As the ever-changing media landscape continues to evolve so does its content and in turn how that content is received. Central to the heart of American media are politics. American political ideology has been played out over the decades in conventional forms consisting of essays and written publications. Just as important to that ideology is American political opinion construed through drawings. Political cartoons have seen the scope of changing media in both content and delivery. They represent vivid, imaginative insight into politics and popular opinion. Today's political cartoons represent a fusion of pop culture and politics; and can be seen in a mired of ways. The web has become a new outlet for political cartooning. News and media today are certainly a far cry from the birth of quintessential political cartoons.

To comprehend the origin of the political cartoon, the term must be accurately defined, i.e. what is a political cartoon? According to Dan Backer's A Brief History of Cartoons website explains how a political cartoon is the melding of two elements. The first element is the caricature and the allusion. The second element is context, i.e. the subject matter is something widely known. In other words the subject matter portrayed by cartoons is something recognizable. The caricature will parody the individual and the allusion will create context. So political cartoons will exaggerate individuals' features and bring out that individuals "inner self' creating satire. Initially these caricatures and allusions were merely "curiosity" and not "viable artistic productions." The earliest would be political cartoons were not meant for public viewing (Backer).

Public viewing and "public consciousness" began to appear with the Protestant Reformation in Germany. "Visual propaganda" was used in the pursuit of religious reforms. The context of religious form was something widely known and familiar thus these early political cartoons were an effective means to make the public aware (Backer). The success of cartoons of the eighteenth century helped to sustain cartooning as a medium. Cartoons were more than just comedy and humor they took on an air of satire and seriousness. They presented serious issues in an acceptable manner specifically
designed to influence and affect popular opinion. As political cartooning became effective, "graphic satire" was utilized in the western culture (Backer).

Following Nast's work was that of artist Joseph Keppler's who established the magazine Puck. Puck's cartoons were influence by German and Italian models. These cartoons "marked a significant moment in which the ideas of an intellectual elite could be successfully relayed to the masses." The use of "illustrated humor" allowed Puck to ridicule prominent figures of the day (Backer). This ridicule turned to commentary on politics and culture.

Political cartoons quickly solidified a place in American culture and politics and are now an accepted form of mainstream media. Today their place is as prevalent as ever. The longevity of cartoon as a medium for political expression then begs the question of evolution. With the changes and evolution of media has political cartooning under gone metamorphosis? Cartoons have changed in both content and delivery.

Obviously we do not tackle the same issues of Thomas Nast's generation or Joesph Keppler's or even Benjamin Franklin's. We are a society riddled with terrorism, technological catch-22s, political scandals and injustice. Issues addressed in political cartoons today are not the same as those in the eighteenth or nineteenth century. Content and issues are drastically different and it would only make sense that delivery would change as well. Initially cartoons did not make it out of a parlor or sitting room, they would be merely sketches in a notebook. As cartoons became mainstream, they found their place in pamphlets, brochures, newspapers and weekly digests. Today cartoons are a mainstay on websites, blogs, and internet magazines, in addition to traditional print media.

Few forms of art could sustain such a length influence on society. Political cartoons are unique and are more distinct form of media. In Political Cartoons from The 1988 Presidential Campaign, Janis L. Edward notes political cartoons are an "idea sustained by observation," they are "visual metaphors." Perhaps political cartoons sustain themselves because the bridge the apparent gap between fact and fiction (Edward xi). ,Political cartoons have become a very effective medium for political expressions thus change in subject matter is apparent.

In the spirit of evolution and metamorphosis Jenn Shreve begins to explore the effect of computer programs and their manipulation of images and how in sense its becoming a political statement, the digital age meets political cartoons. Images doctored on a computer now have place along side politic cartoons. One of the most notable examples of manipulated images includes an image of tourist edited to appear atop the World Trade Center before the jetliner headed into it (see below).

In "Photoshop: It's All the Rage," Shreve writes "Photoshopping, as its practitioners call it is a booming
online pastime for hobbyists and graphic designers whose altered documents have taken
up residence in the popular imagination alongside political cartoons and satirical text."
Shreve cites a growing number of website dedicated to "visual puns, satirical
commentary and political expression" (Shreve). Evolution of political cartoons is
obvious and the future uncertain.