Question

study the cartoon by signe wilkinson.
how does the symbol of the coal miner work to create meaning?
the coal miner symbolizes the hard work that went into creating the internet devices we use today.
the coal miner symbolizes jobs lost by books being printed online rather than on paper.
the coal miner symbolizes the fossil fuel energy used to create electricity to power devices.
the coal miner symbolizes the green energy used to create electricity that powers devices.

Explanation:

The cartoon mocks the false idea that digital devices are "totally green" just because they don't use paper. The coal miner connected to the tablet represents the fossil fuel energy (from coal) that is burned to generate the electricity needed to power such digital devices, revealing the non-green reality behind the device's operation. The other options are incorrect: the internet's creation is not tied to coal miner labor, the miner is not about book-printing job loss, and coal is not green energy.

Answer:

The coal miner symbolizes the fossil fuel energy used to create electricity to power devices.