The creators of the Cox and Forkum cartoons created the “Culture Club”, a cartoon that depicts President George W. Bush and his views against embryonic stem cell research. Embryonic stem cell research uses pluripotent cells from human fetus to try and find cures to genetic disorders and to replace organs, tissues, blood and other components of the human body needed to live. The cells are also believed to help with spinal chord injuries. Bush was against this research from the start claiming that it was crossing the ethical line.
Cox and Forkum’s Use Ethos
The creators of the “Culture Club” (May 26, 2005) cartoon are John Cox and Allen Forkum, They are self proclaimed Objectivists that believe in high morality of humans and that everyone is on the pursuit of their own happiness. The creators use their political cartoons to represent their Objectivism and Neoconservatism to the world. Their cartoons usually deal with religion and current issues around the world. The cartoons are normally found on the internet as a webcomic but some have been printed in magazines and newspapers like The New York Times. Cox and Forkum use their ethos as highly active Objectivists and Neoconservatives to share their political views across the world through internet and some printed works. The many people, pro-stem cell research, subscribe to their works most likely see them as highly credible political cartoonists because they express their views in a way that has strong affects on the viewers..
Cox and Forkum’s Use of Pathos
A cartoon’s most important component is the use of pathos. Without evoking any kind of emotion, be it amusement or sadness, a cartoon without pathos has no point. “Culture Club” shows a young boy in a wheelchair with “Stem Cell Research” written across the back. Every person has some sympathy for young children that are confined to a wheelchair. Walking is a basic human ability but without it we see these people and take pity on these young children who are unable to play sports, run around and play like a little kid.
Another image in the cartoon is the character of George W. Bush in a tree house club called the “Culture of Life Club”. A tree house is something that a child in a wheelchair will never be able to do. The idea that a child confined to a wheelchair, looking up at a tree house club, makes one feel sympathathetic for the young boy. No one wants to watch a little boy’s heartbreak because he is excluded from everyday activities for other able body children.
In the cartoon, Bush is saying, “Sorry Billy... some life stages are more sacred than others.” In the cartoon, Bush is shown that he believes that human embryos are “more sacred” than a young child. When seeing that, viewers can be shocked by that claim. A viewer does not want to see a child told that he is not important and others are more important than he is. This part of the cartoon can really tug in the heart strings and bother the viewers.
Cox and Forkum’s use of Logos
Logical thinking can be an important part of a cartoon. If the cartoon does not make sense then it is a pointless piece of art. Cox and Forkum use their logical thinking to make this cartoon make sense to the viewers. Their purpose of this cartoon is to show that they believe Bush’s opinion of stem cell research is wrong.
The use of logos represented in the cartoon is dependent on the viewers’ political ad ethical views of stem cell research. For someone who agrees with Bush that stem cell research this cartoon has no logical standing. A person who does not want stem cell research allowed will view that this cartoon isn’t logical. The thinking of anti-stem cell research justifies that an embryo is a child and should not be destroyed in this scientific research. People who oppose the research believe that a human child, an unborn embryo, should not be destroyed to save another’s life.
On the other hand, those who wish to encourage stem-cell research logically agree with the cartoon. Stem cell research supporters would agree that Bush is incorrect that a human embryo, only a few days old, is more important than a young boy in a wheel chair. Cox and Forkum, being Objectivists and Neoconservatists believe that they are logically correct in their political cartoon. Cox and Forkum’s logic tells them that a young child that already has a life, has feelings, has a mind and a conscience are more “sacred” than an embryo that hasn’t yet developed its nervous system.
Conclusion
The cartoon, “Culture Club” is a controversial editorial cartoon that represented the stem cell research opinions in 2005. The cartoon shows the opinions of pro stem cell researcher people of Bush’s actions on the research. The creators, John Cox and Allen Forkum used the writing strategies ethos, pathos and logos to their ability. Their ethos was their own political viewpoints, which were represented well. Pathos was used to evoke emotion in people to show that a living, breathing, and handicapped child could benefit from stem cell research and not be left out of the “club”. Cox and Forkum’s use of logos can be debated as being used fantastically or horribly. The viewers standing in politics and ethics on this issue contribute to the view of the creators’ logos.
References
John, Cox, Allen, Forkum (2005, May 26). The Culture Club. Retrieved from http://www.coxandforkum.com/archives/000593.html
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