Polemics In Political Caricatures

In the middle 18th century,Industrial Revolution emerged in Britain and soon it swept over the whole Island,as a result,not only changed it the way British lived,but also it changed the entire social structure.The appeal that Catholics demanded equal rights as Protestants was increasing,and so was the newly emerging middle class,which illustrated the imperfection of the ancient constitution in England.A reform was fermenting.In the wake of the budding,political caricatures appeared among various pamphlets,and gradually became common practice.Humorous and vivid as well as strong private feelings,political caricatures were originally pressed to demonstrate someone's political standpoint.Later,political caricatures became very popular for the strong contagion caused by the sharp satires and plump implications.Thereupon,this presentation was accepted and used for propaganda by politicians,and then beside the arguments on the reform in the parliament,there also were polemics in political caricatures for the same theme.The number of political caricatures always peaked at the key moment of the Parliament Reform,and after the Reform came true,the number of political caricatures decayed fiercely.In another words,political caricatures in Britain accompanied with the Parliament Reform in the 18th century,and the former is the mirror of the latter.With the flourish of the printing industry and some guarantee of the freedom of expression,political caricatures set a precedent that applied artworks in p.olitical competitions,along with the vicissitude of party politics.The main body of this paper c.ontains five chapters:The Chapter ? is Introduction,which introduces the cause of this theme as well as its significance,summary of the relevant research,the method of this research is also included.The Chapter ? shows the contents of political caricatures.According to the contents,political caricatures are departed to six types,and they all have been attached some caricatures as examples:political caricatures majored on political leaders;political caricatures majored on public figures(such as Wilks);political caricatures on political group or mass organizations;political caricatures on current affairs;political caricatures mocking rivals]overall characters;political caricatures directly on the reforming subject.Of which,the sixed type is divided into two kinds again:political caricatures on different attitudes to the Reform and political caricatures expecting different results of the Reform.The Chapter ? focus on the creation and spread of political caricatures.Almost all elements such as caricaturists,the engraving means and printing technology,the conventional artistry and the loose environment for publishing and so on,made the creation and spread favourablely.While the readers were minority.The Chapter IV is the meaning and limitation of political caricatures.Political caricature is an expression both common and efficient,as a publicity means it made a difference indeed.And the popularity of the political caricatures reflects the process of the freedom of the press as well as the openness of the Britain in 18th century.Even so,confined to the defects of this expression and the caricaturists' cognitive level and political emotion along with the limited readers,the impact of the political caricatures is finite.The last part is the conclusion,which summarizes the whole research briefly.