The types of cartoons refer to the different styles in which this form of graphic expression has been developed. The caricature is a graphic piece that illustrates reality distorted, in order to ridicule a person or a real fact.
Usually this is used as a form of criticism or mockery aimed at society or a particular political actor.
The purpose of the cartoons is to convey a concrete message; therefore, they use different graphical and textual tools that enrich their message. This is why they occupy a diffuse place between the field of art and the field of journalism.
For this reason, the cartoons have different classifications according to different criteria. These may vary according to their content, format or style.
Content classification
Reality Caricatures
They are cartoons that deal with topics related to real events or everyday situations that are common to readers. These caricatures can deal with simple facts, such as the habits of a family, to complex facts such as religion or politics.
When we refer to the cartoon of reality, we do not necessarily talk about a critical caricature. Sometimes the only purpose of the cartoonist is to make his readers laugh ridiculizando common situations without giving to it a greater transcendence.
Fantasy cartoons
They are cartoons that deal with issues in which there is no relation to the facts of reality. Their landscapes are often unusual and can be located in real but strange places (the moon, for example), or in completely unreal places as a parallel dimension.
However, this type of cartoons is not completely disconnected from reality. If it were, it would not be possible for the reader to establish a connection and a complicity with the author's message.
What makes this type of caricature is to put the characters in absurd situations but with feelings, emotions or thoughts of everyday life. In this way forms of feeling or thinking that are habitual in society are ridiculed or questioned.
Political cartoon
Political caricature is a type of caricature that deals with political issues or transcendent facts of real life. In this the purpose is to exaggerate some traits of people or situations to communicate criticism or dissatisfaction with social and political reality.
Throughout history, political caricature has proved its importance within the construction of public opinion. Being a simple and striking communication tool, it is useful to address complex concepts and generate concern among citizens.
For this reason, this type of caricature enjoys great respect today and is even equated with columns of opinion.
Classification according to the format
Cartoon with focus on the image
Caricature with a focus on the image is one in which the illustration is self-sufficient for the transmission of the message. In these cases it is frequent to see that the use of any text is dispensed with or that it is used only in the form of onomatopoeia.
This form of caricature is the most basic, and in fact is the primary form in which the first caricatures appeared in the Roman Empire.
Cartoon with focus on text
The cartoon with a focus on the text is one in which the content of the image does not have a central role in the message to be transmitted. In these cases, although the image is simple or common, the text is the one that really gives weight to the content that is transmitted.
Although caricature is essentially an image, over the centuries these images have been transformed and even come to be simplified. This is due to the fact that, in many cases, the image only serves as a resource to accompany a text sufficiently strong.
Comic strips
The comic strips are a cartoon that represents reality through a series of images, such as a story. This type of cartoons began to appear in the newspapers in the 50's and were usually fantastic cartoon pieces.
Later, the comic strips became more extensive and they jumped to the books where they could tell histories much longer, complex and with different personages. This gave rise to the creation of a whole new literary genre known as graphic novel.
Classification according to style
Satirical cartoons
Satirical cartoons are especially common within political caricature. They are often used in printed media, posters, flyers and pamphlets that are intended to mock or ridicule the opposite view using satire as a tool.
They usually exaggerate the stronger or weaker characteristics of political characters. This includes both your physical traits and your personal traits, as well as the public statements you have made on a particular topic.
Grotesque cartoons
Grotesque caricatures are more common within the realistic cartoon. They focus on addressing real situations by taking them to a wholly grotesque language and approach, to generate controversy among the public or simply for humorous purposes.
Their images are usually referred to in an ironic way to situations, objects or customs that are perceived as positive within a social reality. They take icons that are standards of well-being or comfort and twist them to ridicule those convictions and ways of thinking.
Modern caricature
The modern caricature refers to a style of caricature that lived its biggest developmental season from the 1940s. This type of graphic expressions was characterized because it transcended the interest to convey a humorous or social message.
In addition to this, their caricaturists intended to develop a rather elaborate aesthetic proposal. For this reason, this type of caricature itself was constituted as an entire artistic movement of its time.
References
- Ames, W. (2017). Caricature and cartoon. Recovered from: britannica.com
- Candea, M. (S.F.). Caricature Types. Recovered from: ourpastimes.com
- Gilsdorf, E. (2014). Types of cartoons. Recovered from: bostonglobe.com
- The cartoon museum. (S.F.). History of Cartoons & Comics. Retrieved from: cartoonmuseum.org