Arguments and Genre

The cartoon, while not quite pro-GE foods, is arguing that GE foods prevent starvation due to drought. Because of this, GE foods should be tolerated. It claims that people against the idea of genetically modified foods are “reason resistant.” (1) The cartoon is not promoting GE foods because it merely presents why GE foods are tolerable. It’s not advocating the prolific use of genetic engineering on food products.
The advertisement presents several reasons on why GE foods should either be made under strict guidelines or made illegal. The advertisement discusses how “no one can predict the long-term effects of these foods on our health,” (line 11-13) and promotes “mandatory labeling and safety testing” (line 19-20) for GE foods. The advertisement is obviously trying to raise awareness about the subject of GE foods and trying to recruit members for the “Keep Nature Natural” campaign.
The cartoon does not fully represent the cartoonist’s opinion of genetically engineered foods. Steve Breen, the cartoonist, shows some support, if not indifference, towards the science of GE foods. Because of the cartoon’s size and text limitations, Breen could not present a well-rounded argument or idea. The viewer does not see Breen’s entire idea on the matter. Therefore, the genre of cartoon made Breen present the controversy of GE foods without elaboration. Perhaps this is best. The image of the starving man being refused food by an overweight hippie is disconcerting. People glancing through the morning paper would notice this cartoon and take away that perhaps GE foods would be able to help someone in a time of drought. The cartoon is effective because it quickly informs people about another’s perspective on GE foods.
The advertisement has space to present several sentences about GE foods and therefore can better inform the reader than a comic can. Truly, though, the advertisement is more about influencing the reader than informing them. The ad discusses why you should say “No!” to GE foods. The ad, although longer than the comic, is still brief. Its sentences are not wrought with knowledge. The genre of advertisement allows for more words than a comic, but the words are still too few to present a full argument. The cartoon is more effective because it presents its point swiftly to the busy American.