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Halifax cartoonist’s response to Kavanaugh hearing goes viral (Warning: upsetting imagery)
- Thread starter Dalek
- Start date
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If you feel you can't infer this artists goal from the work, then I'm not sure what else to tell ya.
You've never heard of "powerful" imagery in art? It means the artwork is very effective at stirring emotions. It's harrowing
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Can't say I agree. It's great, IMO. I don't see how it could have been done better.
So by that logic, if we read an author's work, you only need the author's interpretation of the text to form your own?
I mean, if you want to trigger rape victims with your edgy political cartoon, go ahead. This comic does nothing to the MAGA crowd, and only hurts those in the left that this comic is trying to "help". But you do you.
If you guys want to show a rape when discussing the problems of rape culture, I don't think thats an opinion. I just think its really fucked up. Surprising coming from a moderator of this forum tbh.
Graphic may not be the most fitting word. Intense? And for anyone who's experienced this, it could be very upsetting.
With this argumernt, any extreme left-leaning cartoon does nothing for the MAGA crowd. That doesn't mean its worthless and isn't making a point.
I have to disagree with Lindsay here, too.
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Yeah again this isn't the point. This isn't intended to be a cartoon that makes right wingers stop and say "I suddenly realize I've been wrong all this time."
These are probably the same people who defend graphic rape scenes in Game of Thrones because "it shows how bad it really is."
That's not how opinions work. Your disagreement doesn't negate its existence.
Also, this sounds like concern trolling.
Political cartoons generally cast a wider net than a news article, are more memorable, and tend to have a greater emotional impact as well. It should obviously be prefaced with a warning but I disagree that it has no potential to accomplish anything.
Is there anything we can do that won't have even the people on our side finding a reason to tell us to shut up or do things some other way? I feel like we spend too much time debating methods of approach and tone. Either we're too harsh or too soft, somebody is always whining about one or the other. Somebody took initiative, drew a cartoon, and it's getting a clear message across. You can't take sandpaper to the entire world and I don't know that this cartoon is upsetting to a majority of assault victims.
I've never really paid attention to political cartoons, obviously I've seen a couple here and there. This one though, really hits. I agree with the sentiment that a cartoon like this can/will hurt people that have been victim of these sorts of things, and for that I'm sorry. I also think its important that something like this is gaining steam. There are a TON of people out there who have NO idea what is going on and this has the potential to reach them, which I think is a good thing.
Really is graphic and disturbing to me though.
Really is graphic and disturbing to me though.
Read them tweets again, champ.
it doesn't matter what the point is. the point is muddled when all its doing it hurting people. i havent seen a single right winger look at this poor cartton and think "huh, maybe rape IS bad wow" and all I see are the left praising this cartoon and the sensible ones seeing how horrifying it is.
I personally disagree with this take but don't begrudge anyone for having it. Its a triggering piece of art. Not everyone is going to react the same.
man if you and others gonna downplay the thoughts of victims ITT im outta here.
I don't think that all it's doing is hurting people, though. That assumption is something you brought up, not some ironclad fact.
How is that what the poster is doing? You called everyone who thinks this cartoon is good "not sensible" in a huge sweeping statement. I don't think that pointing that out as not great is downplaying the thoughts of victims.
"Women who don't like looking at rape imagery are concern trolls, actually" is some next-level galaxy brain political thought from noted leftist internet forum resetera dot com. I apologize for derailing the thread and will instead step aside and let you boys discuss how powerful and evocative this is.
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I agree that "excellent" would be a poor description of the image given the subject matter. The word "accurate" however certainly applies given the actions of Trumps administration and the GOP before and during this incident.
I mean for fuck sake we have GOP senators openly calling the women liars and saying that THEY should be investigated. Its outrageous.
I have examples of it hurting victims. I haven't seen a single example changing the minds of those its targeting. But yeah, I just brought it up.
Yeah, fuck this thread. That mod should be ashamed of themselves as well.
What, it's worthwhile if it energizes more apathetic people than it does triggering victims? How about we find other ways to energize people that doesn't have a good chance (not an inevitable and necessary one, but a not-minimal chance) of hurting the people who are already suffering most because of this Kavanaugh shit. I'd bet you this drawing hurts more people than it gets someone off their ass to do something about Kavanaugh.
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If you are gonna continue to try and to speak for all victims, (and how they should all feel) perhaps that isn't a bad idea.
i mean bruh i literally posted the thoughts of victims in their words but you go on ahead with your mental gymnastics
This cartoon, as people keep pointing out, is not about changing minds. It is very much about waking people up, something that, in my experience, is necessary. People don't pay enough attention. A cartoon like this grabs that.
It's perfectly fine to be critical or even think that the benefits are not nearly enough to outweigh the dangers, but claiming that it JUST hurts people is just not true.
I mean bruh, I literally sent this comic to an abuse survivor who doesn't share your take.
I'm a woman and a victim of sexual assault. I'm not ashamed of appreciating a powerful, if uncomfortable, political cartoon, no. But thanks for telling me how I should feel.
and if they aren't affected by this comic, than thats fine. but there ARE people hurt by this and don't want to see it. that doesnt mean anything to anyone defending this comic in this thread.
Political cartoons thrive on being provocative and edgy, for better or for worse, but I don't think it's as cut and dry when it comes to representing sexual assault especially when the authors are men.
To have the capacity to elicit a strong response. Powerful may be too loaded though given I'm not as hot on the piece as other people are. Potent?
That awkward moment when you accidentally tell an assault victim how to feel about what goes on in the world after they've survived it.
Amazing.
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As political cartoons go, it's pretty effective.
Has he actually been accused of rape?
Has he actually been accused of rape?
Then point to SPECIFICALLY to those people and stop speaking in generalities because...
Looking at the dissenting posts, and think I could persuade you otherwise.
What is the purpose of political cartoons? First, I point you towards a political cartoon activity from the Library of Congress titled "It's No Laughing Matter: Analyzing Political Cartoons"
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classro...ities/activities/political-cartoon/about.html
Now, obviously we can see several elements, or persuasive techniques, used in this picture. First off, we have symbolism in the iconographic Republican Party elephant used as cuff links. The Republican Party is shown to be a part of this attempted rape towards Dr. Ford, and indeed it could be argued all females, as we are fighting a battle for roe V.S. wade.
Next, the analogy of lady justice as Dr. Ford. This is very representative of Dr. Ford's desire only for the truth in her own search for justice. But, also a representation of Mr. Kavanaughs potential impartiality as a Supreme Court Justice. Would his rendering of justice truly be blind in the face of all we have seen? Or would he commit an attempted rape against it, as he did Dr. Ford? There are so many techniques used that I'm sure more could be pointed out.
Yes, the image is provocative. But, there is a reason this provocative imagery is used, and that is to prompt discussion. Ultimately to cause one to reflect i.e, engage with the art in a dialogue.
What is the purpose of political cartoons? First, I point you towards a political cartoon activity from the Library of Congress titled "It's No Laughing Matter: Analyzing Political Cartoons"
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classro...ities/activities/political-cartoon/about.html
Now, obviously we can see several elements, or persuasive techniques, used in this picture. First off, we have symbolism in the iconographic Republican Party elephant used as cuff links. The Republican Party is shown to be a part of this attempted rape towards Dr. Ford, and indeed it could be argued all females, as we are fighting a battle for roe V.S. wade.
Next, the analogy of lady justice as Dr. Ford. This is very representative of Dr. Ford's desire only for the truth in her own search for justice. But, also a representation of Mr. Kavanaughs potential impartiality as a Supreme Court Justice. Would his rendering of justice truly be blind in the face of all we have seen? Or would he commit an attempted rape against it, as he did Dr. Ford? There are so many techniques used that I'm sure more could be pointed out.
Yes, the image is provocative. But, there is a reason this provocative imagery is used, and that is to prompt discussion. Ultimately to cause one to reflect i.e, engage with the art in a dialogue.
How can you know the cartoon won't change minds? It's an arresting image that would affect anyone with a shred of empathy.
Are you also against journalists using graphic images to illustrate the cost of war because soldiers with PTSD might be affected? Despite their potential to shift public opinion and draw attention to injustices that some would rather overlook?
There is a long and important tradition of using powerful imagery to change hearts and minds. People are emotional creatures. Some messages just won't get through with appeals to the intellect.
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There's no way to know that for sure, and the description of the rape and the discussion around it are also potentially triggering. Voters should not be ignorant about this topic so the best that can be done is to ensure that people are properly informed about what they could encounter when they visit a thread, or click a link to a news article or image.
Just the fact that this comic is resonating with a lot of people makes me believe that it's indeed effective. I'm sorry, but with the GOP literally taking the official stance that sexual assault is no big deal, we all have to realize that this is only going to get worse, not better. The GOP literally isn't letting people avoid this truth. If you want to be angry, be angry at Republicans for forcing this shit on us, not the people who help us galvanize against it.