Do you want to use your excellent artistic skills to make satirical comics about social life? Becoming a satirical cartoonist does not guarantee a full-time job, but it can be an important outlet for expressing your concerns and making information public through a means of communication you are used to, whether you are spreading your cartoons via blog, newspapers or magazines. This article explains what are the essential requirements to become a satirical cartoonist, also known as a "visual journalist", cartoonist or political cartoonist.
Steps
Step 1. Learn what satire is
Satire is an expressive medium that relies on irony, hyperbole and ridicule to showcase and criticize the vicious or ridiculous actions of an individual, of institutions and of society. Satire is not to be confused with sarcasm or parody, as it is much more refined. Satire seeks to highlight or display the absurdity, inconsistency, hypocrisy, attitude, faith, or vicious behavior of people, governments, corporations, organizations, etc. It is a type of humor that can get you into trouble, it can be difficult to achieve because you have to find a balance between the irreverent and the politically correct, or sensitivity, depending on the context.
Satire exists in all forms of art, including novels, poems, plays, sculptures, films and of course also in comics. Unlike other art forms, comics are presented as an excellent and quick communication system for spreading short and sharp messages to a wide audience
Step 2. Comics are an almost natural vehicle for satire
Even cartoonists who don't focus on satire frequently use it as a form of humor.
Dave Brown thinks that the satirical comic is "a way to take back some power from the bullies who rule us. The cartoonist is a lone hitman who shoots from afar, but if he manages to hit some hits, he can help us knock them down”
Step 3. You must be a good cartoonist
The ability to draw is useful for those who aspire to draw comics, but the cartoonist has a large margin of freedom, because he is expected to develop his own eclectic style. It may be that you prefer to work with graphics programs to create satirical images, to be able to combine different elements to create new images or manipulate old images in a satirical way. There are some things you need to keep in mind to be a good cartoonist:
- What you draw must be obvious and clear to the reader.
- Your style must like it. It can be helpful to learn how to draw caricatures.
- To make satirical comics it is essential to understand irony and nuances.
- Develop the ability to use art and speech together. Sarah Gillespie, of United Feature Syndicate explains that the skills of drawing well and writing something fun are completely distinct and are vital to a good cartoonist, even if they are difficult to combine.
- This combination makes you an artist and a journalist. Even if this is true, neither journalists nor artists will fully accept you in their world. This does not have to be a deterrent, a satirical cartoonist has the ability to produce an awareness on the part of the public. André Pijiet states that, "satirical art is a product of intelligence and inner poetic and intellectual sensitivity, just like for any form of artistic expression, but with a pinch of pepper.
Step 4. Learn from the best
Draw inspiration from contemporary and past satirical cartoonists. The idea is always to create your own style, with your drawings and your satire, but learning the humorous approaches and styles of other satirical cartoonists will allow you to learn and understand notions and tricks that you had not considered until now..
- In addition to consulting the other satirical cartoons, try to understand which were the most controversial and least effective strips, and also try to understand why. For example, religious cartoons have caused much controversy, in all places and at all times. Some of the reasons comics don't work are poor context and lack of subject notoriety. Try to understand what makes satirical cartoons what they are. Try to understand how far you want to go to challenge public opinion.
- Consult magazines, websites, and books based on satire, such as Spinoza.it, Forattini, Altan, etc. Watching satirical TV shows can also help you (Striscia la Notizia?).
- Compare the different forms of satire over time. You will find that tolerance towards satire rises and falls depending on the culture and society. This study will help you understand how some cultures are more open to satire than others, although satire usually doesn't stop even in the face of the strongest powers.
Step 5. Stay up to date on political and company events
Returning to the concept that the satirical cartoonist is a "visual journalist", you will always have to be updated on the facts that surround you, every day. Take some time to read the news or watch the news, and express an opinion on highlighted events and issues. You must also learn to prioritize new stories in order to find the element that stimulates readers and if you work for a newspaper, it is very likely that you will discuss the news with the publisher and together make the decision on what to do. This means you won't always be able to draw what you care about most, so be prepared to be flexible, versatile and have an open mind.
- Life is often more bizarre than fiction. If you know current events well your work will not be overtaken by an even more bizarre reality.
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Become famous. If you start to make yourself known you will increase your influence and your chances of working in this field in the future. The idea is to expose your work to as many people as possible to start building a reputation. Here are some tips to help you:
Become a Satire Cartoonist Step 5 - Think about publication and distribution alone, rely on blogs or websites (such as DeviantArt).
- Draw for the local newspaper, or other local publications. They always need content. Keep a copy of each published comic for your portfolio.
- Take part in local, regional, national, international fairs and all competitions that accept comics or graphic art. This is how Andre Pijiet became famous for his comics, and the cash prizes can help you grow better in this world. It also takes part in the competitions held by the newspapers. Dave Brown was hired after winning a competition held by The Sunday Times.
- Expand your repertoire by including line writing, and not just comics, if you like. This way you increase the chances of working as a "satyr".
Step 6. Look for a job, but don't give up everything
If your aim is to pursue a career as a satirical cartoonist, know that a difficult path awaits you, a lot of rejections and the possibility that this dream will never come true. There are very few cartoonists who work full-time as cartoonists for editorial or satirical comics, and those who manage to take a place like that tend to stay there for a long time. Furthermore, publications must reflect your ideologies, what you believe in and your vision of society and institutions. For example, Dave Brown claims that he is comfortable with the Independent, but that he would not have been comfortable with the Telegraph. Don't let the lack of places dissuade you from your goal. It may happen that a place like the one you aspire to gets free from time to time (and if you follow these tips, you will be the next to enter it) but there are also many other job opportunities suitable for your talent:
- Apply for a job for any newspaper or wherever a designer or graphic designer is needed. When you're inside, it's easier to start climbing, and day after day you can develop your own satirical style, enticing others to give you a chance.
- Start a blog and continually update it with your cartoons. Accumulate fans through the common methods by which blogs are advertised (for example, by connecting it to Facebook and Twitter, creating a space for comments, etc.)
- Find freelance work where you can to start building a reputation and career. Chances are hiring you will want to see your progress and a chronology of your recent news satirical cartoons to understand your style and understand how you translate events into satirical drawings.
Step 7. Expect a rigorous selection
If you get noticed by a publisher who wants to hire you, don't rest on your laurels. The selection process is the hardest part! Those who have to decide if you have the skills to be selected as a satirical cartoonist will try to figure out what kind of person you are. At this point they will try to get to know you better in order to figure out if you can provide them with comics on a regular basis for a certain period of time. It will help you a lot, if you are already able to prove it thanks to the publication of your cartoons on blogs or periodical newspapers.
- Satire works best when people expect it. Better to look for a job for a publication, print or online, that often shows satirical cartoons. The more serious newspapers only publish satirical cartoons every now and then, and this could create problems for you, because it can prevent you from building a job with a regular pay.
- Expect a lot of competition. There are thousands of cartoonists who try to get into a newspaper or other publication every day.
- Don't expect to be hired full time. At first you will be hired on a trial basis to see if your style is liked by readers. Even if comics survive this test, it is very likely that you will often work freelance.
Step 8. Learn about defamation laws in Italy
While it may seem obvious that satirists can get into legal trouble, this is vital to avoiding complaints and even indictments of defamation or blasphemy (depending on where you work). The laws on defamation vary from country to country, but with the advent of the Internet, it is also necessary to calculate the possibility of protests from other parts of the world, so keep in mind the basic rules of defamation. Defamation laws seek to ensure that people's reputations are not harmed when reported by other people. Defamation serves to balance freedom of speech with the individual's rights to have a reputation free from unwarranted attacks. Justifications are important to the injured party, they form the basis on which subsequent legal actions are based. Very often satirical cartoonists live in a kind of limbo because their comics can involve defamatory intent.
- Focus primarily on purpose. If your purpose is to make people laugh or make a joke and not to mock or insult, there is a good chance that your cartoon will not be accused of being defamatory. Dave Brownn explains this concept thus, "[L] the difference […] between the caricature and the insult […] lies in the purpose. You don't draw Sarkozy of short stature just to laugh at a short man. But to make it clear that that is a representation of his philosophical or political inadequacy. In this way you claim that he is a man of short stature, not in centimeters, but of intellect. An insult is based only on the physical appearance of a person. In comics, you can render the physical aspect a metaphor for what you think of someone."
- Check the libel laws in your country. Consult Wikipedia to find out more
Step 9. Expect potential repercussions
Being a satirical cartoonist means going beyond the barriers of a normal cartoonist who tries to make humor. Topics such as religion and politics are particularly sensitive, as are social institutions rooted in culture or historical traditions.
- Take note of your country's attitude to opinions on society. In democratic countries, satire on public and influential figures is highly accepted. This cannot be said of authoritarian or totalitarian countries, where criticism of government authority and activities can cause terrible repercussions.
- Select the subject very carefully. When you satirize an individual, you need to be more cautious because it is easier for him to be mistaken for an insult, causing retaliation. Pay even more attention to satirizing a little-known character, first of all because being a local character he is not known to everyone, and secondly because those who are not public figures care much more about their reputation than those with a high profile. and is therefore more open to "strong" comments.
- Learn to build yourself a beautiful armor. You will be criticized for making fun of the sacred cows. Be well informed, be ready to stand up for what you believe in and learn to be treated as you treat others!
- Sometimes being a satirical cartoonist can be dangerous and life-threatening. For example, when satirical cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad were published in Denmark, the cartoonists were threatened with death and various acts of violence followed.
Advice
- Think of other ways to use satire, such as writing books and making films. Even if it doesn't allow you to live, it improves your skills and gets you noticed. Like many art jobs, it helps to have a part-time job in order to pay the bills.
- Be smart, not just funny, and try not to be obscene. Satire is a form of sharp, subtle, informed and intelligent humor. It is not insulting or ridiculing.
- It is difficult to be a "neutral" cartoonist. The source of your satire comes from your political, religious, social and institutional vision, but above all from your history. If you don't enter your creed, your comics will stay flat.
Warnings
- Some people are easily offended, especially those with more extremist thinking. These people are not reliable critics. The people who make constructive criticism are those who appreciate satire and support its use but give you suggestions on how to improve.
- There are many countries where satire about politics, religion, culture and social problems is not only not accepted, but can make you go to prison (until recently it also happened in Italy, thank goodness there is Sallusti, and this it's really satire). If you want to become a satirical cartoonist, you have to learn to defend yourself and stay safe, or keep a low profile.
- Being a satirical cartoonist means being ready to stand up for your opinions and what you believe in. Prepare to be disowned by friends and family! On the other hand, also be prepared to make new friends and be appreciated for your work.
