Seminar Tackles Cartooning, Opens Wider Dialogue
(Article from the UN Chronicle on the recent seminar in the Unlearning Intolerance Series, titled “Cartooning for Peace, The Responsibility of Political Cartoonists?”, held at UN Headquarters in New York on 16 October)
Political cartoonists (bladtegnere) have deep-rooted power and significant responsibilities, said a panel of experts at the UN headquarters in New York on Monday.
“Cartooning for Peace” – the fifth event in the “Unlearning Intolerance” series – was sponsored by the UN Department of Public Information in partnership with the Claus M. Halle Institute for Global Learning at Emory University. The seminar brought together political cartoonists from around the globe.
The raw, unmediated power of cartooning – especially its ability to transcend language barriers and even words altogether – was at the forefront of the debate.
Cartoons ”can encourage us to look critically at ourselves, and increase our empathy for the sufferings and frustration of others,” said Secretary-General Kofi Annan as he opened the discussion.
Many panelists agreed, noting that a cartoons visceral connection with readers meant a great responsibility for them personally as the authors of cartoons.
– Images have great power, and it is too easy to go too far, said Michel Kichka, a freelance cartoonist and senior lecturer at Israels Bezalel Academy.
But the panelists were quick to note that in order to do justice to their role as social critics, striking a balance is essential. Cartooning is one of the last media “where you can be unfair and sarcastic and take shots,” said Mike Luckovich, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
– And I love that. But you should not incite (ophidse) people just to incite them, added she.
– Editorial cartoonists are not here to make pretty, innocuous pictures (ufarlige, harmløse), said Ann Telnaes, a freelance cartoonist from the US, adding that they are the “ultimate barometer” of a free press, and that this means criticizing the world around them.
Her American colleague, Jeff Danziger, agreed. He said that cartoons must reflect reality, even when that reality is unpleasant.
Political cartoons have been a topic of significant debate since tensions flared over a series of DANISH cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed a year ago. Mr. Luckovich and his colleagues warned that often in cartooning “the image can overwhelm the message”–indeed a dangerous risk in todays volatile world.
Carsten Graabæk
Carsten Graabæk, a political cartoonist from DENMARK, recalled how the Prophet cartoon controversy unfolded. Widespread rioting early this year drew attention to the often overlooked power of cartoons.
He also said that a difficult and fundamental rift exists between cultures that believe in free speech and those that do not. While Mr. Graabæk said that bridging this divide may never be possible, he suggested that cartoonists learn to move forward with more caution. – It is a matter of adding another item to the code of conduct of political correctness, he noted.
As cartoonists in some parts of the world grapple with reining in poignant images, those in regions where free speech is a new concept are just learning to mobilize this powerful art form.
In northern Kenya, for example, panelist Godfrey Amon Mwampembwa – also known as “Gado” – teaches refugee artists to use cartoons to achieve their goals. Many countries with oppressive government regimes still regulate who and what can be criticized by the media.
– This is one area where UN agencies may be able to help, said the panels organizer, Le Monde cartoonist Jean Plantu.
Also among the panelists were such internationally renowned cartoonists as Palestines Baha Boukhari, Mexicos Cintia Bolio, Japans Norio Yamanoi, and Americans Ranan Lurie and Liza Donnelly, a long-time cartoonist for The New Yorker magazine.
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