Tom the Dancing Bug by Ruben Bolling for May 01, 2015
April 30, 2015
May 07, 2015
Transcript:
Garry Trudeau, the creator of Doonebury,critized the murdered charlie head cartoonist for punching downward, irresponsibly crossing a "red line" of appropriate satire. but how can you see that red line? Hi. Im here for a satirical take on anti - abortion laws. Sounds controversial. please take a seat by th red line. Shooter: Aieee! Blasphemers!! BLAM woman: Im shot! well, I think this is a good time to reflect on the nature of this satire. is it punching up or punching downward? Urk....punching up! well, many may not see it that way, those opposed to abortion are in the minority, the supreme court has ruled against them, and they believe they're protecting human lives. your shooting provides and excellent opportunity to contemplate the appropriate use of ....URK AIEEEE! In the name of free expression absolutism!! My god your shot! Its okay! I just realized my satire was punching downward onto murdered satirists! I should've been more responsible!
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You know, you can deplore murder, and support free speech, without actually lauding every instance of free speech. Including those that were (horribly and criminally) “answered” by murder.
The “mes fesses, tu les aimes, mes fesses?” (naked mohammed as porn bottom) Hebdo drawings are only be funny if you think it’s funny to mock islamic people for kneeling, butts-up, during prayer. (Or, I suppose, if you think it’s intrinsically funny to imagine any religious figure as a naked, ass-up gay porn figure, with dripping genitals.)
I completely support the right to print those particular cartoons. The ACLU supported the right of Nazis to march in Skokie, for the same reason: Free speech matters above all. But I don’t therefore have to support giving the publication, overall, a special commendation, or a gold star for the quality of their speech.
Over the years, some of the Hebdo art has been brilliant. Most of it has been puerile T&A. Some of it has been small-minded…unfunny to anyone who doesn’t find T&A intrinsically groundbreaking and funny…and, yes, bullying in tone (that being the core of “punching downwards”).
The “crying mohammed” is brilliant, but if you listen to the video where they decided on that cover, one guy first says, “we can’t just run another Mohammed as camel-f*cker cover, they’ll all be expecting that.” Problem is, he’s right. Most of the publication was at exactly that (very low effort, very low effect, very repetitive) level. It’s a shame, as each of the cartoonists could, and sometimes did achieve brilliance.