How to cite a political cartoon mla 8

Political cartoons are powerful forms of commentary‚ blending art and satire to convey complex social and political messages. Whether you’re analyzing historical events or contemporary issues‚ incorporating these visual sources into your academic work requires precise citation. This detailed guide focuses on the 8th edition of the Modern Language Association (MLA) Handbook‚ providing clear instructions and examples for citing political cartoons in both your Works Cited page and in-text.

Understanding MLA 8th Edition’s Core Elements

MLA 8th edition introduced a flexible “container” system‚ which simplifies citing various source types by focusing on nine core elements‚ applied as available and relevant. The primary goal is to provide enough information for your reader to locate the original source.

1. Author.
2. “Title of source.”
3. Title of container‚
4. Other contributors‚
5. Version‚
6. Number‚
7. Publisher‚
8. Publication date‚
9. Location.

For political cartoons‚ not all elements will always be present or necessary‚ but the fundamental structure remains key.

Citing a Political Cartoon: Key Components

When citing a political cartoon‚ you’ll typically need to identify the following specific pieces of information:

• Artist: The cartoonist’s last name‚ followed by their first name. If no artist is named‚ begin with the title of the cartoon.
• Title of Cartoon: The exact title of the cartoon‚ enclosed in quotation marks. If the cartoon lacks a formal title‚ provide a brief‚ descriptive phrase (e.g.‚ “Cartoon depicting [subject]”) without quotation marks.
• Type of Work: Specify “Cartoon.” This clarifies the nature of the source.
• Title of Original Source: The name of the newspaper‚ magazine‚ or website where the cartoon was originally published. This should be italicized as it acts as the primary container.
• Publication Date: The day‚ month (abbreviated‚ e.g.‚ “May”)‚ and year the cartoon was published.
• Location: For print sources‚ this would be a page number (e.g.‚ “p. A4”). For online sources‚ it’s the URL. Ensure the URL is stable and leads directly to the cartoon if possible.

Step-by-Step Guide with Examples

Here are specific formats and examples for common scenarios:

Citing a Political Cartoon from a Print Source (Newspaper or Magazine)

This is often the most straightforward scenario. You’ll typically have the artist‚ title‚ publication‚ and date readily available.

Format:
Artist’s Last Name‚ First Name. “Title of Cartoon.” Cartoon. Title of Newspaper/Magazine‚ Day Month Year‚ p. Page Number.

Example:

Franklin‚ Benjamin. "Join or Die." Cartoon. Pennsylvania Gazette‚ 9 May 1754‚ p. 1.

(This example references the historical “Join or Die” cartoon‚ often considered the first American political cartoon.)

Citing a Political Cartoon from an Online Source (Website or Database)

Online cartoons are common. Pay close attention to the URL and the date of publication‚ which might differ from the date you accessed it.

Format:
Artist’s Last Name‚ First Name. “Title of Cartoon.” Cartoon. Title of Website/Publication‚ Day Month Year‚ URL.

Example:

Kelley‚ Bob. "Political Climate Change." Cartoon. The Daily Political‚ 4 Apr. 2026‚ www.thedailypolitical.com/climatechange-cartoon.

(Hypothetical example for a cartoon published on an online news portal.)

Citing a Political Cartoon from a Book or Collection

If you encountered the cartoon within a larger collection (like an anthology of political cartoons or a book about a specific cartoonist)‚ you’d cite it as a work within a container (the book).

Format:
Artist’s Last Name‚ First Name. “Title of Cartoon.” Cartoon. Title of Book/Collection‚ edited by Editor’s Name(s)‚ Publisher‚ Year‚ p. Page Number.

Example:

Trudeau‚ Garry. "Doonesbury: A Walk in the Park." Cartoon. The Essential Doonesbury‚ edited by George Stein‚ Andrews McMeel Publishing‚ 1998‚ p. 74.

(Example for a “Doonesbury” comic strip‚ which functions similarly to a political cartoon in this context‚ found in a collection.)

Works Cited Entry vs. In-Text Citation

Remember that every source listed in your Works Cited page must also have at least one corresponding in-text citation within your paper.

Works Cited Entry

The full citation examples above are for your Works Cited page‚ which appears at the end of your paper‚ alphabetized by the first element (typically the artist’s last name).

In-Text Citation

In-text citations are brief references that direct your reader to the full entry in your Works Cited. For political cartoons‚ this usually involves the artist’s last name in parentheses.

• If the artist’s name is mentioned in your sentence: “Franklin’s iconic cartoon visually argued for colonial unity (p. 1).”
• If the artist’s name is not mentioned in your sentence: “The earliest political cartoon in America urged colonial unity (Franklin p. 1).”
• For online sources without page numbers‚ simply use the artist’s last name: “(Kelley).”

Important Considerations

• No Artist Named: If the artist is unknown or uncredited‚ begin the Works Cited entry with the title of the cartoon. The in-text citation would then use an abbreviated title of the cartoon.
• No Title Given: If the cartoon has no formal title‚ create a brief‚ descriptive phrase (e.g.‚ “Cartoon depicting a political debate”). Do not put this phrase in quotation marks.
• Date of Access: For online sources‚ MLA 8th edition generally advises against including a “Date Accessed” unless the source is likely to change or disappear. The publication date is usually sufficient.
• DOI/Permalink: If an online source provides a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) or a permalink‚ use that in place of a general URL as it’s more stable.

Properly citing political cartoons demonstrates your academic rigor and allows your readers to easily verify your sources. By following these MLA 8th edition guidelines‚ you ensure clarity and credibility in your research.