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RPH Lesson 2 Political Caricature

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283 views20 pages

RPH Lesson 2 Political Caricature

Uploaded by

Jilmariane Hope Dalupire
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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LESSON 2

Analysis of Topic 4: Alfred McCoy’s


Philippine Cartoons: Political
Caricature of the American Era
(1900-1941)
Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of the American Era
(1900-1941)

Political cartoons and caricature are a rather


recent art form, which veered away from the classical
art by exaggerating human features and poking fun at
its subjects.
Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of the American Era
(1900-1941)
Such art genre and technique became a part of
the print media as a form of social and political
commentary, which usually targets persons of power
and authority.
Cartoon became an effective tool of publicizing
opinions through heavy use of symbolism, which is
different from a verbose written editorial and opinion
pieces.
Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of the American Era
(1900-1941)
Such art genre and technique became a part of
the print media as a form of social and political
commentary, which usually targets persons of power
and authority.
Cartoon became an effective tool of publicizing
opinions through heavy use of symbolism, which is
different from a verbose written editorial and opinion
pieces.
Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of the American Era
(1900-1941)
The unique way that a caricature represents
opinion and captures the audience’s imagination is a
reason enough for historians to examine these
political cartoons.
Commemorates in mass media inevitably shape
public opinion and such kind of opinion is worthy of
historical examination.
Alfred William MacCoy
 An American professor of history
and award-winning writer who
dedicated his professional career
on the research of Southeast Asian
History, specially that of the
Philippines; as well as the study of
U.S. Foreign Policy.
Alfred William MacCoy
 His interest in Filipino history
allowed him to master the
Hiligaynon dialect and understand
the political situation, not just the
region of Iloilo but of the whole
country.
Alfred William MacCoy
 With the help of Alfredo Roces, the
designer of the book, MacCoy
published Philippine Caricature.
Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of the
American Era (1900-1941)
 In his book, Alfred MacCoy, together
with Alfredo Roces, compiled political
cartoons published in newspaper
dailies and periodicals in the time
period. For this part, we are going to
look at selected cartoons and explain
the context of each one.
Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of the
American Era (1900-1941)
 Philippine Cartoons is a compilation of
377 editorial cartoons and caricatures
made by various Filipino artists that
tackles the situation during the
American occupation in the Philippines
(1900-1941)
 The first example was published in The Independent on May 20, 1916.
 The cartoon shows a politician from Tondo, named Dr. Santos, passing his crown to
his brother-in-law, Dr. Barcelona. A Filipino guy was trying to stop Santos, telling the
latter to stop giving Barcelona the crown because it is not his to begin with.
 The second cartoon was also published by The Independent on June 16,
1917.
 This was drawn by Fernando Amorsolo and was aimed as a commentary
to the workings of Manila Police at that period.
 We see a Filipino child who stole a skinny chicken because he had nothing to eat.
The police officer was relentlessly pursuing the said child. A man wearing a salakot,
was grabbing the officer, telling him to leave the small-time pickpockets and thieves
and to turn at the great thieves instead.
 The third cartoon was a commentary on the unprecedented cases of colorum
automobiles in the city streets. The Philippine Free Press published this
commentary when fatal accidents involving colorum vehicles and taxis occurred too
often already.
 The fourth cartoon depicts a cinema. A blown-up police officer was at the screen
saying that couples are not allowed to neck and make love in the theater. Two
youngsters looked horrified while an older couple seemed amused.
 The next cartoon was published by The Independent on November 27. 1915. here,
we see the caricature of Uncle Sam riding a chariot pulled by Filipinos wearing
school uniforms.
 The Filipino boys were carrying American objects like baseball bats, whiskey, and
boxing gloves.
 The last cartoon was published by Lipang Kalabaw on August 24, 1907.
 We can see Uncle Sam rationing porridge to the politicians and members of the
Progresista Party (sometimes known as the Federalista Party) while members of the
Nacionalista Party look on and wait for their turn.
• The selected cartoons illustrate not only the opinion of certain
media outfits about the Philippine society during the American
period but also paint a broad image of society and politics under
the United States.
• Patronage also became influential and powerful, not only between
clients and patrons but also between the newly formed political
parties composed of the elite and the United States.

• The transition from a Catholic-centered, Spanish-Filipino society to


an imperial American-assimilated one, and its complications, were
also depicted in the cartoons.
• Young people, as early as that period, disturbed the conservative
Filipino mindset by engaging in daring sexual activities in public
spaces like cinemas.

• The cartoons also illustrated the conditions of poor Filipinos in the


Philippines now governed by the United States.

• The other cartoon depicts how Americans controlled Filipinos


through seemingly harmless American objects.

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