6. Cartoonists and their work. Editorial cartoons

A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. Traditionally much of this work was, and still is, humorous, and is intended primarily for entertainment purposes. Many traditional print cartoons are of the single-panel variety, and are published in print media of

various kinds, for example, in magazines such as The New Yorker and Punch. The term “cartoonist” is also applied to those who create more serious editorial or political cartoons, as well as those who create comic strips, comic books and graphic novels. Sometimes the term “graphic novelist” is used for cartoonists who produce long works.

Some cartoonists publish serial type cartoons that provide a snap-shot of the cartoon characters lives over a period of time, whereas other cartoonists provide commentary on current events or items in the news. Regardless of the type of cartoon that is produced all cartoonists must have excellent communication skills, good drawing ability as well as a way to interpret various events in a unique and creative way.

The average cartoonist works from home and uses the news, day to day life, and special events in their community and around the world as a source of inspiration. Many cartoonists now use drawing software on computers to complete their final products. This allows the easy exchange of final cartoons using e-mail rather than having to send hard copies of cartoons back and forth. Some cartoonists work for newspapers, magazines or other printed media and others work directly for customers looking for specific cartoon figures for advertising or promotions.

So cartoonists may work in many different formats: single panel gag cartoons, editorial cartoons, comic strips, comic books, graphic novels, or animation. But it is an editorial cartoon that is the most socially important.

Since the mid-1700s, editorial cartoons, using simple text and a single image, have been vehicles for public criticism and political commentary. Their combination of visual imagery, journalism, and satire is intellectually accessible to the public, and at their best, the cartoons respond powerfully and vividly to current events.

Nowadays editorial cartoons can usually be found on the editorial page of most newspapers, although a few, like Garry Trudeau’s Doonesbury are sometimes found on the regular comics page. A good collection of modern editorial cartoons can be found in each issue of magazines like the Humor Times and Funny Times. Recently, many radical or minority issue editorial cartoonists who would previously have been obscure have found large audiences on the Internet.

Editorial cartoons can be very diverse, but there is a certain established style among most of them. Most use visual metaphors and caricatures to explain complicated political situations, and thus sum up a current event with a humorous or emotional picture. Their purpose is to

bring across a message to people and try to make them think the same way.

In modern political cartooning two styles have begun to emerge. The traditional style, involving symbols like Uncle Sam, the Democratic donkey and Republican elephant, visual metaphors and labels, is described as the “nast-y” style (named after Thomas Nast), and the more text heavy “altie” style that tells a linear story, usually in comic strip format. Although their style, technique or viewpoints may differ, editorial cartoonists draw attention to important social and political issues.

Although most western editorial cartoonists by necessity occupy the middle political ground, this is by no means true of all cartoonists and there is a spectrum of political commentary in cartoons which runs from the extreme right through the centre to the extreme left. Political cartoons, can be whatever would reach the chosen age target.

There is a Pulitzer Prize awarded every year for America’s top editorial cartoonist – as decided by a panel of senior media industry professionals and media academics. Other major awards given each year to editorial cartoonists include the Sigma Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Thomas Nast Award from the Overseas Press Club, and the Herblock Prize.