Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter Twelve Editorials, Opinion Pieces, Columns, Blogs and Cartoons 377 Clip or print two editorial illustrations and two editorial cartoons that communicate to you. Describe to your group or class what each piece of editorial art means to you. Your Turn Cli Symbols, labels, caricatures, and references to common sayings and stories all help make the meaning of the art clear. These communication tools are especially important if the artwork is an editorial cartoon not associated with a story. Symbols Editorial illustrations and cartoons go beyond mere decoration. Good editorial page artwork invites thoughtful consideration of the issues raised in the op-ed. It often does this by communicating through symbols—concrete objects that represent an abstract idea (Figure 12.9 on the next page). Your school mascot is a ready-made symbol for your entire school and school community. You probably do not need to label him. When a graduate of your school is killed in military action, your Viking or Fighting Fisherman or Atom Smasher can hold his headgear in his hand and bow his head in respect before a military grave. Institutions and public fi gures are also frequently represented in editorial cartoons by symbols that most readers and viewers easily recognize, thus avoiding the need for labels. Political cartoonist Thomas Nast created the elephant as the Republican Party symbol and popularized the donkey as the Democrats’ symbol and Uncle Sam as Figure 12.7 An editorial illustration accompanies and supports an op-ed piece, while also adding visual interest. Article by Amanda Livingston, Illustration by Johanna Dakay, The Eagle’s Eye, W. Charles Akins High School