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Channels of Communication | 53

to designate any drawing that illustrated a social issue. The cartoonist may
effectively use humor. In crisis situations a humorous cartoon may be espe-
cially effective in influencing opinions. Laughter provides a welcome release
from tensions. Over the years the cartoons have variously touched subjects
like strikes, international situations, public issues, interactions of husband
and wife, parents and children, leisure time situations, and work situations.

Caricature and the Cartoon—The Difference
The caricature is an instrument of satirical and sometimes spiteful personal
attack. It has been a weapon of venomous attack, used as an instrument
for the manufacture of public opinion, while the cartoon has come to be
regarded as a humorous and sarcastic comment on the topic uppermost
in the nation’s mind. The caricature is a subtle exposing of the individual’s
physical peculiarities or idiosyncrasies, whereas the ‘cartoon, in the modern
sense is—with or without humor—a forceful presentation by means of exag-
geration of a topic political or moral issue’ (W. Murrell 1933).

The Comics
During the latter half of the 19th century, various series of humorous draw-
ings began to appear in the back pages of American magazines. But it was
well towards the close of the century before the now popular comic strip
was presented in the newspapers around February 1896 that the readers of
the New York Sunday World were presented with funny drawings in colour,
the first comic strip by ‘Outcault’. Comics are a number or series of pictures
which present an episode in the life of the characters, and thus tell a story.
There are usually some additional verbal captions, explanations or dialogues,
encapsulated in what are known as ‘speech balloons’. The most celebrated are
syndicated in thousands of newspapers or published as comic books reach-
ing worldwide audience of millions. Others may be disseminated to smaller
audiences, but nevertheless more often attain high quality, aesthetic value
and socio-political influences.
The theme of the early scripts was mainly the playing of practical jokes of
a crude slapstick variety. These picture comics were indigenous to America,
bearing little resemblance to anything in the European, or the Oriental tradi-
tion. According to A1 Capp, the legendary American folklore comic strip artist
‘the true function of the cartoonist is to hold up to his fellowmen a mirror of
their own foolishness, and join them in the laughter’. Since the comic strip
has come to be devoted to purveying pictured stories, often not humorous,
the range of stereotypes acquired from them has widened. Children’s idea of
life in the jungle, life on Mars, life in the 25th century, life as a gangster or a
detective and so on must have been influenced by these pictures. In addition to

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