INFLUENCE OF CARTOON IN COMMUNICATION EFFECTIVENESS IN NIGERIA
Abstract
Cartoons have become such a prominent feature of newspapers and magazines over the years that some of them are sought after by readers for their cartoons. However, there is a tendency to regard cartoons as minor issues designed solely to amuse and amuse readers.
This paper examines the effectiveness of cartoons in print media communication and the security they provide for the print media in terms of freedom of expression, particularly during intolerant military regimes. Based on the Agenda setting theory, the paper evaluates the cartoonist’s position within his own organization and concludes that the cartoonist’s lot needs to be improved in order to position him for higher productivity.
Introduction
Cartoons have become a popular feature of Nigerian newspaper and magazine content over the years. A cursory examination reveals that most daily newspapers and weekly magazines publish a variety of cartoons and comic strips. The Punch, the Guardian, the New Nigerian, the Nigerian Tribune, Tell, News watch, the News, and other publications all publish cartoons and comic strips on social, political, and economic issues in the country or as illustrations of editorial content.
Some of these cartoons have become so popular that some readers seek out newspapers and magazines solely for their cartoons.
To bolster this point, a former Sunday Times editor says in the March 19th, 2000 issue of Sunday Punch (p.27), “I read cartoons every day, especially Punch cartoons.”
To understand cartoons, great minds are required. Cartoons are so important that they have an effect on one’s system.
As Editor of the Sunday Times, I relied on illustrations rather than photographs. When I cancelled the Garth cartoon series, I received hundreds of letters, some of which were abusive, telling me that they had been reading Garth since before I was born. People read a lot of things that editors don’t like but that are best sellers.
Certain schools of thought in mass communication have argued that the media promotes the cultural, economic, and political interests of society’s dominant class. This is the viewpoint of Theodore Adorno, Max Horkheimer, and Herbert Marcuse (The Frankfurt School), as well as other Marxist scholars such as Stuart Hall and John Fiske.
Their point of view is based on Marx and Engels’ (1970, p.64) idea, as cited in Curran et al (eds.) (1979, p.32), that the ideas of the ruling class are the ruling ideas in every epoch, i.e. the class that is the ruling material force of society is also its ruling intellectual force.
The class that has the same time over the means of mental production, so that the ideas of those who lack the means of mental production are generally subject to it.
This paper contends that not all aspects of the mass media function in the same way or conform to the Marxist paradigm. The fact that newspaper and magazine cartoons generally elicit humor and laughter from readers could be interpreted as an attempt by newspaper editors to trivialize serious issues, thereby sedating and keeping the oppressed masses in check.
Definition of a cartoon
Cartoon, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica (Macro-Paedia, vol.3), is a pictorial parody or imitation that sharpens the public view of a contemporary or topical issue, event, political or social trend through the devices of caricature, analogy, and ludicrous juxtaposition. Caricature is an almost indispensable component of a cartoon.
The cartoon is based on extensive knowledge of the subject, just as the caricature is for an audience familiar with the original. Cartoons come in a variety of forms, including the comic strip, animated cartoons for electronic media (such as Tom and Jerry, Superman, and Pocahontas), and editorial cartoons in newspapers and magazines. It is critical to note or emphasize at this point that the focus of this paper is on editorial cartoons in newspapers and magazines.
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INFLUENCE OF CARTOON IN COMMUNICATION EFFECTIVENESS IN NIGERIA
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