When you look at a newspaper or any editorial the first thing that catches your attention is the editorial cartoons. We share them with friends and post them on refrigerators and office doors. Political cartoons are arguably the simplest and most powerful form of communication that symbolizes a topic of interest, and most often that topic is one of great controversy. Because political cartoons are a combination of verbal and visual satire, it comes as no surprise that many political cartoons are often extremely offensive. A political cartoon published in the South African Sunday times is a prime example of just how offensive these cartoons can get. South African cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro’s derogatory drawing was offensive to me, and was the source of world wide controversy. Shapiro drew a vicious, downright disturbing image of the ANC (the South African ruling party) leader Jacob Zuma unbuckling his belt, looking down on a woman labeled “Justice System,” blindfolded and held down by leering men. The cartoon shows Zuma preparing to rape the justice system, portrayed as a blindfolded woman pinned down by Zuma’s political allies including the ANC, the Communist Party, unions and the ANC Youth League holding the woman or the “justice system” down and rooting Zuma to “go for it”. In other words Zuma was preparing to rape the justice system. It is important to remember that Zuma’s leadership has been characterized by corruption and he has even been accused of rape. In the second part of the political cartoon, president Zuma, standing with his pants unbuckled warns that he “respects” the justice system that he is about to rape. I must admit, that I understand and agree with the point that Shapiro was trying to make with his cartoon, and that is that Zuma is taking pure advantage of the South African justice system. Zuma is in fact a corrupted leader, but this cartoon is still offensive due to its graphic nature. In the picture, we do not get to see that Zuma is raping the justice system, we only see him and his allies’ gang rapping a woman, and we can all agree that seeing images of a woman about to get gang raped is in no way appropriate to be printed in a nationwide news source. And furthermore comparing the leaders corruption to the lewd act of rape is also something that needs to be reconsidered. I must say that even though I find this cartoon highly offensive, and I do think that Shapiro could have expressed his views in another way, I feel that Shapiro has the right to draw and publish whatever he wants.
Hi Khaliah! I was curious to the cartoon picture that was attached to your blog, so I decided to take a look and read on. I was not disappointed on how controversial and interesting point of views it was in your behalf and the artist’s as well. You have raised the fact that the cartoon was a bit vulgar and inappropriate for a newspaper circulation. You are right. Many people who have read this news probably have the same idea or feelings as you did when you saw and read it. You were also right that the cartoon itself is powerful and yet a simple form of verbal and visual satire. It is why it’s appealing to the senses and therefore, you find it very offensive.
ReplyDeleteHowever, in my point of view raising the fact that the cartoon is simple yet a source of great controversy in political issues (in this case). It also speaks for itself without any further explanation, wouldn’t you agree? Although, the artist didn’t have to draw the details of “what would happen” in the picture, in people’s minds it has been already done. The woman/justice system had been already (gang) raped and violated. In this case it’s a reality. I believe and side on your part that it’s a bit lewd but let us not overlook the real message the artist wants to convey. It is the corruption and abuse of power that one man is committing. The artist is merely trying to mirror those bad images to bring them into our attention. If in the artist’s mind that’s what Zuma stands for then so be it. Besides, our own imagination can finish what the artist has started or not. It depends on how we look at it.
“Political cartoons are arguably the simplest and most powerful form of communication that symbolizes a topic of interest, and most often that topic is one of great controversy.” That was a great quote out of your blog and is very true, that statement sums up the purpose of a political cartoon. I also think what you said about political cartoons often being offensive is very true. Perhaps people feel so strongly about a certain subject they use these cartoons as an outlet their oppositional anger or these could be simply made for entertainment. I think the reasons behind the cartoons people create are all completely different, but they often result in offending a group or groups of people. Your cartoon was very powerful and interesting, and also, as you said, offensive. However, probably because it was a bit grotesque, which I am sure the artist intended on, the cartoon makes a very strong statement. I enjoyed your breakdown of this cartoon and thought it helped explain your position on political cartoons even better.
ReplyDeleteYour blog was great and this truly was an offensive cartoon. I understand that there is corruption going on and that this leader Zuma does not look like a trustworthy individual. The way the cartoon shows his lack of care for the justice system is shameful. I do agree with you when you say that the artist has the right to draw and publish whatever he wants but this truly does cross the line. There are some things that are just over the top and rape is one of those things. I understand that political cartoons are meant to be satirical and bring to light what is going on but I do feel that in this particular case it was wrong for the artist to draw Zuma about to rape the justice system. There are other ways to how Zuma is corrupt. A great artist can come up with clever ways to send his message. I believe this was a poor choice by the artist to show rape. I believe that by drawing this cartoon the artist has taken the attention away from what his true objective was and has now shined the spotlight on him. He has failed as a cartoonist with this drawing. Instead of showing how Zuma is corrupt, the artist is now the subject of discussion.
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