Humor factor in political communication: An analysis of cartoons in humor publications regarding the June 24, 2018 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections

Political cartoons play a role through their portrayal of messages in political life that frames the society. Political cartoons that convey the humor to the mass through drawings depict deficiencies in political structure within their reflection on society via its satire factor. Accordingly, correct interpretation of political cartoons is necessary in the process of political communication, which is very important for social life. In this study, the impacts of political communication and its application method in political cartoons is dealt with. Turkish Presidential election and parliamentary election in June 24th 2018 is significant in terms of Turkish political life. The voters have determined the new government in the presidential government system for first time. For this reason, the media's portrayal of facilities related to political communication in election process is additionally important in this study context. The study, in the context of Political Communication and Humour, aims at presenting the role of political cartoons in political election process in the context of political communication. Within the scope of this study, political science is mentioned in detail and the political communication process is dealt with all its actors by revealing the connection between politics and communication. Moreover, theoretical framework on the concept of humour is determined. This study unfolds the role of humour in political communication in terms of the connection between political communication and political cartoons by taking into consideration. In the third section of the study, general information regarding the semiological method that is used during the analysis is presented and semiotic codes that are used during cartoons analysis are included. At the concluding part of the research, cartoons that are included in humour magazines regarding 24th of June general elections is analyzed through semiological method in the context of political communication and a general assessment for the portrayal of the election process in cartoons has been implemented in light of findings.