Analysis of I Am Texting While Driving

Analysis of I am Texting While Driving What makes texting and driving so dangerous? According to Mike Lukovich, it can lead to death. Lukovich’s cartoon is originally from the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and taken from the website haha.nu/entertainment “I am texting while driving.” It displays a two panel scenario. The scenario consists of a driving man in the left panel and of a figure many recognize as death in the right panel. The message that the artist is conveying in this cartoon can be interpreted as texting while driving, though to some may not seem a crucially important activity, can be and is deadly.
The layout of the two panels seems to be representing cause and effect scenario. Within the left panel of the cartoon we are given the text box “Im texting while drvng,” placed above a middle-aged looking man with glasses who appears to be hiding his eyes as if he were metaphorically blind. In his hand is a cellphone around which there are movement indicators, and his other hand is on the wheel while his focus is on his cellular device. One is able to come to the conclusion that the man is currently driving by the tassel that is hanging from the front view mirror, rather than hanging straight down it is angled as if the wind were hitting it. In front of the man’s car there is another vehicle that seems he is going to collide with. As there is a lack of space between the two cars. In the right panel of the cartoon the text box is “Lol” placed above a hooded figure with skeletal hands holding a cellular device with movement indicators. The hooded figure appears to be the Grim Reaper that represents death to many people.
Once again, the message that Lukovich is portraying is that if you text and drive you have the possibility of dying or causing death. The layout of the cartoon itself helps support this theory as if it were a cause and effect scenario, showing the texting driver on the left then the Grim Reaper on the right. The grays and blacks of the drawing portray the dark theme of the situation. Above the cartoon there is the text, “Don’t do drugs, don’t text and drive.” With this statement Lukovich insinuates that texting while driving is just as dangerous as doing drugs. The driver of this cartoon is in a way flirting with a disaster. Lukovich gets his point across by using dark themes and humor. Though it seems as if the driver is a middle aged male, there is no way to be completely sure of his age or gender. By this alone the cartoon is a message that can be viewed by drivers in general. The audience is not limited to those who read the paper, but is also directed to those who have access to the internet.