joke cartoons
A JOKE CARTOON in a newspaper provides an oasis of humour in a desert of grey newsprint. Often political, it can plumb the depths of mundane human experience showing us things we knew but were unable to express. Or else it can surprise us with audacious visual puns and imaginative jokes drawn from a lateral perspective.
historically speaking
Joke or ‘gag’ cartoons have featured in magazines since the 19th Century, especially in magazines like Punch, The New Yorker and Playboy. The subject matter and tone of the cartoons is influenced by the type of publication, so jokes in Punch and The New Yorker would be more predominantly connected to national news stories or current social mores; while those in Playboy and other ‘Men’s Magazines’ would contain slightly saucier humour.
birds of a feather
The world of joke cartoonists seems to be split into several distinct groups. There are the consummate draughtsmen whose every cartoon is a work of art, and there are the gagsmiths who produce very funny jokes with a ‘naïve’ drawing style. Then there are the vast majority who fall between these two poles, producing a wide range of humour in a staggering variety of styles.
While a lot of cartoonists are working at their craft full time, the majority have ‘day’ jobs as wide ranging as from tree surgeons to doctors; and many of these don’t make the breakthrough to becoming full-timers.
the incredible shrinking market
In the UK, the traditional market for gag cartoons has shrunk over the last decade, as newspaper accountants look for ways to cut costs. Private Eye, The Spectator, Prospect, The New Statesman and The Oldie are the main targets for cartoonists who regularly send in batches of ideas in the hope of getting one accepted. The elite few who get accepted regularly, become virtual ‘house’ cartoonists and some benefit from discussions with the editors as to what ideas are required for that issue.
heroes to the rescue
But nil desperandum. The exposure given by The London International Cartoon Festival will open new possibilities for joke cartoons, with our emphasis on the power of cartoons in communication and education.
