Killed Art
There's a flip side to editors approving clumsy, offensive cartoons and illustrations that rile millions and spark riots: killing good art out of timidity. Or a paranoid Freudian mind that sees deviousness in the inked line.
Alternet has posted some illustrations from the book All The Art That’s Fit to Print (And Some That Wasn’t) which is a collection of New York Times Op-Ed art. Obviously some highly-charged offensive stereotypes were killed by wise editors, right? Well, if you consider sweat beads on Bush's forehead as he contemplates the results of the 2000 election offensive, then you must be relieved. While providing a glimpse into some great art we wouldn't otherwise see, it also baffles the mind to read what editors perceive in these things.
Take the rather innocuous and cartoony drawing of Bill Clinton by Robert Grossman that former Times Executive Editor Howell Raines killed because “It's a nasty caricature of a sitting president." My favorite is the light bulb with a copyright symbol on it for--get this--an article about copyrights! Again, Raines swooped in to squash it. The reason? "We can't publish a bare breast and a nipple!"
Get this man some help!
To me, killed cartoons and caricatures should make your jaw hit the floor, eyes pop out of your skull and maybe, just maybe, get you to understand why an editor passed on it. You should marvel at the size of the artist's balls or ovaries and wish you lived in a world where such hard-hitting commentary was published.
For instance, this Jeff Danziger cartoon was being happily passed around amongst us cartoonists near inauguration day but was rejected by his syndicate, never to be seen in print or by any web client. It becomes immediately clear why this was rejected. But too often you're left scratching your head and looking at a light bulb an editor said was a tit.
Related: Maybe the most offensive image I ever submitted to a client.
Alternet has posted some illustrations from the book All The Art That’s Fit to Print (And Some That Wasn’t) which is a collection of New York Times Op-Ed art. Obviously some highly-charged offensive stereotypes were killed by wise editors, right? Well, if you consider sweat beads on Bush's forehead as he contemplates the results of the 2000 election offensive, then you must be relieved. While providing a glimpse into some great art we wouldn't otherwise see, it also baffles the mind to read what editors perceive in these things.
Take the rather innocuous and cartoony drawing of Bill Clinton by Robert Grossman that former Times Executive Editor Howell Raines killed because “It's a nasty caricature of a sitting president." My favorite is the light bulb with a copyright symbol on it for--get this--an article about copyrights! Again, Raines swooped in to squash it. The reason? "We can't publish a bare breast and a nipple!"
Get this man some help!
To me, killed cartoons and caricatures should make your jaw hit the floor, eyes pop out of your skull and maybe, just maybe, get you to understand why an editor passed on it. You should marvel at the size of the artist's balls or ovaries and wish you lived in a world where such hard-hitting commentary was published.
For instance, this Jeff Danziger cartoon was being happily passed around amongst us cartoonists near inauguration day but was rejected by his syndicate, never to be seen in print or by any web client. It becomes immediately clear why this was rejected. But too often you're left scratching your head and looking at a light bulb an editor said was a tit.
Related: Maybe the most offensive image I ever submitted to a client.
posted by Matt Bors at
11:51 AM
5 Comments:
On the other hand, that must've been the easiest million bucks one can ever earn.
Unless I'm mistaken, Alternet has misinterpreted that number. It probably represents the total amount they've spent on ALL kill fees. There's no way Levine could get that much for a kill fee.
Yeah, I'd make a killing on kill fees.
"...unflattering to the majesty of the office...."
That anyone could say that with a straight face about either President Blowjob or President Torturer-War-Liar is beyond me.
What scares me is that these funny drawings are banned, but the Wall Street Journal has a full editorial page every day. Talk about offensive!
Makes me think of the cartoon of the Monkey being shot / Stimulus Plan. A lot of these seem tame compared to that one.
Keep in mind, the press is private industry. Thankfully if the newspaper your syndicate to doesn't want to carry it, there is always the Inter-web.
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