Introduction

In the election of 2009, presidential candidates John McCain and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin were harshly criticized. Palin was usually associated with being unintelligent and McCain was criticized because of his age. Seen here, a dinosaur portraying CNN, the news network, chases them in hope of furthering demeaning their political credentials. This political cartoon shows the negativity and bias an author can have.

"I'm a great believer that any tool that enhances communication has profound effects in terms of how people can learn from each other, and how they can achieve the kind of freedoms that they're interested in. "

-Bill Gates

Human communication vacillates between necessity and a common expression of our race. The way humans go about communication ultimately develops a sense of character and persona, which further attaches to such person. Art, arguably the most vital of communication, primes in the earliest of human existence where that persona develops. Taking place in various forms such as literature, paintings, sculptures, and architecture art values the most basic human emotion. Anger, sadness, and happiness fluctuate in genres of art. As art subsequently develops as time passes, genres branch out of genres previously explored. Specifically, political art in the United States can show history and a sense of time that reflects the time period. Political art reflects current issues, often displaying bias of the artist or common group, such as democrats and republicans.

Going back to the beginning of the growth of politicians in America, political cartoons show us history and can infer issues debated about till this day. For example, Abraham Lincoln, is creddited for being one of the greatest presidents our country has had, received many criticisms towards his views on issues at the time. As president, he had to make decisions, which reach the present day. Exceptionally, he decision making shaped and virtually restarted America's history from the outcome of the Civil War, according to some historians. The political cartoons, which present themselves in that time, affected the people of that time and somewhat shaped their mentality. Continuing down the line of presidents, John F. Kennedy proved to be a vital president as well. During his presidency, he was vastly popular until his untimely death. Both presidents, being assassinated, show just how much the people were moved by the propaganda of their presidency and what each stood for. Moving on to more modern times, political cartoons are displayed immensely today. Now President Barack Obama, the first African-American president, deals with similar situations as former President Roosevelt. With the recession, debate about health care, and the war on terrorism, his decisions pose monumental for our country and ultimate future. All presidents, past and present, gave important facets of history that make our country today, inherently bring the freedom of speech and political cartoons to its coming of age.