Trick # 6

  

Topic:   Don’t ask, Don’t tell.

Story:  The cartoon shows two caskets draped in American flags.  The story shows that neither soldier that gave their lives, cared about the others sexual preference. 

Audience:  The cartoon was produced in Los Angeles, California.  It was published on the author’s website.  The cartoon was conservative in nature.

Author:  Steve Greenberg is an editorial artist who has won awards or honors nearly every year.  They include runner-up in the 2008 Fischetti Editorial Cartoon Competition as documented in http://greenberg-art.com/About_the_artist.html

Argument:  The message of the cartoon is showing that even though both soldiers laid their lives down for their country and each other, they didn’t care if one of them was gay.    This is implied by one of the coffins stating “Didn’t ask”

Composition:  This cartoon is a single frame image.

Word and Image:  This cartoon is a hybrid that relies on both image and text.  The text shows that the two soldiers don’t care about the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, and the image refers to them giving their lives for their country.

Imagery:  The drawings are realistic as they are meant to show seriousness.

Tone:  The comic is entirely serious as it shows the nature of the subject and the cost of it.

Character and setting:  The components show two objects, both coffins.  There is no other way to break them down.  The flags draped over them show they were military.

Cultural Resonance:  This cartoon refers to the recent repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal of this year.  The symbols used in this cartoon show that the soldiers don’t care.  The audience would be narrow as it only applies to our military.