Political cartoon interpretation by John D Claire

1. The Christian Science Monitor was not a
religious newspaper; it was dedicated to
'nonhysterical journalism' (i.e. it tried to offer
sensible and unbiased judgements on events).
A cartoon by the American cartoonist Paul
Carmack, published in the Christian
Science Monitor, 11 August 1945.

2. What is the message of this cartoon?

3. The Christian Science Monitor was not a
religious newspaper; it was dedicated to
'nonhysterical journalism' (i.e. it tried to offer
sensible and unbiased judgements on events).
To do this question, you
need first to borrow two
concepts from English:
Denotation
(what you see)
Connotation
(how it affects its audience)
A cartoon by the American cartoonist Paul
Carmack, published in the Christian
Science Monitor, 11 August 1945.

4. The Christian Science Monitor was not a
religious newspaper; it was dedicated to
'nonhysterical journalism' (i.e. it tried to offer
sensible and unbiased judgements on events).
Denotation
Men sat talking round a table.
Connotation
‘Getting round that table’ is an
informal term for ‘negotiating’.
Meaning
Now the war is won, it will be
time to negotiate the peace
settlement for World War Two.
A cartoon by the American cartoonist Paul
Carmack, published in the Christian
Science Monitor, 11 August 1945.

5. The Christian Science Monitor was not a
religious newspaper; it was dedicated to
'nonhysterical journalism' (i.e. it tried to offer
sensible and unbiased judgements on events).
Denotation
A bomb-shaped figure labelled
‘Atomic bomb’ looms over the
negotiators.
Connotation
The figure is threatening –
frightening.
Meaning
The existence of the atomic
bomb has made the world a
scarier place.
A cartoon by the American cartoonist Paul
Carmack, published in the Christian
Science Monitor, 11 August 1945.

6. The Christian Science Monitor was not a
religious newspaper; it was dedicated to
'nonhysterical journalism' (i.e. it tried to offer
sensible and unbiased judgements on events).
Denotation
The bomb is saying: ‘A just and
workable peace OR ELSE’.
Connotation
The ‘OR ELSE’ is the threat, and
implies some terrible alternative if
they get it wrong.
Meaning
Unless the peace-negotiators
agree 'a just and workable peace',
the next war the world will be
plunged into will be an atomic war/
will be frighteningly destructive.
A cartoon by the American cartoonist Paul
Carmack, published in the Christian
Science Monitor, 11 August 1945.

7. The Christian Science Monitor was not a
religious newspaper; it was dedicated to
'nonhysterical journalism' (i.e. it tried to offer
sensible and unbiased judgements on events).
Finally, always remember
to look at:
Origin
(who drew it)
Date
(when it was published)
A cartoon by the American cartoonist Paul
Carmack, published in the Christian
Science Monitor, 11 August 1945.

8. The Christian Science Monitor was not a
religious newspaper; it was dedicated to
'nonhysterical journalism' (i.e. it tried to offer
sensible and unbiased judgements on events).
Date
11 August 1945.
Details
Just 5 days after Hiroshima.
Significance
This is a very early comment on
the significance of the atomic
bomb for international relations/
the peace negotiations.
A cartoon by the American cartoonist Paul
Carmack, published in the Christian
Science Monitor, 11 August 1945.

9. The Christian Science Monitor was not a
religious newspaper; it was dedicated to
'nonhysterical journalism' (i.e. it tried to offer
sensible and unbiased judgements on events).
Origin
The American cartoonist Paul R
Carmack.
Details
Carmack was staff cartoonist for
the Christian Science Monitor.
Significance
This is American; it is a conscious
attempt NOT to be biased or
sensationalist – it is how serious,
sensible Americans regarded the
invention of the atomic bomb.
A cartoon by the American cartoonist Paul
Carmack, published in the Christian
Science Monitor, 11 August 1945.

10. The Christian Science Monitor was not a
religious newspaper; it was dedicated to
'nonhysterical journalism' (i.e. it tried to offer
sensible and unbiased judgements on events).
Origin
The American cartoonist Paul R
Carmack.
Details
Carmack was staff cartoonist for
the Christian Science Monitor.
Significance
This is American; it is a conscious
attempt NOT to be biased or
sensationalist – it is how serious,
sensible Americans regarded the
invention of the atomic bomb.
A cartoon by the American cartoonist Paul
Carmack, published in the Christian
Science Monitor, 11 August 1945.