Why do readers need background knowledge to understand political cartoons?

Readers require background knowledge to understand political cartoons because these works are primarily opinion-oriented media designed to convey editorial commentary on specific, newsworthy political issues and current events.1

Because political cartoons function as artistic vehicles that utilize metaphorical and satirical language to point out the complexities, problems, and discrepancies of a political situation, they rely on the audience's ability to recognize the subjects and contexts being referenced. Without a foundational understanding of the news or the political figures involved, the visual commentary—which often employs caricature and symbolic exaggeration—may not be fully interpreted as the artist intended. Ideally, this necessary context is provided by the same journalistic outlets, such as newspapers, in which the cartoons are published.12