Hofstra University is recognizing the work of several notable cartoonists in the midst of this presidential election. Political Slant II: Editorial Cartoons is an exhibition located in the David Filderman Gallery on the ninth floor of the Axinn Library that is dedicated to the works of artists such as Matt Davies, Walt Handelsman, Mike Keefe, Steve Kelly and Signe Wilkinson.
These award-winning artists are featured next to works by the legendary Thomas Nast, who was the first to use the elephant and donkey to symbolize the two main political parties in the country. The exhibit presents historical context and shows the evolution of political cartoons since the 1860s.
The exhibition not only holds several controversial topics that have appeared during this election cycle, but it allows the viewers to see things through a different perspective. With cartoons that feature Donald Trump as a loud one-man band and Hillary Clinton almost getting crushed by previous scandals such as emails, Benghazi and the Clinton Foundation, the imagery offers a fresh and symbolic look to the election.
The cartoon artists also present other topics such as Apple versus the FBI, the NRA’s influence in Congress and the refugee crisis in Syria to show the nationwide and worldwide political importance of the election.
The uncertainty and difficulty the voters are experiencing to choose the candidate that will become our future president is a major point considered in the exhibition. Artists like Kelly focus on the everyday conversations that show how indecisive voters currently are, but they also focus on the importance of everyone voting.
The exhibition also holds cartoons by Nast originally printed in wood, to show the contrast between the techniques used in 1860 and today. These cartoons show how artists nowadays have chosen “simpler but to the point” cartoons, unlike the complex and context-full cartoons Nast is famous for.
Cartoonists use elements of caricature – the exaggeration of physical characteristics – in order to show the reader a different point of view and maybe even change the viewers’ mind.
The exhibition shows the importance of this election and how voters have the power to decide where the country will be heading in the upcoming years. With less than a month until the election, Hofstra is educating its students with any resources available in and out of the classroom.