Journal article 22195 views
'Our War History in Cartoons is Unique': J. M. Staniforth, British public opinion and the South African War, 1899-1902
Chris Williams
War in History, Start page: 1
Swansea University Author: Chris Williams
Abstract
This essay re-examines the question of British public opinion regarding the 1899-1902 war against the Boer Republics by analysing the cartoons of the News of the World [London] and Western Mail [Cardiff] cartoonist J. M. Staniforth (1863-1921). Almost half of all Staniforth’s cartoons during the war...
| Published in: | War in History |
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| Published: |
2013
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa679 |
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| Abstract: |
This essay re-examines the question of British public opinion regarding the 1899-1902 war against the Boer Republics by analysing the cartoons of the News of the World [London] and Western Mail [Cardiff] cartoonist J. M. Staniforth (1863-1921). Almost half of all Staniforth’s cartoons during the war’s duration dealt directly with the conflict, and reached substantial audiences both at the time and in subsequent republications as stand-alone volumes. Arguing that the cartoons tell us not only about the views of the cartoonist but also suggest something about the attitudes of his readership, an examination is made of the use of stock characters and metaphor before attention is turned to selected aspects of the war. These are i) the approach and outbreak of war; ii) responses to British military reverses; iii) the welfare of servicemen and their families; iv) the controversy surrounding the ‘scorched earth’ policy introduced in the summer of 1900. Although recognising the inherently unstable nature of cartoons as a source full of potential ambiguities, the conclusion is drawn that even patriotic supporters of imperial expansion were unable to conceal their doubts and unease over both the causes of the war and the methods by which it was pursued. |
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| College: |
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Start Page: |
1 |