Visual Media Gallery
"The Interview"
Released in late May of 2015, this ad was heavily circulated over the summer months in an attempt by the Tories to influence public opinion on Trudeau. Rather than having the intended effect, the advertisement was mocked online for its stilted dialogue and strange tone, with several of its most cringe-worthy lines ("nice hair though") becoming commonly-known catchphrases.
The Conservative party has often used attack ads in previous campaigns to debilitate their opponents and win elections.
Editorial cartoons offer the perspective of a third party voice distinct from both voters and electoral candidates. While they often tend to appear unbiased, it is important to take into account that the periodical a cartoon is published in may be endorsing a specific candidate.
Political Cartoons
Memes and other forms of user-created content provide a unique perspective on newsworthy events such as elections as they are created and circulated by individuals, not political parties or established media outlets. The inherently grassroots nature of their spread ensures that memes which become popular often reflect the views held by large groups of voters.
Internet Memes
Campaign Ads
So What?
All of the aforementioned visual media attempt to present themselves as impartial to some degree, yet all ultimately present a biased viewpoint. Obviously all campaign ads are heavily biased towards the party they are meant to support, it is therefore the media created by other groups which is far more interesting. The vast majority of all memes regarding this election take a Liberal or otherwise left leaning stance in contrast with many of the political cartoons, which often take a more centrist and sometimes conservative position. Perhaps this distinction sheds some light on the demographics and views of the producers and consumers of these two very different forms of media.
