Cartoons and Adverts

Two kinds of pictures you meet every day: adverts and cartoons. Both talk. But they are trying to do different things to you.

An advert wants you to buy something or do something. A cartoon comments on something, usually with humour, sometimes by making fun of a person in power. Same drawing skills, different purpose.

Adverts use tricks. Huge words and bright colour. A famous face, or a perfect happy family. And the hurry trick: only today, last chance, while stocks last. All of those are trying to make you decide quickly.

Cartoons exaggerate. Here a politician is drawn as a giant balloon tied to a chair that is far too small. Nobody draws that by accident. The cartoonist is saying he is full of hot air and about to float away.

Whatever visual you are given, answer two questions. What is the purpose, and who is the audience? An advert for baby food has a purpose and a very specific audience. Name both, and half the marks are yours.

You can now name the purpose of a visual, spot the persuasive tricks, and identify who it is aimed at. Last quiz of the course, let's go.