“In a Tight Place,” by Bernard Partridge, is a political cartoon created around the Russo-Japanese War. This cartoon is about the disputes over Dokdo-Takeshima during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–05.
The cartoon shows how Korea was trapped in an agonising position between Russia and Japan. Although Korea wasn’t directly involved in the war, it was unwillingly drawn in, as it was geographically between the two nations of conflict.
Since the area surrounding Dokdo-Takeshima was the area where much of the fighting between the Russian and Japanese navies occurred, the Japanese took advantage of the circumstances and took the island, which was in the middle of the battle zone. Japan ignored Korea’s request to remain neutral and proceeded to cross over with intentions of using Korea itself as a military base. Japan urged the Korean government to sign the Korea-Japan Protocol Agreement. Although it may have appeared as though Korea eventually signed, the truth was that Japan had forced Korea to sign the Agreement. The Korea-Japan Protocol Agreement stated that Korea would give full military control to Japan in case of danger. Due to this, Japan also moved its navy to Incheon, Korea and had for all intents and purposes invaded Korea. Since Korea had no power at the time, this caused the Koreans to sit idly while the country’s sovereignty was violated, and the country was being annexed by the imperialistic Japanese. Since Japan had invaded Dokdo-Takeshima without a fight, the Japanese believed the island previously had no owner. This is how the ownership of Dokdo-Takeshima ended in 1905 with Japan in control of the island.
Although the usage of color isn’t significant in a political cartoon, perhaps the black and white colors represent the lack of emotion and motivation that Koreans were feeling at the time, due to the trauma of experiencing war and pain. More explicitly, the rope conveys the suffocating atmosphere that the Koreans must have felt, as the old man tied in the rope looks as though he is in great pain or is gasping for air. The Japanese and the Russian soldiers look relentless, accurately representing the actions of both sides and the effects they had on Korea.
As a Korean, this political cartoon speaks to me in many ways. In one way, I am able to open my eyes upon the history of my county and begin to learn how difficult it was for its people to have fought to reclaim it. In another way, I am able to visually grasp how the citizens of Korea must have felt during this time of pain and great loss. I look outside and see how much things have changed since the beginning of the 20th century. Now, Korea is thriving as a country. Korea’s technological advancements are one thing, but the way that it transformed its economy is the most impressive part of its overall development during the 20th century.
After thinking about this political cartoon, I am very proud to be Korean.
