Renee Alexis Taladua

Villarino 1 Rashied Villarino Composition II Cartoon Analysis 28 June 2021 COVID, Anti-Vaxxers, and Death The COVID pandemic caused a massive change in the world and I reckon that we will not be getting back to our normal, pre-covid lives soon. As the world adapted to the changes and life conformed to the "new" normal as the pandemic raged, scientists from different countries worked hard to create an invention to immunize human beings from the impending contagion. With our current technology and the miracle of science, vaccines now have been roled out and distributed to different countries so that we can start curbing the pandemic. And while many have accepted the vaccines, many others are still on deaf ears, unwilling to receive protection against the virus. This cartoon by Bill Bramhall I've chosen for Villarino 2 this assignment perfectly depicts the message “refusing the vaccine is like entertaining death like a lover” by using symbolism, personification, and dark humor. This political cartoon is created by Bill Bramhall, an editorial cartoonist at New York Daily News, and was published last February 14 on his Twitter account and February 16 on the Abilene Reporter News website. The cartoon is simple with only two characters drawn: a voluptuous woman and a Grim Reaper. The creator uses symbolism to express the message of his cartoon to the audience by having a Grim Reaper represent death. He also used personification to personify death as a valentine, and lastly, dark humor to present his serious message in a humorous way. For years, different cultures have different representations of death, but one of the most commonly used symbols is the Grim Reaper - “a figure shrouded in a dark hooded robe carrying a scythe” (Britannica). The Grim Reaper started appearing during the 14th century when Europe was dealing with the Black Death, which was coined to be the world's worst pandemic that occurred between 1347–51 and recurred in 1361–63, 1369–71, 1374–75, 1390, and 1400 (Britannica). Cartoons are made to be a comic relief from all the horrible things happening in real life, and now, knowing the origin of Grim Reapers, for the creator to use symbolism and have a grim reaper portray death in his art that gives a message about another pandemic made this piece all the more thought-provoking. The cartoon is fun, but at the same time, it carries an important underlying message for the audience to consume and internalize. The creator of the cartoon also used personification by personifying death as a valentine. As this piece of art was published on Valentine’s Day, having a relevant theme to coincide with the occasion was significant. By having the voluptuous woman represent the anti-vaxxers who are eagerly eyeing the gift of death personified as a valentine, the cartoon Villarino 3 conveys the message clearly. Personifying death was effective to amplify the importance of what the creator is trying to impart to his audience. The cartoon is witty and amusing. This is where dark humor is used. The cartoon is drawn in a comical way by exaggerating the features of the woman and it creates a light and fun atmosphere. But behind the fun colors and elaborate lines, the actual message that the creator wants to share is dark and morbid. This political cartoon is a wake-up call for those who are non-believers in the vaccine. While there are certain people who have health issues and conditions that exempt them from getting the vaccine, those who outright refuse to be vaccinated pose a threat to the whole population of the country because they can contract the virus and can be carriers of the disease. The pandemic has shown the people's true colors and while we all have different opinions on the matter, the creator of the cartoon has declared a message that tells one truth. And this message is loud and clear, thanks to the different figurative elements used in the artwork: symbolism, personification, and dark humor. Works Cited McKenna, Amy. "Where Does the Concept of a “Grim Reaper” Come From?" britannica.com, https://www.britannica.com/story/where-does-the-concept-of-a-grim-reaper-come-from The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Black Death." britannica.com, https://www.britannica.com/event/Black-Death/Cause-and-outbreak Political Cartoons 2/16/2021. reporternews.com, https://www.reporternews.com/picture-gallery/opinion/cartoons/2021/02/15/political-car toons-/-/ Bramhall, Bill. twitter.com, February 2021 https://twitter.com/BillBramhall/status/-