Political Caricatures Of The American Era

READINGS IN PHILIPPINE H I S T O RY

Content and Contextual Analysis

Objectives: • T O A N A LY Z E T H E C O N T E N T O F T H E H I S T O R I C A L I N F O R M AT I O N IN THE DOCUMENT(S) • T O U N D E R S TA N D T H E DOCUMENT(S) AND HOW IT CONTRIBUTES TO THE GRAND N A R RAT I V E I N P H I L I P P I N E H I S T O RY

What is caricature? • A PICTURE, DESCRIPTION, IMITATION OF A PERSON IN WHICH CERTAIN STRIKING CHARACTERISTICS ARE EXAGGERATED IN ORDER TO CREATE A COMIC OR RIDICULOUS EFFECT.  • CAN BE INSULTING OR COMPLIMENTARY AND CAN SERVE A POLITICAL PURPOSE OR BE DRAWN SOLELY FOR ENTERTAINMENT.  • CARICATURES OF POLITICIANS -EDITORIAL CARTOONS

Background of the Author Alfred Mccoy  Birth: 1945, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Citizenship: United States of America.

Background of the Author Alfred Mccoy 

• Professor of SE Asian History at the University of Wisconsin at Madison • Director of the Center for SE Asian Studies. • Ph.D. on SE Asian history • Writer about the politics & history of the opium trade • The Philippines remains the major focus of his research. His teaching interests include: Modern Philippine social and political

Historical Context of Political Caricatures of the American Era Philippine political cartoons gained full expression during the American era. Filipino artists recorded national attitudes toward the coming of the Americans as well as the changing mores and times. While the 377 cartoons compiled in this book speak for themselves, historian Alfred McCoy’s extensive research in Philippine and American archives provides a comprehensive background not only to the cartoons but to the turbulent period as well. Political Caricature of the American Era, 1900-41 Awards Earned:•Philippine Catholic Mass Media Award, Best Book of the Year for 1985.•Philippine National Book Award for History, 1986.Gintong Aklat Award (Manila) Special Citation for History, 1897

Analysis, Contribution, and Relevance of the Document(s)

American Worker- Filipino Workerrefers not to a ten fold difference in Filipino and American manual wages within the colony, but to a more fundamental inequality the difference in wages and working conditions between the two countries.

The context of this caricature is based on the discrimination that Filipino teachers received back in the early 90’s wherein despite having equal job opportunities and qualifications with American teachers, Filipino teachers recieved lower wages, fewer privilages and bigger classrooms. When Filipinos began winning civil service appointments after 1913 they found themselves facing serious discrimination in both wages and positions.

Analysis, Contribution, and Relevance of the Document(s)

Young people, as early as that period, disturbed the conservative Filipino mindset by engaging in daring sexual activities in public places like cinemas.In this 1920 cartoon on the subject, the Free Press hinted that dating would not last and mocked the new trend by suggesting the absolutely outrageous -- send the students out to the cinemas together. In 1932, the young were not only dating unchaperoned in the cinemas but were actually kissing. Police had arrested

Analysis, Contribution, and Relevance of the Document(s)

Unprecedented increase of motorized vehicles in the city. Automobiles became a popular mode of transportation in the city and led to the emergence of taxis and then the laws and policy implementation was mediocre. The Free press denounces the proliferation of illegal taxis called  COLORUMS.With automobiles crowded into Manila's narrow streets and authorities failing to take necessary actions, the Free press had some gloomy thoughts. With the proliferation of illegal PUVS and Taxis (Colorums), fatal

Contribution of the Document in Understanding the Grand Narrative in Philippine History Editorial Cartoons  play an important role in understanding the Filipinos' sentiments concerning the transition of governance from Spain to the Americans. Pressing issues are clearly illustrated in the caricature of characters and satirized situations in the Philippine Society during the American era.  Cartoon editorials compiled by McCoy as a print media, surely have made an impact among the Filipino readers during the American period until today. Including works of art and editorials in the study of history is a good strategy to make students more engaged in learning the course. People’s opinions, sentiments, and aspirations of the time they were published can be reflected and analyzed in the works of art.

Relevance of the Document Indeed, artists’ works are relevant in the study of Philippine History. Artists’ free expression of thoughts through their cartoons or caricatures somehow  influenced the Filipinos at that particular period. Moreover, these cartoons or caricatures from the past hold clues to life in the early twentieth-century. It also provides different perspectives and gives us a wellrounded way of looking at past events, situations, and people. By analyzing and understanding these caricatures we can rewind time and experience what a time period different from our own was like.

References: • https://prezi.com/p/ph__5rxnezgp/politicalcaricatures-of-american-era/ • Selected sections and cartoons from 'Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of the American Era 1900-1941' edited by Alfred W. McCoy and Alfredo R. Roces (1985)

Presented by:

KL ARIEZ DIMACUL ANGAN

PAOLO GOZOS

CHARLES PEREA