Patrick G. Richey, Ph.D.

Middle Tennessee State University

More than Just Laughter: Abu Ghraib Postcolonial

Political Cartoons

Nevins & Weitenkampf (1975)HumorTruthMoral Lesson

Medhurst & DeSousa (1981) – Multiple MessagesMuller, Ozcan, & Seiziv (2009) - Visual and textual

layers Common Research Themes

Israeli/PalestineDanish Cartoon ControversyIraq/Afghanistan Wars

Literature Review

It is a response to the European and American colonization of native places and populations.

It fixes itself in neither time nor space.It is a fluid and dynamic process that is a

response to colonialism and can sometimes fit into preexisting categories, but often cannot.

It does not fix itself within geographical borders, but rather by shared cultural experiences.

Finally post-colonialism is a cognitive & communicative phenomenon.

Post-Colonialism Defined

Saddam era prison2003 InvasionAbusesScandal International Outcry

Abu Ghraib Scandal

Research Question: Can political cartoons about the Abu Ghraib Scandal be read differently through a iconic and postcolonial position?

Aimed at Western AudienceMultiple Middle Eastern News Sources Collected Data From the Incident until August 201212 Cartoons SampledNative Arab Speakers helped translate Arabic Deep Textual Analysis

Iconographic ImagesCultural Nuances

Methodology

Al-Hayat May 2, 2004

Cartoons I Al-Arab News May 2,

2004

Al-Quds December 10, 2005

Cartoons II

Al-Jazeera May 31, 2004

Cartoons III May 12, 2004 Al-

Ittihad

ManifestNot an isolated incident Anti-United StatesObjectification

LatentCultural Nuances

Colonial PastArab Street

Findings

Muhammed Film & Cartoons

Arab Spring

Future/Additional Research

Questions & Suggestions