When analyzing propaganda or political cartoons, remember that you should…
1. Identify who the target audience is. Use the information provided in the resource to draw your own conclusions about who the cartoon is directed to.
2. Decide what the overall message of the resource is. Oftentimes, the caption at the bottom or top of the page will give you a hint as to what the creator of this image believes.
3. Determine what the cartoon or poster is trying to get you to believe about the topic.

Hendon, David W. “Aktion T4 in Hitler’s Germany.” HIS 3308: Hitler and the Holocaust. Baylor University, Waco. Lecture.

Headline of the Above Cartoon: The Less Worthy are Increasing Faster than the Healthy

1. Identify what form of media this is. (Example: Cartoon, Poster, Government Document, etc.)

2. Write down three observations from the visual aspects of the cartoon. (Consider the following: What is being shown in the connected bubbles? How do the pictures on the left differ from those on the right?)

3. What is the overall message of this resource? How do you know?

4. Does the message attempt to manipulate with emotion, reason or both? Explain.

5. Do you believe this form of propaganda was effective? Explain using your knowledge of events and specific examples from the above resource.

Hendon, David W. “Aktion T4 in Hitler’s Germany.” HIS 3308: Hitler and the Holocaust. Baylor University, Waco. Lecture.

Headline of the Above Cartoon: This Disabled Person Will Cost 60,000 Marks of Your Money, Germany

1. Identify what form of media this is. (Example: Cartoon, Poster, Government Document, etc.)

2. Who is the target audience? How do you know?

3. What are the most dominant characteristics of this resource? (Make a few observations)

4. Does the message attempt to manipulate with emotion, reason or both? Explain.

5. Do you believe this form of propaganda was effective? Explain using your knowledge of events and specific examples from the above resource.