• Cartoon and Animation Studies
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• s.34
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• pp.167-195
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• 2014

A handwritten poster named "How are you, really?" appeared on December 10, 2013. And other handwritten posters sympathizing with it followed in places and are on everyone's lips hotly through internet and SNS. Such a social phenomenon is delivered to readers as a form of article in different meanings according to the viewpoint of each press. It is also delivered to readers as a material for delivering a meaning of a specific case in four panel comics strips and satirical cartoon of newspaper. This is because that comic strips of the press are now having a power to enlighten readers on the key point of a case easily and intuitively together with catharsis from the position of meditating the world. Notwithstanding differences depending on the viewpoints of the press or cartoonist, four panel comics strips and satirical cartoon on the newspaper are fulfilling their social role having their own voice. Of the genres of comic strips, social role of the comics of the press can be divided largely into two things. First, they actively intervene in social phenomena. In other words, comics of the press make their position and insistence on social phenomena clearly by exaggeration and emphasis. Second, they persuade or enlighten readers by concrete directions, which means that comics of the press make reader with similar viewpoint emphasize by delivering a clear message. This study aims to assert that comic strips are the most important medium with social role and responsibility. As part of studies on the social role of comics, this study wish that comic strips can be able to deviate from vicious circle of being socially condemned for reason of negative portion.