Wednesday, July 16, 2008

What Were They Thinking?






I don’t get it. What the hell was the publisher and editors of the New Yorker Magazine thinking when they decided to make this their July 21st cover? As you can see it depicts Barack and Michelle Obama inside the Oval officer, dressed as terrorist and doing the Barack O’bump. They even complete the image by have a picture of Osama bin Laden hanging over the mantle. Oh, and please don’t miss the American flag burning in the fire place. What the fuck? Seriously, what the fuck?

Now, I am a artist and cartoonist and I love, love, love political cartoons and I can normally get Satire; which is what the magazine’s editor, David Remnick wants us to believe this to be. Well, if it is satire I think it has sadly missed it mark and landed somewhere in the land of tasteless and offensive propaganda. And you are talking to a man who loves the New Yorker, but I don’t get this. I don’t get the underlying hatred that the picture seems to be promoting. Nor do I understand the hints of racism. Well, maybe it is not that I don’t understand those things, it is more that I don’t understand why the New Yorker would be promoting them.

Hell, the editor of the Golfweek got handed his ass, along with his walking papers for putting a hangman’s noose on the cover of their magazine and I wasn’t offended by that shit in the least. I just thought people were being too uptight. And, hey, I am not truly offended by the cover on The New Yorker, per se, I just hate when something is done poorly and this was done poorly.
Let’s look up the word satire, shall we….Satire is defined as the use of wit to criticize behavior; the use of wit, especially irony, sarcasm, and ridicule to criticize faults. This is not what the cover on The New Yorker is doing. What it is doing is fueling an ignorant belief that people have about not only the Obama’s but also Muslim folks in general. In a way it seems to be promoting hatred.
Okay, I get it! I’m no fool, the cover was, or so it claims, to be a satire on all of the ignorant beliefs that people hold true about the Obama’s but once again….The artist missed the mark. They failed. They didn’t know what the hell they were doing…and it could have been done too. I wish I could see the sketches that the artist who submitted this discarded prior to deciding on this one.

To America’s credit, a lot of people both Democratic and Republican were offended by the cover. I like that. Normally the media likes to make it seem that only black folks get all up in arms about shit like this. The fact that so many people took offense to the mess just goes to show you how off the mark the artist was in what he was trying to do.

There are those out there who think that people are afraid to make fun of Obama just because of his race. I hope that is not the case, because if he gets the Presidency I look forward to the Political cartoons. I believe that the problem that a lot of comics are having is that they can’t look past his color and just focus on him as a person. Hell, I can think of a lot of things to poke fun at, about the man, and I like the bastard. Don’t let his race stop you from being funny. Just don’t make his race an issue in the joke. It’s not that hard.

Next time get it right!

-One Man’s Opinion. Peace.




32 comments:

A.Smith said...

The fact that Obama is preparing to accept the Democratic nomination shows how far our country has come, but cartoons like this show how far the country has to go.

I think though all of this, people are truly beginning to understand the difference between racist and ignorant. Most racial issues today stem from extreme ignorance... and this is just one example of that.

Curious said...

If this cartoon was drawn in such a way that it was the image of the Obamas in the head of Karl Rove, Dick Cheney or some other Republican, then prople would understand what it was about and they would recognize the sarcasm and the satire of the piece. As it is, it misses the mark and does the opposite of what it was supposed to do which was to show how ridiculous the thougts of some people were. It backfired, but there are much bigger things in life to celebrate or kvetch over. Even Obama doesn't take it that seriously.

UBERMOUTH said...

Not so subversive anti Obama campaign to cost him the presidency by some KKK type group- no doubt.
Disgraceful!

Freedom In Christ said...

I agree!

RealHustla said...

One Man, people are getting nervous because they know that they are about to have a black president. I'm sure this artists is hoping other artists will jump on this pseudo satirical bandwagon and print their own drawings all in a united effort to say "come on people, he's BLACK, are you serious?" Yes, we're serious, and we're ready.

You forgot to mention the added detail of Michelle's afro as if to remind the people just how black the first lady is. As if to say, how can she be honest when she's lying about her hair?

Anonymous said...

That cartoon totally missed the satire mark. Public officials have to be open to criticism but only when it is of public concern. Them fist bumping is their damn business. Hell, I like it b/c it shows their solidarity as a couple and as a team in this race we call life.

The Muslim thing needs to be let go. How can people continually ignore the fact that he's not a damn Muslim? That shows that they have selective hearing. The New Yorker should be ashamed.

Dave Van Buren said...

I think Michelle's hair is the best part of this. I didn't even notice the Bin Laden poster or the american flag burning. Her hair is the most ridiculous part of this. you know damn well no black women is going into the white house looking like that. Oh that and his sandals. Like you said dude could have done this better.

Unknown said...

"I don’t get this. I don’t get the underlying hatred that the picture seems to be promoting. Nor do I understand the hints of racism".

I don't get it either, bro.

"I believe that the problem that a lot of comics are having is that they can’t look past his color and just focus on him as a person... Don’t let his race stop you from being funny. Just don’t make his race an issue in the joke. It’s not that hard."

Well said! I love your posts. But this is definitely one of my favourites. Keep 'em coming!

Darius T. Williams said...

I just posted another comment about this yesterday...LOL. I will try to find it and post it here.

Anonymous said...

I'm with you on this one dude.

"Underlying hatred" is the only way to describe what I feel this picture portrayed.

Well said dude.

Promiscuous X said...

That fuckn cover pissed me the fuck off to the deep end. This is idiotocracy at its fuckn best. They wont stop till they break this dude. Thats why he gone win.

*Singing* Hi Hater, Hi Hater, Hi Hater.

Good post man

cathouse teri said...

I'm offended by it, and I'm not Republican OR Democrat... or anything at all, for that matter!

But Curious is right. If it had been presented over someone's head, it would have been funny.

James Tubman said...

I don't know what to say about the picture

on another note, personally I don't really think it matters who's in the white house

the people who contribute to the campaign of a candidate are the people that the candidate has to pay back

and the candidate will pay them back once they get into political office

those are the ones who really have the power

Rodney said...

Did Rupert Murdoch buy the New Yorker while I wasn't looking?

Unknown said...

Lol @ Rodney. Maybe he did.

lyre said...

I can't believe that they would publish that on a magazie so well respected. But I gotta say, it's a brave move.

. said...

its funny i saw that cartoon in passing for about two days before i really paid attention and i was floored. i think it was quite tasteless, but as Barack said on Larry King, he has seen and read worse. let's get back to the campaign and focusing on the important issues. and focusing on how to get this man in office where he belongs and what this country needs.

i am a proud reader/supporter of the new yorker and will continue to be. a very bad lapse in judgment true, but i can forgive them.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, One Man, as an erstwhile cartoonist myself, I can't support you on this one. Public figures are all fair game. Like when my favorite comedian, Paul Mooney ripped on Diana Ross at some BET Awards show a few years ago; the best satirists know their role is to draw blood.

I love the New Yorker, and their main cover arist, my life-long artistic hero Edward Sorel, is a master caricaturist (the Obama cover was not by him, but was a blatant copy of his style).

http://www.edwardsorel.com/mags/main.htm

To paraphrase Rudyard Kipling, real satirists know that "all men count, but none too much." Since Americans are generally idiots, be they black, white, Republican, or Democrat, they don't know how to interpret real satire unless it is spelled out for them with dumb-downed toilet tones like "Family Guy" or "South Park."

And, most of the folks who spitted and sputtered about the Obama cover probably never read the article (which is available free online), which was about Obama's intelligence and savvy, not how he is going to roast S'mores in the Lincoln Bedroom.

We should be supporting cartoonists, One Man, even if we don't agree with their viewpoint, not becoming voices for their degradation. Otherwise, we become like the pussy Dutch leaders, bowing to loudmouth Muslim Militants:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/16/europe/EU-GEN-Netherlands-Cartoonist-Arrested.php

Sha Boogie said...

I think that the New Yorker cover with 'that other guy' whose running for pres and Dubya makes us even!

One Man’s Opinion said...

I'm coming after Mark on this one, since he is my illegitiment little brother.

Hey, it is not like I am saying that you can't poke fun a Barack. Hell, I love to make fun of people. I just don't like it when it is not done well. This missed the mark entirely. You know it. I know it, the world knows it.

Corey Keith said...

Very interesting, man.. In some ways, I think they were attempting satire, but this does not actually achieve any satrical purpose. It just seems malicious.

Unknown said...

In bad taste and, in my opinion, purposeful journalism. The intent was to stir the fears of some Americans.

Anonymous said...

You know it. I know it, the world knows it.

How did it "miss the mark," bro? Because it made some Obama supporters uncomfortable at their own intellectual inability to discern what is actually a swipe at Obama's opposition?

This is not new. Reminds of back in 1984 when conservatives like George Will and Reagan applauded Bruce Springsteen's song "Born in the USA," and they were too stupid to realize that Springsteen was taking a swipe at the very conservatives who lauded him!

If anything, the New Yorker cover hit the mark in the black area of the target (no pun intended) with little Kentucky Windage. It visualized the wet dreams that more inept opponents of Obama hold of the Senator, particularly white, redneck, blue-collar types; while at the same time, exposing the intellectual, cultural and emotional immaturity of Obama supporters who are WAYYYYYYYYYY too sensitive for their own good.

On a final note, it is great to see that our fellow cartoonists of ANY stripe still wield PPP (the power to piss-off people), even in the age of "New Media."

Anonymous said...

since he is my illegitiment little brother.

Oh, and we prefer to be called "Undocumented Siblings." (LOL)

fuzzy said...

Ok, I really thought I commented here, but I guess I didn't. This was over the edge and somebody should really take a stand against such political propaganda!

BronzeBuckaroo said...

Satire can be suble. None the less, satire is suppose to be obvious. This one missed the point completely. COMPLETELY!!!

I have always believe liberal are bigger racists than those who are more visibly racist. It sound like a contradiction in words, but it isn't.

I read the New Yorker. I understand their humor most of the time. How they let this get pass them I do not know.

Anonymous said...

Okay, One Man, I propose we start our own reality show. It will be called "Last Cartoonist Drawing." We have a group of competing cartoonists. Each one pulls out a piece of paper out of bowl that has some group written on it(blacks, women, Democrats, Republicans, Muslims, Southern Baptists, Gays, White Male Rednecks with Beer Bellies and Confederate Flag Bumper Stickers). The cartoonist has to draw THE MOST OFFENSIVE cartoon imaginable about said group. Whoever draws the funniest cartoon within a two-minute time span, wins (and gets a new assumed identity from the FBI when said offended group torches their home).

I just pulled "Ted Kennedy" out of the hat, so I am now feverishly drawing the funniest damned panel about terminally ill, drunken, Irish lecherous men with brain cancer that commit vehicular homicide that I can think of ...

One Man’s Opinion said...

I love my little brother, Mark, but he needs Jesus. Although I love the idea of the reality show idea. They need a reality show for artist or cartoonist, damn it.

Although I want my own show call Police Justice. You know your boy can put some people in check.

pinkyandbrain said...

Very Argumentative From All Commentators.....The End Point For WhomEver Enters The White House Is Dont Reck The Country Like Bush Did Coz Sincerely Politicians Are All The Same Inrespective Of The Race,Creed.........And Of Coz The Party.A Perfect Example Is Rev.Jesse...Am So Sorry But It Makes Me Wonder If Martin Luther King Jnr Would Have Renegaded Too....Mandela So Far Has Been An Exception!

guerreiranigeriana said...

...the studpidity, fuckery and 'just show your real ass' that has replaced supposed professionalism in journalism and newscasting just continues to get better and better...now i'm supposed to see this as satire...right...

...i couldn't even be offended when i saw this rubbish...i just laughed and kept it moving...we should have known when they made a big deal of the initial bump between obama and michelle...big whoop...that was really newsworthy...more important than the children dying or the fact that new orleans still aint right...rubbish...

Anonymous said...

Guerreiranigeriana, did you even READ the article? Jeez.

And One Man, I don't need Jesus; not until I can shove him in my gas tank and get better mileage in my car. THEN he'll be of use to me (LOL).

Anonymous said...

When I saw this, I was outraged. I know they feel that this was just a satirical portrayal, and that they were only showing how the media can influence the thoughts and ideas of others with visuals, but why make the wound even deeper? I am not really buying their reasoning behind this. The cover was done in very, very, poor taste.