With the recent uprising of technological outlets that allow for communication with a certain anonymity rather than face-to-face contact, it is nearly impossible to overlook the shift in socialization. As depicted in this political cartoon by Mike Keefe, traditions of communicating in person are steadily being replaced by technological communication. Instant messengers and texting have become much more prominent in modern society than ever before, even overruling over-the-phone communication, which was a fad previous to the rise of smart phones and online messengers.
The cartoon may be representative of the amount of time that society has been dependent on technology. Though highly exaggerated, Keefe is attempting to portray that face-to-face communication has become a regretted "thing of the past" in the minds of modern youths. Though the cavemen in the top image are generally portraying content, if not elated, expressions while they enjoy nature and story-telling, those in the "Now..." section carry sullen, blank-eyed gazes, too engulfed in socializing through their metaphorical facade to enjoy nature. Thus, Mike Keefe not only highlights the importance of face-to-face communication, but he disdains the new uprising form of contact.
By including such elements as the expressions of the cavemen vs. the expressions of the youths in the second cell and the inverted lighting, Mike Keefe would argue that communication is detrimental to mankind because sorrow and general sadness are stemming from the replacement. This knowledge may convince people to find a blend of in-person contact and technological communication rather than becoming completely dependent on the latter because, according to Keefe's illustration, they may become more cheerful.
Works Cited:
Keefe, Mike. "Social Networking." Political Cartoons. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 May 2015.
<http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/f67fe392-1ad3-4c22-bf2c-7b0293a75d46.html>.
The cartoon may be representative of the amount of time that society has been dependent on technology. Though highly exaggerated, Keefe is attempting to portray that face-to-face communication has become a regretted "thing of the past" in the minds of modern youths. Though the cavemen in the top image are generally portraying content, if not elated, expressions while they enjoy nature and story-telling, those in the "Now..." section carry sullen, blank-eyed gazes, too engulfed in socializing through their metaphorical facade to enjoy nature. Thus, Mike Keefe not only highlights the importance of face-to-face communication, but he disdains the new uprising form of contact.
By including such elements as the expressions of the cavemen vs. the expressions of the youths in the second cell and the inverted lighting, Mike Keefe would argue that communication is detrimental to mankind because sorrow and general sadness are stemming from the replacement. This knowledge may convince people to find a blend of in-person contact and technological communication rather than becoming completely dependent on the latter because, according to Keefe's illustration, they may become more cheerful.
Works Cited:
Keefe, Mike. "Social Networking." Political Cartoons. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 May 2015.
<http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/f67fe392-1ad3-4c22-bf2c-7b0293a75d46.html>.