The social caricature is a plastic representation, a mocking drawing or an exaggerated allegory of a sector of society or its characters in a mockery, criticism or joke plan.
These portraits are intended to create easily identifiable, humorous looks by deliberately exaggerating or distorting people's physical appearance.
Social cartoon example
In addition to the social ones, there are other types of caricatures: political, personal, journalistic, festive, symbolic, fantastic, and manners.
The usual technique in all these varieties is the expression of the most outstanding physical features of the person.
Among these features, the facial physiognomy, gestures, the type of clothing used, behaviors and characteristic manners stand out.
Origins of social caricature
The origin of cartoons dates back to the 16th century when painters Holbein, Bosh, and Bruegel incorporated caricatural features into their works.
However, the comic element was attributed to him in the 18th century, in the art school founded in Bologna (Italy) by the Carracci, a family of Italian painters.
According to the story, the students of the art school had fun making portraits of the visitors to which they added elements of animals and objects.
The genre spread to the point that it became a tradition for tourists to buy from Roman painters the humorous portraits that they made of them while visiting the city.
Later, it expanded to England and Spain. Later, as part of its evolution, the satirical element typical of social and political cartoons was added.
characteristics
The caricature applied and seen from the social point of view has the following characteristics:
-Represents characters in situations of contemporary life.
-It is closely linked to the political cartoon, since in most cases in which a social situation is criticized, the policy that generated it is also criticized.
-It can have humorous or satirical intent by ridiculing political, religious or social situations or organizations.
-Without words or with the use of very few, the social caricature manages to transmit a message in code. That is why most newspapers include cartoons in their opinion section.
The satirical cartoon
It is the most characteristic form of social and political caricature. It is characterized by the scarce information at the bottom of the drawing.
Your message is achieved from:
-Rather simple productions.
-The mobility of its components, that is, of the gestures and movements made by its characters.
-The use of unusual elements such as contradictions and anomalies.
-The use of the character's face with preeminence over other aspects.
Function
The main function that social caricature pursues is critical and encouraging a change in the structures of society.
This means of visual expression of conventional society has as much or more power than a discourse or a call to generate changes.
It is used to portray crises, ideas and conflicts, in this sense they can be provocative for certain groups.
This critical function in the face of social problems aims to provoke transformations; lead to reflection on the context of the problem it exposes or promote change in society.
The visual discourses contained in social cartoons tend to promote the reaction of society with rhetorical resources that maximize or minimize the intention of their author.
References
- Ames, W. (September 20, 2017). Caricature and Cartoon. In: britannica.com.
- Cartoon: Ironic Reflection of Economic Reality. (sf). Retrieved on December 18, 2017 from: urosario.edu.co.
- Caricature. Retrieved on December 18, 2017 from: literarydevices.net.
- Marcano, M. (May 5, 2005). The Cartoon Opinions. In: saber.ucv.ve.
- Portillo, F. (2002). The Journalistic Cartoon. In: blogs.fad.unam.mx.