The message being conveyed here is that the BP Oil Company is trying to "right" the wrong they have produced by issuing letters of apology. These letters of apologies, however, are not making the lives of the people and animals they harmed any better. That bird on the shore does not care for a "sorry", it cares about the poison that is slowly killing it; the bird cares about the unprepared company and how irresponsible they were. Although the death of animals have been brought to its attention, BP is still trying to redeem itself by saying, "Well, we said sorry". The intended audience is really anyone who sees the cartoon. It is meant for those who are both angry and passive toward BP. The "writer" is someone who is looking out for the well being of this world and the life that it supports. I believe that this is a very effective political cartoon because it makes the BP executives seem like very ignorant and careless people (Which they are).
Woo hoo, Jeremy. Great analysis. Isn't it interesting how it seems the oil spill (at times called an "unmediated disaster" and "perhaps the worst man-made natural disaster in our history") has fallen out of the media's coverage?
ReplyDeleteI like how you point out the "passive" audience. This is important because the cartoon is meant to prod thinking. In addition to 'preaching to the choir,' perhaps the cartoonist is also hoping to persuade the generally disinterested and those in favor of big oil to consider the disaster in another light, namely the death of animals.
By the way, as we continue moving ahead into argument, you'll find this cartoon pulls heavily on "pathos" to make its point: namely, it tries to create an emotional reaction in the audience.
The "writer" is the cartoonist, though I can't make out his name.
Awesome job.
mc