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07/07/2004 Entry: "RA on charles"
The Raving Atheist on cartoonists and Ray Charles. Some of these are just wrong. Imagine if a kid with down's syndrome died (Like TV's Corky). How appropriate would it be to draw him in the fictional afterlife as a normal adult, with some kind of intellectual job like a professor? I'm sure many would see this as wrong because it simply isn't portraying the person as we knew him. The same goes for giving Ray his sight back in these little feel-good comics. Ray's blindness was a fact of life and surely influenced his musical expression. Some people just don't get it.
Also, what's with the Reagan cartoon? Political cartoonists should be aware of the fact that Reagan's "Cadillac welfare queen in Chicago" speech hurt race relations quite a bit and are arguably the words of bigot.
Are the Marlon Brando cartoons in yet? He was an atheist. It would be interesting to see how the 'toonists deal with that little fact when drawing their hackneyed afterlife cartoons.
Update: The Brando cartoon is in. Just offensive. This is the equivalant of drawing a famous Jewish person with Jesus in heaven. I don't know why atheism isn't respected as a valid philosophical/religious/rational stance, but its highly unfair and I'm sick of the double-standard. You can email the cartoonist here.
Replies: 1 Comment
The cartoonist replied. He claims ignorance about Brando's beliefs (which is odd as that comic looks a lot like Brando accepting religion, but I do have my own POV) and claims this is common practice for cartoonists. Well, that's really the problem. Tradition is no excuse, creative people should be able to find new ways to do obit cartoons. That said, Fewings was a good guy about apologizing.
Email text:
Point taken. I must admit that I did not know that Brando was an atheist or not. Apparently you do know. Obit cartoons are a tricky business. It was simply meant as a tribute to a great actor. If I offended you or anyone else for that matter I deeply regret it. You're right, I should be careful about religious beliefs and ethical systems. Some as you pointed out are obvious and as correctly stated by you, I would not have considered. I deal as a cartoonist. with cliches, making a point or observation that most people will understand. I am not a Christian, but the idea of heaven and hell is part and parcel of our collective understanding. If you look back at the history of editorial cartooning it is overflowing with such "cliche images". You are right to question them and to ask for clarification when necessary and possible. As I said, your point (and it is a very good one) is taken. As for Brando's family coming across the cartoon, thanks for the compliment. At present my work isn't that widely syndicated. Not an excuse, just a fact.
Thank you again for your comments. The next obit cartoon that I do, I'll think about them and consider my approach. Cheers, John Fewings
Posted by skallas @ 07/07/2004 05:09 PM CST
