The Political Cartoon You 'Ll Cut Your Eye Out'

Improved Essays
The Political Cartoon “YOU’LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT…” made by Adam Zyglis and published for The Buffalo News on 12 December 2012 uses the Modes of Persuasion to convince Americans of the danger of our gun culture.
In this cartoon it shows a young boy in pajamas with USA printed on them. He holds in his chubby hands a present of an automatic rifle, complete with a gift tag and a red bow. The title of this cartoon is a warning someone is giving the child; “YOU’LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT…”. Almost as a result of this warning, the child has effectively shot his eye out. He is holding his glasses to keep them on. A lens has been shattered and one of the temples (the piece that rests the glasses to an ear) is drooping down, broken. The young boy is looking very remorseful. The author uses logos, ethos, pathos, and kairos to show that our cultural stance on the ownership of guns needs to change. The author uses the strategy of logos by drawing a child that has been given an automatic rifle as a present. As
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As I have already stated, this political cartoon was published on 12 December 2012. This is important because this political cartoon is especially targeted at the Christmas season. We can see this in the store tag and the red bow that is placed on the gun. Another point about the timing of this cartoon is Christmas presents generally bring out our desires. For the most part, we are given what we want for Christmas. Perhaps Mr. Zyglis is also pointing out that too many Americans want to have guns that they just don’t need. In the past people needed guns for hunting for food and protection against wild animals. Today, the argument for owning a gun is for self-protection and for hunting for sport. Today there are too many instances that guns have been used for suicides and homicides. There is a general concern about gun violence and gun control, and by publishing this cartoon Mr. Zyglis is speaking out against

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