#guyer

I look at a lot of political cartoons — that’s basically my job. I scour the Arabic press daily for comics. I scan global papers, parsing trends as I identify original perspectives and recycled memes. I have noticed on several occasions, especially in times of fear, that the message of solidarity obscures the usual nuance of political cartoons. Many of these cartoons have the feel of protest slogans or mantras, rather than satirical insights. When it comes to addressing violence toward their own, cartoonists face an incredibly difficult task. Of course a pen is no match to a gun, yet cartoonists still feel compelled to draw. Many cartoons in the immediate aftermath, rather than grappling with complex narratives, fall short, a caricature rather than a commentary. The most effective cartoons challenge biases, and they are rare after a tragedy.

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