Summary of the Caricatures Investigated
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Compared to the other topics found in Simplicissimus and Jugend, illustrative satire that deals with the topic of women’s liberation comprises a minority of the content.
Simplicissimus aimed its criticism mainly towards social and political evils within the Wilhelmine society of the time.
A favorable acceptance by the caricaturists regarding women’s liberation can be only partially identified.
Satire was at its most harassing towards its goal (women) when emancipation was perceived as a threat to “male” rights and privileges (e.g. in the political sector). A positive-amusing depiction quickly turns into a negative-hostile-destructive caricature criticism. The same occurred when the caricaturists perceived women’s professional activities or their striving towards them as rivalry.
The work of Gulbranssons on the topic of women’s suffrage should be excluded from this evaluation. His criticism is based more on the analysis of societal relations, not polemics.
The effect of caricatures
Today’s empirical-analytical classifications are not able to clearly determine to what extent the caricatures presented above on the topic of “women’s liberation” were able to shape the opinions and consciousness of the recipients at the time. In other words, their actual impact can only be speculated upon. The effect a caricature has on its recipient depends on his/her artistic perception, intellect, and knowledge of a variety of social and political phenomena. (see Killisch 1988: 222).
The use of caricatures in the classroom
As already shown in Chapter 8 of the Educational Package on Historical Research , many scientists emphasize that caricatures almost by nature have an inherent “critical” attribute. This leads to the (often simplified) conclusion that the use of caricatures in the classroom thus almost automatically leads to an ability for critical analysis on the part of the pupils.
This view can be countered by the notion that caricatures, circumstances, or situations are often schematically reproduced. When images are reproduced the same way over and over, i.e. when they are constantly typified, this can lead to the manifestation of clichés and prejudices.
However, if the teacher has knowledge about the proper interpretation of caricatures, a differentiated understanding of historical-political contexts, possesses and applies the right kinds of knowledge and methods, and in turn uses them to convey these contents to the pupils, caricatures become appropriate for use in the classroom.
When it comes to caricatures dealing with the life of women and men in times of political and societal change, the pupils can benefit from them by obtaining an increased sensitivity towards different images of men and women. The topic can also be useful for critically reflecting upon their own notions of gender roles, as well as the gender roles perceived by society.
