Who was born with a silver foot in his mouth? Modified idiomatic expressions in political cartoons

Abstract: The paper addresses the applicability of conceptual integration theory in the study of political cartoons, actually the role of modified idiomatic expressions in the process of cartoon appreciation. In the political cartoons that were analyzed, modified idiomatic expressions are the crucial components producing humorous effects. In our conceptual integration networks we have input spaces that describe bizarre scenarios in comparison to those that are compatible with the world of politics. It is the combination of those scenarios that creates incongruity within the blended space. The incongruity produces humorous effects. Apart from the fact that conceptual blending can explain the creation of humor and its meaning, it can also reveal why humor is an effective means of criticizing political reality.