Want to create interactive content? It’s easy in Genially!
Caricature by Leslie G Illingworth, published in the British newspaper
mariecurieposte4
Created on August 27, 2024
Start designing with a free template
Discover more than 1500 professional designs like these:
Transcript
Sources
- http://classemediadupaty.org/2018/06/17/la-guerre-froide-a-travers-des-caricatures/ - https://clg-malraux-louvres.ac-versailles.fr/IMG/html/crise_de_cuba2.html - https://www.britannica.com/event/Cuban-missile-crisis#:~:text=In%201962%20the%20Soviet%20Union,reached%20to%20withdraw%20the%20missiles. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-Ui8175D8E
Extract of John F. Kennedy's Cuban Missile Crisis speech
The two buttons show that the USA and the USSR hold the fate of the world in their hands. The decision to activate their nuclear arsenal is simple technically but complicated politically. Pressing this innocuous button can result in a nuclear conflict causing "the end of the world".
The buttons
Description and Analysis
Nikita Khrushchev is the leader of USSR and the origin of the installation of the nuclear missiles in Cuba. He is engaged in a “showdown” with Kennedy by threatening the world with nuclear war. He is sweating because the tension is at its peak and he must decide whether or not to start a nuclear conflict by pressing the button. The title of the drawing, "Okay Mr. President we are ready to negotiate", is pronounced by him and shows that the USSR wishes to end the conflict.
Khrouchtchev
Description and Analysis
Caricature by Leslie G Illingworth, published in the British newspaper Daily Mail, 29 October 1962, during the Cuban crisis
The author illustrates the impression left in the world by the Cuban crisis. The clash between the two Great Ones who threatened the world with a nuclear apocalypse. This arm of a iron fist "kept the world under tension for 6 days and both political leaders had the fate of humanity in their hands. The title of the drawing shows that reason prevailed and that the USA and the USSR could not decide alone on the fate of humanity. The two Grands understood that a direct conflict between them could lead to the disappearance of human beings.
Description and Analysis
First of all, we can see that it is a cartoon because the winner would simply press a button with his finger to activate a missile capable of blowing up a large part of the Earth, while arm wrestling with the other hand. It is made to show who is the strongest man. The image still expresses an important message because the Cold War between the two countries was a political, economic but also sporting rivalry, but there was never a gunshot: this is also why we call it the “Cold War”. It could have gone much further if they had fired the missile. Today, we no longer declare war because every major power has nuclear missiles, and they know that it could blow up a large part of the planet.
The two missiles symbolize the nuclear power of the two Great Powers and their mutual power of self-destruction (USA and USSR). Each leader sits on his opponent's bomb showing the threat of nuclear war generated by the Cuban crisis. The two countries can self-destruct but also trigger a global nuclear holocaust.
The missiles
Description and Analysis
The two missiles symbolize the nuclear power of the two Great Powers and their mutual power of self-destruction (USA and USSR). Each leader sits on his opponent's bomb showing the threat of nuclear war generated by the Cuban crisis. The two countries can self-destruct but also trigger a global nuclear holocaust.
The missiles
Description and Analysis
Kennedy is the president of the USA and he showed his determination in the face of Soviet threats. On October 22, 1962, he announced on television the establishment of a maritime blockade around Cuba and demanded the withdrawal of the missiles. He will negotiate until October 28, showing determination and not giving in to some of his advisors wanting a nuclear bombing on Cuba and the USSR. On October 28, 1962, he reached an agreement with Khrushchev and the Soviets withdrew their missiles from Cuba.
Kennedy
Description and Analysis
The table supports the standoff between Kennedy and Khrushchev. She helplessly watches the fight between the two Greats. It symbolizes either Europe located between the two Greats or the entire planet awaiting the outcome of the confrontation. It refers to the expression "coming to the negotiating table" used during peace meetings between two countries.