By Darren Gilbert
In fact, alongside photographs, they are the epitomy of visual storytelling. That very point should be enough to persuade anyone of their importance. After all, cartoons can
deliver opinions or a particular point of view in one single punch. However, that doesn’t mean they are easy to create.
Cartoons are not news
As much as you may find a political cartoon in your local newspaper, they are not news.
“Cartoons are not news – they reflect the opinion of the cartoonist/satirist and are humorous mirrors held up to society … warts and all,” explains
Schacherl. “Cartoonists are the media court jesters who speak truth to power using humour and accessible imagery.”
South African cartoonist,
Jeremy Nell aka Jerm agrees: “I don’t report the news. I react to [it].” You’d only need to take a look at a few of his cartoons to note that. It’s not breaking news or informing readers of something they don’t know. Instead, it’s adding to the discussion. “In a sense, cartoons ‘add’ to the conversation by putting the thoughts of many people into a picture, [and] making that thought greatly accessible.”
But they do gauge the degree of free speech
However, as much as they add to the conversation, they can place their creators in the firing line should anyone not appreciate their opinion. The Charlie Hebdo shooting earlier this year is one recent example.
“Cartoons like a thermometer; they gauge the degree of free speech in a certain area”, says Jerm.
Schacherl backs him up. “[They] are sometimes the lightning rods of free speech and I think cartoonists are often at the forefront of testing the limits of free speech all over the world,” he says. “By their very nature, cartoons and cartoonists are easy targets for suppression of free speech.”
“Thankfully in South Africa, cartoonists enjoy healthy constitutional protection,” adds Jerm.
Cartoons get to the heart of the matter
A good cartoon gets to the heart of the matter quickly and without the need for much explanation.
“Editorial cartoons and social commentary cartoon strips like Madam & Eve are basically satirical opinion columns using visual storytelling,” says Schacherl. “They deliver this in a single effective punch, and if well executed, do this by making the reader laugh (or cringe) and thereby engage them on an emotional level.”
Of course, that doesn’t mean that cartoons can always be funny. “Obviously some themes and issues are very tricky and sensitive to be approached in a funny or irreverent way,” continues Schacharl. Although, in some cases, dark and sardonic humour work well.
But it’s not always easy
“It’s not easy being ‘funny’ or ‘entertaining’ all the time,” points out Jerm. “Like everyone else, I also go through tough times in my personal life. For example, creating a funny cartoon after a death in the family, is challenging. Or having periods in which I am not feeling inspired at all.”
Schacherl agrees: “Part of the pressure is to keep producing humorous material – ‘being funny’ – when the world around you and pressures engaging with news events and daily life are dark and depressing.”
What are your thoughts on political cartoons? Do you enjoy them? Dislike them? Tell us below.