Editorial Cartoon: Artist Statement - Alexander Rozas

Editorial Cartoon: Artist Statement

By: Alexander Rozas

I’m very interested in modern-day geography and politics. In order to combine those two hobbies, I created an editorial cartoon about the future effects of climate change and the reason behind a lack of political action. I feel that we haven’t shed enough light on how oil companies have essentially bribed politicians into denying climate change. Without enough attention to this issue, this cartoon will become a reality.

My first rough draft looked completely different as I only had three unlabeled states, no actual weather symbols, or the oil. I had three ideas, one about the republicans storming into an impeachment hearing, Trump being booed at the World Series, and one about climate change. My climate change rough draft I spent the least amount of time on. When drawing Trump’s hair on fire, I used purple without even realizing it. After reviewing the drawing, I realized the full potential and set out to make my message more clear. I first drew the weather forecast, so people could understand this was about severe weather and climate change. I drew the coastal southern states and Oklahoma and used labeling to make the location clear. Then, I used weather symbols and proper colors instead of just improvised shapes. I exaggerated the number of natural disasters going on to make my point clear. I also labeled the fire and tsunami warnings, because I didn't use a weather symbol for them. Finally, I drew President Trump taking the money bag given by oil companies to represent the large issue of bribery in the U.S. political system.

Doing this project, I have learned the real dangers that rising sea levels pose. The whole state of Florida will be below sea level if the current melting of sea ice stays on track. Also, many Republican politicians have received large campaign donations from oil companies. Finally, Oregon is highly unprepared for the upcoming earthquake that could be over nine on the Richter scale.