Research Symposium

BIO

I am a freshman from Wisconsin studying international affairs with a concentration in public administration. My academic interests include political science, public policy, and international relations research. I hope to study abroad in the future to gain global experience and prepare for a career as a foreign service officer.

Satire and Symbolism: Ronald Reagan through Postcards

Abstract

This project examines the question: How did satirical postcards of Ronald Reagan use visual symbolism to shape public perceptions of his policies, personality, and media image? This question seeks to explore how the public may have perceived Reagan and his policies during his presidency, and by focusing on satire, the analysis highlights the polarization that was present. After searching for political postcards more generally, many were found depicting Ronald Reagan in a humorous way. Once this direction was established, observational analysis was used to examine three main elements: portrayals of his policies, the language and tone of the cards, and the visual metaphors present. The findings indicate that these postcards overwhelmingly depict Reagan in a negative and critical light, using satire to question his policies, leadership, and media image. Across the samples, visual metaphors and exaggerated language come together to frame his economic, military, and labor policies as harmful or out of touch, reinforcing a tone of skepticism and dissent. This pattern demonstrates that satirical postcards functioned as an accessible way for critics to express dissatisfaction. This research is significant because it complicates the popular narrative of Reagan as a universally popular president by revealing how satirical visual culture captured dissent during his presidency.

Keywords: Politics, Symbolism, Postcards