Images can be and have been used in various ways, and by their man-made nature they cannot be considered independent of their providers' intentions. Yet, identifying such intentions is complex, and requires a critical look supported by relevant information on what is being represented, how, and why. In this article, the author illustrates some of the ways the traditional Turkish shadow theatre became an item of easy consumption with little historical, cultural, and artistic essence, if any at all. The author has collected artifacts regarding the shadow puppet tradition from Turkish popular culture that demonstrate an increasing poverty of relevant references to original resources, a widespread exploitation of history and cultural values for dominantly commercial ends, and an alarming need for a sound art educational initiative on the issue. In an effort to make the art class a laboratory in which visual literacy is taught through critical analysis of popular icons, the author offers an example of such analysis departing from the frequent use of images of traditional shadow puppets in Turkish media. The author's analysis focuses on how, in the hands of politics of Turkish popular culture (Street, 1997), a unique piece of artistic heritage can become a cartoon-like surface image detached from its cultural artistic and historical roots. (Contains 7 figures.)