News
- November 2014 (1)
- May 2014 (2)
- January 2014 (1)
- November 2013 (1)
- October 2013 (3)
- September 2013 (2)
- June 2013 (1)
- May 2013 (1)
- April 2013 (2)
- March 2013 (4)
- February 2013 (2)
- January 2013 (4)
- December 2012 (3)
- November 2012 (3)
- October 2012 (3)
- September 2012 (4)
- August 2012 (7)
- July 2012 (8)
- June 2012 (9)
- May 2012 (4)
- April 2012 (7)
- March 2012 (4)
- February 2012 (5)
- January 2012 (10)
- November 2011 (2)
- October 2011 (2)
- September 2011 (3)
- August 2011 (1)
- 1 of 2
- ››
Memes vs Cartoons
THE DIGITAL AGE'S 'VIDEO vs RADIO STAR' BATTLE?
An interesting blog post has suggested that the unrivalled dominance that editorial cartoons have long enjoyed in the field of graphical expression, commentary and satire now faces a threat which dwarfs the challenges of dwindling newspaper sales and accusations of plagiarism (and so called "self plagiarism") that are troubling the sector - particularly in the United Sates.
The advent of memes, and particularly the kind that live and thrive on the internet, are competing with cartoons in the digital arena for that ever decreasing space; the reader's attention span.
A meme (a term coined by Richard Dawkins in 1976) is "an idea, behaviour or style that spreads from person to person within a culture", explains Wikipedia. It almost always evolves in the process. This phenomenon has found fertile ground on the internet, where ideas are easily published, shared, copied, sometimes altered, and redistributed.
It could be a catchy phrase popularised by an advertising campaign, or an abbreviation (like LOL), a tune from a TV series, fashion, architecture or a photoshopped image, shared on the internet.
Very popular amongst these internet memes are those which graphically comment on political and social matters, and it is these that the traditional political cartoon should watch out for.
Daryl Cagle, American cartoonist and publisher of Cagle.com wonders whether memes are something cartoonists should worry about. They certainly lack the depth and intellectual appeal of an editorial cartoon.
But their lack of sophistication adds to their mass appeal. Because they're built on familiar themes, memes are easy to grasp, identify with, and appreciate. Last year the search term 'political memes' surpassed 'political cartoons' as a popular Google search term. That's certainly something to take note of.
MORE...
READ The Human Condition blog post here.
SOUTH AFRICAN MEMES include: 'Vern Koekoemoer' (fashion),' Die Antwoord' (music), 'Vuvuzelas' (niose) and 'Don't touch me on my studio' (video).
SEE OUR MEME THEMED CARTOONS HERE.
