Analysis Of Tap Water Equals Clear Water

Tap Water Equals Clear Water?
In our everyday life, we constantly come across with different news that is represented in various ways. One of these forms is cartoons. Usually editorial cartoons are used by artists to send us a forceful message about current events. Artists try to appeal public 's attention on local or global news happening right away through funny sketches, often with dialogues or captions. In this particular cartoon, the cartoonist expresses the idea of criticizing E.P.A. 's role and actions in the protection process for our environment that affects on public health through the text in captions and special techniques like irony, symbolism, and iconography.
Background information together with the text in captions helps the

Symbolism and iconography have the meaning close to each other, but they are different techniques. Symbolism can be found in some object or act that stands for something different with which it does not have a necessary connection. It is usually more complex and layered that a sign. Iconography, as a form of symbolism, refers to a symbol that has an immediate and fixed representation. Symbolism and iconography, as a form of symbolism, are used here as placeholders. We can easily identify symbols here. A glass of water with the text "Animus River Colorado" on it stands for one of the worst natural disasters in American history created by E.P.A. That is why the artist puts the glass in the man 's hands. The faucet with running water is a symbol of tap water in the city of Flint. The man examines the quality of water attentively and it seems to him to be good. He doesn 't see any problems.The example of iconography in this cartoon is a man. The man wearing a white gown and glasses looks like someone belonging to the scientific world whose opinion is rather important as it should be based on numerous studies. Moreover, the man is wearing a label saying "E.P.A" on it. He is supposed to protect not pollute the

It is used to describe the opposite of what is. The cartoonist uses in this drawing situational and visual form of irony. Visual irony sends us the message that is opposite of what is expected. Thus, the idea that the Environmental Protection Agency created by itself the pollution of the Animus River and ignored the pollution of the Flint River shows us how opposite the actions of E.P.A. from what they are expected to be. Visual irony is found in the caption describing man 's thoughts. According to them, tap water in Michigan isn 't packed enough with toxic metals to be considered as dangerous. The text in the caption contradicts the visual image of the water in the following way: it says "Looks good to me" while we see dirty not clear running tap water.
Knowing the context and labels ' meaning the audience can easily get the message of the social issue represented by this cartoon. The artist uses different techniques in the cartoon to make it more emotional and attracting public 's attention. The problems of water pollution should be solved immediately because they have a harmful effect on people 's