students to do a quick web search to build context for each cartoon (this is the first time imperialism appears in our Big History course). Working in groups, they were able to interpret the meaning, identify the cartoonist’s point of view, and analyze the poignant use of symbols.
Like you, I was mindful of the racist elements present in some cartoons—particularly those depicting American imperialism. Through guided questions and observations, I helped students navigate these aspects and better understand the historical context and intended message.
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