Observations on a Theory of Political Caricature

An attempt is made to further the debate on the theory of caricature by examining a number of related problems: the historical circumstances of caricature, the relationship of caption to drawing, the influence of the cartoon on PO. This leads up to an investigation & rejection of the assumption that caricature is essentially negative in purpose & a means of aggression. Rather, caricature is shown to be often a means whereby the fears of the public are allayed & on occasion a grudging admiration for the `victim' is expressed. In this connection the nonpersonalized cartoons of the early stages in the development of caricature & the current practice in the USSR are contrasted with modern Western cartooning, with its emphasis on the individual personality. AA.