REHUGO: Observation

Daniel Lee
Mr. Soeth
English III AP
REHUGO: Observation
A. Attached at the bottom
B. In this cartoon, the cartoonist is bringing up the issue of ex-convicts that are released from jail that are now out in the world. Recently, with the surplus of convicted felons in jails, there are too many people in jails and it is getting over crowded. However, with the economic depression our nation is in during this epoch, the construction of new jails is not an option. Therefore, in order to resolve this predicament, government officials are letting minor convicted members have an early release to create more space for people who committed much worse felonies.
C. This picture is effective because it appeals to the audience through humor by the ex-convict saying he was in a “gated community.” Typically when one says he or she lived in a “gated community,” it is assumed that it was a sophisticated neighborhood where gated fences were required in order to preserve the peace of the civilians. However, in the ex-convict’s case, his “gated community” is referring to a jail he was recently released from. Also, the visual is quite ironic because the “gated community” the ex-convict was from is the complete opposite of a typical “gated community.” By the irony within this visual, the drawer creates a humorous tone that appeals to the audience by his use of pathos.
D. The trend of releasing minor convicts from jails has both its pros and cons. On the pros side, it creates room for more dangerous threats to our society to be put in to jail and therefore creating a more peaceful environment. However, many ex-convicts’ time in jail will be cut allowing more ex-convicts to roam the streets in the city. Depending on how these ex-convicts react towards their early release will determine how the decision of releasing these ex-convicts will affect our society. Hopefully, these convicts will see this early release as a glimpse of hope for change for the better helping the community grow.

(premshree@hotmail.com), Premshree Pillai. "Gated Community Cartoons and Comics." CartoonStock - Cartoon Pictures, Political Cartoons, Animations. Web. 25 Feb. 2011. .