On the Line

Anthony Feinstein in The Globe & Mail.

Strongmen have an extraordinarily thin skin when it comes to laughing at themselves.

It is a striking that these men with enormous power, vast armies, lethal weapons, and apparently limitless self-confidence fear the simple cartoon. 

Is it because they know instinctively that Mark Twain was correct when he had one of his characters observe, “Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand”? 

Hitler’s fury at being lampooned by the cartoons of David Low pales, however, when compared to the violence unleashed more than half a century later by 12 cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad published by the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten. 

Cartoonists rally to Steve Bell's defense

From the Greek Cartoonists Association Facebook page.

The Greek Cartoonists Association strongly protests the Guardian’s dismissal of colleague Steve Bell, one of the best cartoonists in the world. 

The termination of his employment took place in the aftermath of unsupported accusations of "anti-Semitic stereotypes" in his last cartoon, accusations that the paper's management sadly adopted .

"Defending Satire" panel at the MLRC London Conference

From Media Law Resource Center.

Cartoonists Terry Anderson, Patrick Chappatte and Zunar will be joining other panelists at the 2022 Media Law Resource Center Conference in London on Monday, September 19.

Defending Satire in an Increasingly Humorless World

World-wide threats to satirists and cartoonists. Why is satire such a threat to autocratic regimes? How can political satire be defended? 

With Patrick Chappatte (Lebanese-Swiss cartoonist); Zunar(Malaysian cartoonist); Terry Anderson (Cartoonists Rights Network International); Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC (Doughty Street); and Roslyn Mazer (Counsel of Record, Association of American Editorial Cartoonists as amicus curiae in Hustler Magazine v. Falwell)

Cartoon Movement editor on the House of Cartoons in France

 From Cartoon Movement.

The future location of the House of Press and Satirical Cartoons in Paris.

Last week, French president Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of a European House of Press and Satirical Cartoons in France. 

Good news for editorial cartooning, of course. I am of the opinion that every country should have a center for political cartooning, or a center for journalism and press freedom, with a section dedicated to political cartoons.

Fake News

 

Filipino Artists dare to dissent in online campaign

From Rappler. 

Cartoon by Tarantadong Kalbo

What started out as a simple image has inspired Filipino artists across the nation to stand up for what they believe in.

Satirical cartoonist Tarantadong Kalbo posted a digital drawing on Saturday, July 17, of “fist people” bowing down to seemingly resemble the fist bump gesture used by President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies. 

The focus of the drawing is on the one fist person, reminiscent of the raised fist used by activists everywhere, who dared to stand up and stand out from the crowd.

The American Bystander at 18

 From The Daily Heller.

When in 2015, Trump was just an annoying little gnat, Michael Gerber knew that humor would be a saving grace in a demonic moment of history & unveiled The American Bystander, the first new national humor magazine in 30 years. 

A message of solidarity with French cartoonists and educators

The Association of Canadian Cartoonists and The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists wish to express solidarity with our cartooning colleagues and educators in France.

Viewed from our shores, the violence perpetrated by extremists has been shocking and deeply saddening.

Citizens have the right to disagree with the content of a cartoon, but that right can under no circumstances include a violent response.

The murder of Samuel Paty was a dreadful act and something no educator should ever have to fear.

Our members stand with the people of France and insist that crimes against cartooning professionals and the educators that bravely bring context to their material should never be tolerated or justified.

The Association of Canadian Cartoonists and The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists

 Cartoon by Bruce Mackinnon, The Halifax Chronicle-Herald.

Robert Russell Courage in Cartooning Award 2020

 

Cartoonists Rights presents its annual Robert Russell Courage in Cartooning Award to Ahmed Kabir Kishore from Bangladesh.

Spitting Image returns to British TV

Spitting Image has revealed its Boris Johnson, Prince Andrew and Dominic Cummings puppets ahead of the show's return.

The prime minister's puppet has a mass of spiky blonde hair, while his key adviser, Mr Cummings, is seen in his trademark hoodie with a flamboyant silver collar.

Marilena Nardi on the role of satire

From Slowcomix.

Following a controversy over a cartoon considered to be anti-Semitic, the New York Times announced that it would no longer publish editorial cartoons in its' international edition. In the local one, however, the cartoons have already been eliminated for some time.

“Cabinet of Horrors,” Exhibition by Robbie Conald

From The New Yorker.

Not long ago, Donald Trump acquired a reproduction of a painting that appears on postcards in gift shops around the capital, depicting a younger, more slender version of himself, with an I-date-models grin, drinking Diet Coke at a private club with Abraham Lincoln, Richard Nixon, and a bunch of other Republican Presidents. I

Trump Grotesk

Steven Heller in Print.

Trump infects the body politic’s mind to such a degree that now we even have a typeface in his image.

Snyder/Studio designer Mattias Mackler created Trump Grotesk to remind us of some of the truly grotesque things he’s said, done and will do. 

Censorship in Spain

From The Irish Times.

Edu Galán and Darío Adanti are sitting in the offices of satirical magazine Mongolia, in the basement of a shoe shop in Madrid’s Malasaña district, ruing the fact that a recent news story broke too late for them to put on their next front cover.

Spitting Image set to return to TV

From the Daily Mail.

The programme's creators Roger Law, pictured left, and Peter Fluck, pictured right, are seen among a selection of their puppets.

Spitting Image is set to return to TV screens as it is remade for an American audience by the network behind Game of Thrones.

Programme maker HBO has US president Donald Trump in its sights - with an insider saying there 'has never been more material for political satirists'.

Bulgaria's "Charlie Hebdo" Blocked From News Stands

Mariya Cheresheva in Balkan Insight.

After complaining that their satirical new newspaper, Pras Press, had been blocked from reaching newsstands, the cartoonists and writers behind it have decided to sell copies directly on the streets. 

Erdoğan and The Penguin: Satire in Modern Turkey

Xin Fan from Mapping Daily Ridicule.

‘Tayyip World’ (2005) depicts different zoo animals with Erdogan faces. Penguen drew the cover to ridicule Erdogan’s (unsuccessful) suing of Musa Kart, a cartoonist with the Turkish daily newspaper Cumhurriyet, who had depicted him as a cat. Erdogan gave Penguen the same treatment, although the courts threw his second huff out a lot sooner.

A look at satire magazines in modern Turkey: why does Erdogan hate Penguins?

Imprisoned Cartoonist Grateful for International Courage Award

From Iran Human Rights Organisation.

Jailed artist Atena Farghadani has expressed gratitude upon hearing she was awarded the 2015 Courage in Cartooning Award by the Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI), her father said after visiting her at Evin Prison on August 16, 2015.

Banksy's "Dismaland Bemusement Park"

From Fany Blog.

Banksy, the elusive British artist has once again surprised everyone. After days of speculation about what was taking place in an area of ​​over one hectare on the beach in Weston-super-Mare, we have finally discovered the 'secret'.

'Dismaland', a place dedicated to installations where Disney's world is turned upside down opened on August 22. Amongst the 58 contemporary artists who participated in the project, we can find Damien Hirst, Jenny Holzer and Jimmy Cauty.

Cincy Comicon poster pays homage to old comic book ads

From Boing Boing.

Cartoonist Tony Moore (co-creator of The Walking Dead comic book series) designed this very fun poster for the Cincy Comicon (September 12-13), which pays homages to the old comic book ads for novelties and practical jokes. He did such a good job that I asked him to write a bit about it.