Saturday, October 15, 2016

Sunday Funnies, except not really...

At one point, then the lowest in the political landscape I remember, political cartoon were barbed, and funny. They exaggerated characteristics, physical and mannerisms, made them both funny and mildly barbed. Now, not so much.

Now, they are reflecting reality. An election so different than others in the last hundred years or longer that there is no comparison, nothing to measure it against.

For cartoonists, one of the best I know of, Horsey, used to be in Seattle until he moved to a larger audience, it's tough.  How do you mimic, or exaggerate, something that is a cartoon of it'self?

Following are Horsey's and a few other's offerings.  Usually these talented people can draw some humour out of a person, or issue. Now, not so much.






I'll leave it at that. Interestingly, the one instance there was something similar in the past is back in the revolutionary days, the mid to late eighteenth century. Broadsides, political pamphlets, usually nailed to lamposts, often had drawings like these in nature. 




7 comments:

  1. Great stuff! The Victor Juhasz cartoon accompanying Matt Taibbi's analysis of Trump is just brilliant.

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  2. Yeah, I agree with you both, Tom that is a great pairing.
    It's who won't respond here, occasionally they do, when I do a nice bit on the grandkids, scenery, weather, etc. I'm not sure they agree with me on this. I'd like to hear from them.
    I won't list you, though if I was Trump I would. But that's not the spirit and reasons why we're here.
    So let's do open communication. Yeah, I'm on the left, as time goes by it seems more left than ever.
    But give us the other side...if you support Trump tell us/me why? Gotta be a reason.
    Is there really going to be an armed response, rejection of Mrs. Clinton's win in November?
    Numbers don't count?
    I fear so for this country, and my kids and grandkids. That millions of people will vote for this sorry excuse of an american man, confounds me.
    Mike

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  3. Capturing the insecure narcissist in a cartoon has got to be fun and meaningful. Wish I could draw.

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  4. I was immediately struck by the first picture, Scott Stantis's excellent cartoon. It's less caricature than an accurate portrait. Neither Trump's features nor his character flaws can be exaggerated.

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  5. You are right in that they are more painful than funny. Now I am going to go take a shower.

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  6. It's sad when reality is a parody of itself.

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