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Writers aren't the only people worried about the decline in newspaper readership. Editorial cartoonists are also learning to adapt to the multimedia environment. Oregon will be flush with cartoonists this week as the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists holds its annual convention in Portland. Among other things, cartoonists will be discussing web distribution and pushing political boundaries in their work.
The oil spill in the Gulf has provided major material for cartoonists lately. Here are links to recent oil spill cartoons by each of our guests, Jack Ohman, Matt Bors, and Steve Kelley. We'll talk about their different takes on the show.
And we'll talk about whether cartooning is a dangerous occupation. Beyond the daily editorial world, South Park creators recently raised the ire of Muslims for their portrayal of religious figures in the popular animated show. And Christians have organized boycotts of Comedy Central because of the way a new animated series will depict Jesus. (Buddhists, it seems, were not as outraged by an animated version of their religion's founder snorting coke in a recent South Park episode.)
A cartoonist in Seattle apologized in May for her cartoon in which she made a satirical suggestion to institute an "Everybody Draw Muhammad Day." The idea went viral on YouTube and Facebook, prompting Pakistan to block both sites.
Do you read editorial cartoons? What makes you cut one out and hang it on your fridge? Do you stick with what's printed in your local paper or do you read additional comics on the web? Have you ever been offended by a cartoon? What did you do about it?
GUESTS:
- Jack Ohman: Syndicated editorial cartoonist based at The Oregonian
- Matt Bors: Syndicated editorial cartoonist
- Steve Kelley: Syndicated editorial cartoonist based at the Times-Picayune and incoming president of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists
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You can draw anyone: President Obama, the Pope, Nelson Mandela, Buddha, Jesus Christ on the Cross as a funny Caricature.
But I know drawing one historical figure will bring out violent protests in the streets half a world away and a risk of being hunted down by an assassin or having a car bomb special delivery.
I think there is a rich vein of unmined humor in the news, untouched because of death threats: The Exploding Underpants Bomber, '72 Virgins', The Shoe Bomber, al-Qaeda Virtue against Vice Police, The Soft Drink Bomber, Spilling Coffee on a Koran, The Burka Covering Controversy, The Beard Requirement of Kabul, Cave Living in the Year 2000, Sheiks so Rich they have a bowling alley and a Jacuzzi in a Jumbo Jet.
In the Decade since 9/11 , the Arab world is in our Headlines and our Target sights but free from our Satire. Yes you can satirize anyone living or from history, but you CANNOT draw Muhummed.
Locker room humor, casual insults, barbs and shared laughs are how men bond. Satire and wit and insults are the basis of English literary criticism and creativity. Does Islam have a sense of humor?
Why do we not hold people and nations accountable for their Barbarisms? Middle class values are under threat by Mid evil Values.
Being a Cartoonist for the first time in history can be dangerous work. Have you ever risked it? Is this a real danger? Is this a violation of the Freedom of Speech? Why is there no backlash by Democracies?
What does it mean to be politically correct in an Age of Terrorism? When citizens do not stand up against silly murderous statements, we are all held hostage. When we hold back, we are all less free.
Can we draw the Undrawable?
PS ...I am doodling right now.
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God is God. And Muhummed is his prophet. Muhummed is not God, but a messenger. Muhummed is a man. These are tenets of Islam.
Muhummed is more than just a religious figure. He is a historical, sociological and a political figure. American soldiers and diplomats are finding they cannot establish a society in Iraq or Afganistan unless it is deeply wedded wtih Islam. And begin every conversation or speech praising God and Muhummed.
M is the most important political figure today surpassing the Eras of Lenin, Stalin and Hitler in American Strategic importance. Tell the past WWII Cartoonist not to draw Hitler or Stalin because they were violent and powerful men who can threaten.
If there is an explosion killing dozens in NYC, DC or Seattle or a plane crashes in a sudden explosion--What are your first thoughts?
Islam is the 600 lb gorilla in the room. But pay no attention to the Gorilla because he could be angered.
Keep your mouths shut, and hope this will pass. Or not.
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I enjoy editorial cartoons but I don't tape them to the fridge or cut them out any more. A few years ago I recycled a manilla file folder full of humor and cartoons in an ongoing effort to lighten my material life.
Practical info or horribly awful puns get put on the Fridge. But some of my favorite editorial cartoons reside in my memory 30 years on.
I smile when I consider the Star Wars poster with Bill Clinton, Monica Lewinski and cast.
When Reagan was president, James Clavell's novel Shogun was popular. I can't remember the cartoonist's name, but he did caricatures of Reagan and Jimmy Carter dressed in Samurai gear.
Reagan was shown with a sword and the caption simply said Ray-gun. Apropos given that Reagan was gungho over the Star Wars defense initiative. The caricature revealed the truth of Regan's haughty and hawkish demeanor better than his real-life images.
Jimmy Carter in Samurai gear was captioned Sho-nuff. Carter's caricature made him appear an affable country bumpkin with a southern accent, but Carter is one of our brightest and more enlightened presidents.
Another editorial cartoon shows jet fighter pilots sitting in the cockpit of their high tech fighter and staring down at a tribesman who'd flattened the jet's tire with his spear. The cartoon warns that the U.S. relies on the most sophisticated weapons systems in the world, and those systems can often be counteracted by exceedingly primitive means. The IED (Improvised Explosive Device) in the Middle East, for example.
I don't find myself easily offended by cartoons because I want people to be able to express themselves even if it is annoying or offensive to me. There are limits but they're not easily exceeded. I don't think I want to experience a 10-foot high mound of cow exhaust that is referred to as "art"... Or do I?
To contradict myself, Sarah Palin's image is offensive to me because she represents the anti-intellectual ignorance and laziness that has gripped too many in the U.S. Palin's real life persona is a 24/7 caricature. I imagine terrible things when I'm alone: how would president Palin handle Spill Baby Spill? (shudder)
South Park depicting Muhammad, Jesus or Buddha negatively wouldn't bother me because I enjoy and get what South Park is doing. But Mr. Hankey is totally disgusting and offensive, but funny too. I deal with it. Life is often objectionable.
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This is a little off subject.
I am no big fan of Sarah Palin, but I am amazed by the fear liberals have of her. I think a Palin administration would be just as unprepared as the Obama administration to handle a large oil spill..
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Why would you give anyone the power to MAKE you mad. I am the only one that can choise to react to the actions of others. I know my truth and that allows me to not allow other to upset me. To get mad or upset at things that we do not control is only our choice.
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My favorite political cartoon was a Peanuts strip. Peter, a newsman, is interviewing the losing candidate after the election.
"How do you attribute your recent loss in the election?"
"I think it was something I said during the campaign."
"Oh, what was that?"
"I said, 'Don't screw up on a slow news day.'"
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What is illogical about poking fun at someone's religious symbol? What IS illogical: is thinking it is illogical, and, then kowtowing to the alleged sacredness of religious faith. Jihadists are following their religious duty, and well who does that duty come from?, Muhammad! Apparently, it is fine to blame the CEO of BP, or of any company for all the actions of their employees, but you can't poke fun at Muhammad's role in the absurdity of Islamic terrorism. Perhaps, cartoonists should stick to the humor and the doodles, which is after all, what they do.
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In my view the highest function of political cartooning is to challenge popular stereotypes, not reinforce them as seen in cartoons that ridicule Arabs and Muslims. This is the most destructive form of racism in the world today without which we could not have attacked Iraq and caused the death of over a million citizens of a nation that did no harm to us, or allow our government to reflexively support Israel in its murder, land theft and oppression of Palestinians.
In contrast, I very much appreciate Mr. Oliphant's cartoon representing Israel as a headless, goose-stepping figure driving along a tiny figure of Gaza with a huge, shark-toothed Star of David. This was bold truth-telling in the spirit of Daumier.
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IT is not the subject of the cartoons. We assume free speech allows all. And EVERYONE who behaves stupidly is a fair target.
IT is the assassination killing of a cartoonist and violent mob protests for drawing a simple cartoon.
IS it right for a man to be beheaded or publicly executed for an unfunny commentary?
In this new century, we live under a regime of Big Brother. Brother Muhummed. This is reguardless if you are Christian, Muslim Jew or Buddhist. If you walk this earth, you can be targeted for infidelity.
Just listen to the politically correct lobby and you just might keep your head. Orwell was right.
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jackdresser,
To be clear, racism requires a 'race,' to be 'racism.' Ridiculing Muslims is not racism, nor is ridiculing any other religion or its followers. Religions are ideologies of choice, in the way race, sexual orientation, or ethnicity will never be. Claiming we can't make fun of Islam or Christianity is like saying we can't make fun of Republicans. The very fact, that people don't understand this huge distinction is the big problem, and it repeatedly gives religions protections they don't deserve. Just because religions are so widespread, it doesn't change the fundamental concept, that they are still ideologies of faith.
Ironic, how your idea of stereotypes seems to change, when it is apparently in line with your own viewpoint, as it seems to be regarding Israel.
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In 2006 during the Danish cartoon times, at the University of Oregon, A student publication The Commentator publish the twelve Mohammed Cartoons that had sparked riots in the middle east. The Insurgent followed by publishing twelve cartoon depicting Jesus. There was much turmoil over the Insurgent cartoons and a call for President Frohnmayer to stop the mailing of the Insurgent, which he did. The Commentator had no problem publishing its cartoons.
The arguments used to allow the Mohammed cartoons were not then used to allow the Jesus cartoons. This represents a hypocricy and an affront to free speech by many of the very people laughing at the middle east reaction.
As an Athiest for Jesus, I am reminded by the comment of Jesus about the plank in ones own eye. The christians who condemned the Insurgent cartoons need to clean their own eyes first!
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People can protest and disagree. But violence and murder cross the line. THere are dead victims who crossed the Muhummed line drawn in sand. There are vicitms in protective custody fearing for their lives today.
Was anyone killed over these Jesus cartoons in 2006? Did anyone lose an eye or was clubbed on the noggin?
--No Threats No Violence. Let us just have peaceful protest and at worst strong language.
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@ jacob - killed no - but the mailing of the cartoons was stopped so all we have are the comments put on the blog where the Commentator published the Jesus cartoons to DRUM up resistance and forcing the president to stop the mailing of the Insurgant. If you are open minded (not sure because I don't know you) you might do a search and see if the Commmentator still has the comments written against the Insurgent online. They of course are proud of the comments against the Insurgent so you might be happy - but they are interesting for those who dislike both the Mohammaed cartons published and the Jesus cartoons censored to judge how people reacted.....in comments
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Joe Magner:
People have strong and firm opinions voiced on the internet about everything including trite things like Brad Pitt's latest haircut. Opinions are all good.
Death and dismemberments are irreversible.
Jesus Cartoons, Muhummed Cartoons, Kid Jesus Meets Kid Muhummed and Start a Paper Route, Or Teen Jesus and Teen Muhummed meet and start a Garage Rock Band Cartoons--they are all good.
But 100 people were killed in mob violence by inflammed radicals in Oct05 in response to uncontained anger that Muhummed was on a Cartoon.
It is delusional that the Islamic World believes it can contain human free will and doodling. What if a bored grade schooler in Rio De Janeiro was drawing a daggers in Muhummed stick figure? Should the Ayatollah send an express mail letter bomb to his Spiderman lunch box?
Muslims must learn to chill.
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@ Jacob - so let us publish widely the Jesus Cartoons! Then we will have a reasonable bases for comparing how Jesus Cartoons and Muhummed cartoons compare...with as wide of a distribtuion. As I mentioned, the Insurgant Cartoons were stopped from being published and what you would need to compare would be as massive of a world distribution of the Jesus cartoons. Get a grop on your use of statistic please. I lived in the Bible Belt of this country for 13 plus years and can tell you from expereince that many many Christians are Martyr Worshipers, they talk kinda wierd and if you noticed the threats against Obama and some Congress people were worrysome. Not all the Islamic world is as violent as you seem to believe and many more Christians of the World ar much more violent then you think. Remember that the KKK are Christin as are many in the Milita Movement. These are the Christian Taliban and given as much persecution as has been delivered to muslims at the hands of the west, I suspect you would find these Christians just as wacho as the Islamic ones. Yes I do believe they are wacho. I am not a sympathizer of Fudamentalist no matter the particular Prophet they worship.
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Joe,
You have a hatred of Jesus Freaks--OK by Me-- I am not a Christian rightist. But for the sake of Self Preservation, you should recognize TRUE DANGER when you see it. If, God Forbid, a Nuclear Bomb were to go off in NYC, Denver, Detroit or Stumptown, I think we all have a pretty clear understanding of the Return Address.
Google 'Jesus Cartoon': 6,600,000 answers. Lots of Jesus Cartoons. Take you a month to read them all. No Big Deal. No VIOLENT Protests. No Deaths.
The internet is viral. IF something is release it gets copied and reposted and becomes immortal. Or a paper document or Cartoon gets scanned and posted...it takes 4 minutes.
I am sure your particular Jesus Cartoon is on the internet. And the only one who is riled is YOU. On a side note, You have a bigger OBSCESSION than some Muslims with this CARTOON THING...Cartoons really should be placed in perspective....and maybe you should seek professional help. Leave the Funnies in the Funny Paper.
NO Killing, NO Dismemberments. PEACE.
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This was an interesting show.
I wonder if a cartoonist could set up a subscription to his cartooni or is it cartoonuses, so that a person could login and see his daily, weekly, or special and be charged a penny, nickel, or whatever price each viewing.
Imdb shows photos of people that can be viewed but not downloaded, and I suspect that some clever computer scientist could modify that sort of thing into something beneficial to cartoonists and their fans.
I don't know what newspapers do to decide the worth of one individual view of a cartoon in their overall finances but I'm pretty darn sure that someone can come up with a value.
If a cartoonista got a penny per day from a million viewers, well that could make a pretty nice living, I'd think. Even at a lower number of viewers, it would add up over a years time.
Hmm, so how many people know the difference between a cartoonist and a cartographer? Henh.
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Comments are now closed.
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Ohman on a busy winter day in 2005, while his son was being fitted for a snowboard rental at the ski shop where I was working. Too busy to really chat with him, I just told him how much I enjoyed his work, agreed with his viewpoints, etc. He asked for a piece of paper and in just a few minutes, handed me a funny, topical (George W on skis!) drawing which I have hanging on my wall.
I always wondered how an editorial cartoonist comes up with such clever ideas - to be able to convey an idea in one panel, with minimal text, and make it look so good? Does he have to research topics, or 'stockpile' ideas? Maybe it just comes naturally.
Thanks, Laura Peterson