The pitfalls of caricaturing Barack
Drawing black people is a nightmare for cartoonists. The first problem, in an everyday gag, is that a random black person delivering the line is still questioned by the reader. "Why's he black? Is it something to do with Brixton?"
I'll leave it up to you to wonder why readers think that …
Actually drawing someone who is black is a minefield. The whole point of caricature is to exaggerate features. I guess what we do is have a so-called ideal (say, a GQ model) and then point out anything that differs from that perceived perfection. Bigger ears, smaller eyes, sillier hair. But bigger lips? A flatter nose?
You see where I'm going here.
Check this comment by Dayo Olopade at theroot.com for a fascinating insight into how cartoonists have tackled Barack Obama so far.
Cartooning the Chancellors
March 30th, 2010 10:29
The Cartoonist of the year is…
March 24th, 2010 11:12
Proof! Political cartoons do matter
March 9th, 2010 14:16
Ronald Searle: the Godfather of modern cartoonists
March 4th, 2010 7:38
Two Telegraph Press Awards nominations for Cartoon
February 24th, 2010 14:15