When trying to find a visual text this week, I looked through many political cartoons, but this particular one made me stop scrolling and actually look at the message. In the center of the cartoon is a large turkey that immediately grabbed my attention because it is in a barren landscape with a dark orange sky. Nick Anderson, the cartoonist responsible for this political cartoon published this in the Houston Chronicle's blog on August 9th, 2012. He has won the Pulitzer Prize as well as other awards for his works because of the powerful messages they give. Even though this particular cartoon was published over a year ago, it will stay relevant for as long as global warming is an issue, so it was important that Anderson tackled this subject. Ultimately the picture is of a cooked turkey living on future planet Earth. The use of food, especially meat, planted a much harsher and less humorous thought in my mind. If a turkey will cook to death due to global warming, why not human flesh? I believe that Anderson intended to appeal to pathos and make people laugh while at the same time make them feel a bit uncomfortable. The dark, orange sky as opposed to a bright blue one makes the American audience feel angry and think dark thoughts. This cartoon is mainly a warning message. Although it is humorous because the turkey is lost to the world with its head stuck in the ground, it was published to warn Americans of what can happen in the near future. Specifically, Anderson is addressing the global warming deniers, because those are the ones with their heads stuck in the ground and burned to death. I think that Anderson achieved his purpose to most viewers, because instead of outright saying "we are all going to die" he shows a dead turkey to illustrate the death of global warming deniers.
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