Cartoon critics Phil Witte and Rex Hesner look behind the gags to debate what makes a cartoon tick. This week our intrepid critics take a look at unusual toons. Many cartoonists rely on cliches, that is, setups that can be relied upon because they are familiar yet durable enough to vary in almost infinite ways….
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Have Something Specific in Mind?
Cartoons in Tech Marketing: What Works and What Doesn’t
Caption Contest Commentary
“Ape on a Tablet” Caption Contest Commentary with Lawrence Wood
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Anatomy of a Cartoon: Outside the Box
“Curious Dog” Caption Contest Commentary with Lawrence Wood
In Kaamran Hafeez’s cartoon, a dog is on his hind legs and resting his front paws on a counter under a sign that reads “Information.” Behind the counter is a woman. The dog is saying something to her. Since he’s at an information booth, I assume he’s asking a question. Dogs are incredibly affectionate and…
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“Wedding Crasher” Caption Contest Commentary with Lawrence Wood
In Brooke Borgeois’ cartoon, a Godzilla-like monster has interrupted a wedding ceremony by tearing off the roof of the church. He’s glaring down at the bride and groom and minister. The bride, who looks more disappointed or apologetic than shocked, is speaking. In Othello, jealousy is personified as “the green-eyed monster,” so I thought this monster…
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Courting Laughter
We are a nation of laws… Which would be fine except for the lawyers, judges, and juries who screw it up. Anyway, that’s the view of cartoonists who are not in the business of praising institutions but are in the business of showing how the humans who comprise them are all too human, all too…
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Climate Centre Case Study: Using cartoons to communicate serious issues
On September 25th, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a massive 1170 page report delving into the alarming severity of global warming. More than 104 scientists from 36 countries worked together over the past 3 years looking at the disastrous impact of climate change on the Earth’s oceans and the ice formations. Sound amusing?…
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“Fired Wizard” Caption Contest Commentary with Lawrence Wood
In Lars Kenseth’s cartoon, an office worker and a wizard are either in an elevator or waiting for an elevator. The wizard is carrying a cardboard box filled with files and a tape dispenser, suggesting that he was just fired and told to clear out his desk. The wizard is speaking. I first thought of…
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