Michael Jackson
Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 12:05PM Editorial cartoonists always face a challenge when drawing a cartoon of a dead celebrity. Most times, if the celebrity in question lived a "good," or quiet life, the cartoonist draws the standard-person-at-Heaven's-Gate and somebody making a smarty-pants quip that is supposed to sum up that person's life. Presto, it's Miller time!
Conversely, if the dead individual was, say, a notorious dictator, cartoonists usually feel it is fair comment to draw them in hell, with the obligatory punch line that is intended to show what torment awaits them.
Then there's Michael Jackson. I deliberately chose to ignore the controversy which surrounded his life and stick to his genius. I think there is a time and a place for detrimental comments and I think the decision to draw a negative cartoon should only be entered into with some consideration and that should reflect the context.
Imagine my surprise when numerous cartoonists, whom I won't name here, felt it was their privilege to, in essence, urinate on his grave. I apologize for the crassness of that last statement, but I have to emphasize the extreme lack of sensitivity on the part of some editorial cartoonists. Combined with the numerous knock-offs of the first Michael Jackson cartoons and the savagery in which some cartoonists tore into his alleged personal issues, I can't really remember a time I cringed as much and was as ashamed of this profession.
I am no angel when it comes to Michael Jackson, as I drew some very mocking cartoons of the "King of Pop" and I do not apologize for any of them, because they were all fair comment. The difference being, he was alive. There is absolutely no purpose for drawing Michael Jackson pedophile cartoons, other than to try to appeal to a very low common denominator of fellow haters.
Part of the equation for me, always in drawing a death cartoon, is to ask myself "How will this effect those who loved him most?" If the answer is a negative, then I ask a second question, which is "How important is this statement and can it wait for the grieving process to end?" Usually it can.
Some cartoonists reading this are going to offended and all I have to say that if you are big enough to throw tomatoes at his funeral procession, you're big enough to suck it up, princess. You're an idiot. Now live with it.
I also realize this isn't going to endear cartoonists to buy me a beer at the upcoming AAEC convention in Seattle, but you know, I'd rather live with my conscience than deal with idiots who draw well.
Cameron Cardow
I've received a number of interesting responses via Facebook. It appears even my friends and family can't agree on this one:
Hard call, Cam.
Many characters in history have had both a good and a bad side. Many of those who are defined in history as "pure evil" have had their decent qualities, or were geniuses. Nevertheless, those redeeming qualities have never deterred humorists from poking fun at them in life or in death.
While Michael was a musical genius, in person he was more than a tad "eccentric", with personal habits that were questionable at best, and completely unacceptable concepts of sleeping arrangements for children. I suspect that his behaviors may be a byproduct of his genius, combined with a "less than normal" childhood and home environment. These are the same factors to which many of history's dark figures can also trace their abhorrent behaviours.
Bottom line is that while he was an entertainment icon loved by millions, he was still a human being, no more or less immune from criticism than Bill Clinton or Adolph Hitler, or any other public figure - in life or in death...-Bob
While I appreciate Bob's comments and can agree with what he says - only to a point, I still buy into your wisdom Cam on this issue and your cartoon. I know that cartoonists make their living capitalizing on the eccentricities of the famous and political, Still, in tragic death - whether planned, by stupidity or by honest means, we dobetter not to stoop to the lowest common denominator of life, but hold up to a better standard. After all, who us is any better inside than they when it comes down to it! There will be lots of comments I am sure to my stance, but it is mine - not unlike yours. Thanks for being brave enough to voice it!
-Sharon
I'm sure I'll hear more comments as it seems to be a divisive and emotional issue.
Reader Comments (7)
Thanks for taking the time to talk about this, I feel fervently about this and I take pleasure in learning about this topic. Please, as you gain information, please update this blog with more information. I have found it very usefulcheap louis vuitton shoes for men
hey there and thank you for your information – I have definitely picked up something new from right here. I did however expertise a few technical issues using this website, since I experienced to reload the site a lot of times previous to I could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your web host is OK? Not that I'm complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will sometimes affect your placement in google and could damage your quality score Gucci Indy if ads and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my e-mail and could look out for much more of your respective interesting content. Ensure that you update this again very soon..
Thanks for taking the time to talk about this, I feel fervently about this and I take pleasure in learning about this topic. Please, as you gain information, please update this blog with more information. I have found it very usefulcheap louis vuitton shoes for men-Louis Vuitton LV277 Swiss watches replicas
More please, this information helped me consider a few more things, keep up the good work.
by Omega Seamaster omega constellation stainless steel case
Hi, the article is so wonderful, I am interested in it. I will pay attention to your articles. And I like cheap clothes very much,they are in high quality and inexpensive, so I think everyone will be interested in it,is it right? I have found a wholesale in china online, there are China wholesaler.The store was established for a long time.They have a good reputation,there are many cheap shoes on their website.They provide wholesale price and shipping to worldwide. So no matter where you are now, you also can order your goods at this website. Especially the cheap clothing ,they are my favorite!
Thank you for your articles! Winter will coming soon.Have you prepared Ugg Bootsfor this winter?I think everyone need to buy one ugg boots to through the cold winter.I found Ugg Boots On Sale by chance.The store provide cheap and stylish ugg boots for us, and it can ship to worldwide with freeshipping.All of them are Cheap Ugg Bootssale online.It is convinient to order them no matter where you are..We can find flixble Ugg Australiaat here, they are authentic, you can feel free to buy them.Do not hesitate, shop your favorite Ugg Boots onlinenow.
I read your blod stuff number of times and every time i found very interesting stuff.