Offensive Weapon?
March 16, 2020 in Events, General
Glenn Marshall writes:
Procartoonists recently hosted a panel discussion labelled ‘OFFENSIVE WEAPON?’ at the North London Story Festival. The talk centred around the issue of cartoons causing offence and where to draw the line. I was joined by Carol Isaacs AKA The Surreal McCoy and The Guardian’s Martin Rowson.
I opened with a brief look at the history of cartoons causing offence, including this one by Richard Newton in 1798, of John Bull farting in the face of George III – oh how we love a fart gag! Newton had his first cartoon published when he was 13 and went on to be supported by the radical publisher William Holland, producing further attacks not only on the Royals and Napoleon but also the slave trade. His short but prolific career ended when he died of typhus aged just 21.
This cartoon by James Gillray of the then Duke of York could’ve been a recent cartoon about the current Duke of York – it’s regularly pastiched. It was deemed acceptable when drawn 1792, but when it was included in a collection of Gillray’s work in the more puritanical Victorian era – around the 1840s – the books were impounded by the police for being obscene. It was only deemed suitable for the public at large in 2009!
Martin mainly talked about his own experience with offence. The cartoon above from the Guardian was his response to the 2017 van attack on the Finsbury Park Mosque, a comment on how some of the print media can incite hate.
Paul Dacre’s Daily Mail went apoplectic with a front page banner raging ‘Fake news, the fascist left and the REAL purveyors of hate’ and went on to an outraged ‘comment’ page. Clearly Martin was doing something right!
Bernard Verlhac (Tignous), Georges Wolinski; Jean Cabut, (Cabu), Stephane Charbonnier (Charb) Jean Cabut (Cabu).
Martin also talked about the Charlie Hebdo attack, paying tribute to the 12 people murdered including the four cartoonists above.
Carol, who is the PCO’s committee member for overseas, discussed issues around the globe of cartoonists who have been persecuted and censored. This covered many of the people we have campaigned for, along with our friends from Cartoonists’ Rights Network International
This is one of many great drawings Carol showed by the Syrian cartoonist Ali Farzat who has had a long history of being attacked and censored by the current regime for his work. He now operates out of Kuwait.
This topical cartoon by Niels Bo Bojesen from Danish daily newspaper Jyllands-posten published in January caused the Chinese embassy in Denmark to demand an apology.
Following our talk, we were fortunate that the next speaker cancelled, as we ran into a prolonged and lively Q&A.
Our travelling GAGGED exhibition on suppression and censorship of cartoonists sound the globe also had an outing over the festival.
Thanks to the festival organiser from Middlesex University for inviting us along.
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by Glenn Marshall
Shrewsbury International Cartoon Festival 2019 preview
April 13, 2019 in Comment, Events, General
It’s only two weeks until Shrewsbury International Cartoons Festival. This years theme is ‘Animals’ and has a very full programme. This year all the speakers happen to be Procartoonists members.
Friday 26th, 7.30pm
Fist up on the Friday night The Guardian’s Steve Bell will share his lifelong close-up study of ‘Political Animals’, from Tarzan Hesletine to Leopard May on Friday 26th April. Tickets are £10 and can be booked online via this link. A donation will be made from the event to Guide Dogs UK.
Saturday 27th April, 10.30am
On Saturday Beano and Private Eye regular Zoom Rockman will be hosting a strip cartoon workshop. Zoom first started drawing his strip ‘Skanky Pigeon’ for the Beano when when he was just 12 years old!
Saturday 27th April, 11.00am
An exploration of the world of cartooning with ‘Fintan Fedora’ author, cartoonist and PCO Chair-human Clive Goddard.
Saturday 27th April, 1.30pm
After his earlier session Clive will be back again with more Fintan fun at new venue.
Saturday 27th April, 11.00am
The Surreal McCoy presents a preview of her audio-visual graphic memoir based on her Iraqi-Jewish family’s memories of their lost homeland.
The Wolf of Baghdad explores themes of displacement, refugees, identity and belonging.
After presenting an excerpt of the work, Carol will give an illustrated talk on the making of it and take questions from the audience in a Q and A.
Tickets can be booked online via this link.
Saturday 27th April, 12.00pm
An animal cartoon masterclass with Radio Times caricaturist Jonathan Cusick. Jonathan is also one of the festival organisers. You’ll be drawing using exhibits from the gallery, as Jonathan says ‘The great thing is the animals will not be moving’.
Team Goddard creating a big board at last years festival.
On Saturday a menagerie of cartoonists will be be going animalistic drawing on big boards and caricaturing in the town square.
Throughout the weekend various exhibitions will be running including ‘Drawn To Be Wild’ at The Bear Steps Gallery and ‘The Lizards of Oz and Other Creatures’ an exhibition animal related cartoons by Australian cartoonist. More details on the festival website.
Tags: Animals, Bear Steps Gallery, Big boards, caricatures, caricaturist, Clive Goddard, Fintan Fedora, Guide Dogs UK, Jonathan Cusick, PCO, Private Eye, Procartoonists, Radio Times, Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury International Cartoon Festival, Shrewsbury International cartoon Festival 2019, Shropshire, Skanky Pigeon, Steve Bell, The Beano, The Guardian, The Surreal McCoy, The Wolf of Baghdad, Zoom Rockman 4 Comments »