Social Studies Connection

A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional show of visual art. While the particular definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for mockery, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works.

Artist who create cartoons are called Cartoonists. This term originated in the Middle Ages and first described a introductory drawing for a piece of art, such as a painting, fresco, tapestry, or stained glass window.

In the 19th century, it came to be referred to humorous illustrations in magazines and newspapers, and then around the early 20th century and onward it referred to comic strips and animated films.

The first cartoon "Substance and Shadow" (1843) by John Leech.

Substance and Shadow

A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to show humors or a form of a narrative, often serialized, with text in bubbles/squares/boxes and captions. Traditionally, throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century, these were published in newspapers, with horizontal strips printed in black-and-white in daily newspapers, while Sunday newspapers had longer sequences in special color comics sections.

21st century comic sample from Katherine Nguyen.

Sample 1

Sample 2