The old English adage “a picture is worth a thousand words” is true; due to the dominance brought about by visual communication in our world. Today, tons of words can be easily reduced into a single image. In this regard, Gunther Kress and Theo Van Leeuwen in their revised version of their book "The Grammar of Visual Design" state that "...what is expressed in language through the choice between different word classes and clause structures can, in visual communication, expressing oneself through the choice between different uses of color or different composition structures. »Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essay Thus, political cartooning has occupied niches in “media discourse” as a prevalent subgenre alongside magazines, newspapers, television channels, posters, and prints. It has also invaded social media platforms like Facebook, blogs, websites, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter…etc. All over the world, caricature becomes the mirror of the social and political life of countries. It is known as a weapon of criticism and propaganda rather than an art form. Political cartoons have proven their capacity and effectiveness in trivializing the most complex issues and conflicts. Unlike texts, articles or speeches, the political cartoon has the power to immediately expose the most sophisticated problems. In similar terms, Neighbor states that political cartoons "...can often have more truth and insight than hundreds of words of textual analysis." Its ability to convey messages to people with minimal reading skills is the reason for its great popularity. History has always been proof of the power and danger that political cartoons represent; especially in totalitarian countries. For example, Charles Philippon; a French lithographer caricaturist and journalist was arrested for describing Emperor Louis Philippe as "le poire" (meaning fathead) and got off with a fine and an apology. Also in Britain, during the reign of Queen Victoria, drawing members of the royal family in caricatures was considered an offense; in fact, nowadays it is becoming a fashion in the West. Unlike in the West, where cartoonists enjoy their freedom of expression, cartoonists in the Middle East still suffer from the repressed forces exerted by dictatorial regimes. In my article research, I will focus on studying the power of political cartoons and how we can see Tunisia before and after the revolution through the eyes of political cartoons. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay Cartooning is a subversive art. Totalitarian regimes suppress it because dictators are frightened men and cannot risk ridicule! In Tunisia, before the "Jasmine Revolution" and under the presidency of Zine Din Ben Ali, all kinds of freedoms, including "freedom of expression, press and art", were almost non-existent or under government censorship. government. It is therefore obvious that the power of the caricature threatened the authorities. He can express thoughts that may only be in the back of people's minds. It can clarify nebulous and ill-formed attitudes and bring them to life. Cartoons can be moving, partial, extremely critical, provocative and teasing at the same time; where other printed modes of communication cannot.