Caricature Maps – Tools for Political Propaganda (on the Example of Rayko Aleksiev’s Work in the Shturets Newspaper)

Abstract

Caricature maps have long been used for political propaganda, forging ideas and views. This study examines the successful examples of political propaganda from different historical periods by combining the caricature genre with cartography. Caricature maps from Bulgaria and the world are discussed, paying special attention to one of the most famous Bulgarian cartoonists – Rayko Alexiev. In his works can be found many examples of spatial representation of geopolitical events and processes from the 30s and 40s of XX century in Bulgaria, the Balkans, other world regions, and even the whole globe. Examples of 21st century political propaganda through caricature maps of Brexit are also discussed.