Views from abroad.

• Position: MEXICO - Political cartoons

Political cartoons are one of Upfront's most popular features. The ones you see on our cartoons page in each issue are usually drawn by Americans, but our World Week supplement looks at what cartoonists outside the U.S. are thinking about.

You'll probably find some of these cartoons easy to get; others you may have to ponder a bit to figure out. Why, for example, do you think the Mexican cartoonist who created the image at left portrays the world as a giant globe in a rowboat, with Uncle Sam struggling to get his oars into the water?

For each cartoon, consider its country of origin and ask yourself: Why might the cartoonist think this way about the topic?

Keep in mind the following devices that cartoonists often use to express their ideas:

Symbol: an object that is widely understood to stand for a country, an institution, or an idea. Uncle Sam, for example, with his top hat and beard, is a well-known symbol of the U.S.

Caricature: an exaggerated drawing of a person, either to poke fun or to make the subject instantly recognizable.

Hyperbole: a deliberate exaggeration, often for comic effect.

Irony: A situation or statement that differs from what is expected.

Examples: A fight breaking out at a world peace conference, or an ill person saying "I feel great."

China

SWITZERLAND

The center Of The World:

PATRICK CHAPPATTE * CAGLE CARTOONS

SLOVAKIA

MARTIN SUTOVEC * CAGLE CARTOONS

Immigration

THE PHILIPPINES

US IMMIGRATION POLICY BEFORE:

US IMMIGRATION POLICY TODAY:

MANNY FRANCISCO * CAGLE CARTOONS

PANAMA

ARCADIO ESQUIVEL * LA PRENSA * CAGLE CARTOONS

Second Amendment

SWEDEN

OBAMA CALLS FOR STRENGHTENING GUN RULES ...

OLLE JOHANSSON * CAGLE CARTOONS

CANADA

I FEEL ASSAULTED.

GABLE * THE GLOBE AND MAIL * CARTOONARTS INTERNATIONAL * THE NEW YORK TIMES SYNDICATE

Afghanistan/Terrorism

AUSTRALIA

ALL YOURS ...

MOIR * MORNING HERALD * CARTOONARTS INTERNATIONAL * THE NEW YORK TIMES SYNDICATE

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

TODAY

BOOM

TOMORROW

BOO!

PARESH NATH * THE KHALEEJ TIMES * CAGLE CARTOONS

Obama's Re-election

CHINA

LUOJIE * CHINA DAILY * CAGLE CARTOONS

NICARAGUA

MOLINA * EL NUEVO DIARIO * CARTOONARTS INTERNATIONAL * THE NEW YORK TIMES SYNDICATE

Cartoon Analysis

1. What is President Obama doing in the Chinese cartoon above?

2. What are the stacks of paper surrounding him?

3. How does Obama seem to feel about his second inauguration? What might be on his mind?

4. Why do you think a Chinese cartoonist might portray Obama this way?

5. Do you think the cartoonist...