Israel group announces anti-Semitic cartoons contest!

[ECH1969]

Amitai Sandy (29), graphic artist and publisher of Dimona Comix Publishing, from Tel-Aviv, Israel, has followed the unfolding of the “Muhammad cartoon-gate” events in amazement, until finally he came up with the right answer to all this insanity - and so he announced today the launch of a new anti-Semitic cartoons contest - this time drawn by Jews themselves!

“We’ll show the world we can do the best, sharpest, most offensive Jew hating cartoons ever published!” said Sandy “No Iranian will beat us on our home turf!”

The contest has been announced today on the boomka website, and the initiator accept submissions of cartoons, caricatures and short comic strips from people all over the world. The deadline is Sunday March 5, and the best works will be displayed in an Exhibition in Tel-Aviv, Israel.

http://boomka.org/blog/?p=1

[Mark5]

1. Thats big of them?

I dont know though, it could back fire...

whats the purpose of this, I mean what are thry trtying to accomplish by showing they can make fun of themselves?

[rpannier]

15. Well there is a history of Jewish comedians making fun

of Jews.

[BuyingThyme]

2. I like it.

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Title is misleading.

It is not sponsored by Israel, but an Israeli group. I can appreciate self-deprecating humor, but why provide ammo to the enemy?

[XemaSab]

4. Maybe to humanize the Jews to the Arabs?

And to show that they're not going to allow this to escalate?

[thebigidea]

5. cartoonists using irony instead of hate? The monsters!

[Behind the Aegis]

6. Perhaps...

...However, considering the number of anti-Semitic cartoons already in the Arab media, I see no valid reason to provide even more. It could backfire as "see, even they recognize what they do!"

[Leopolds Ghost]

7. Thinking of the anti-cartoon Muslims as "the enemy" prolongs the

cycle of violence... perhaps that is why.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. That makes no sense.

Providing anti-Semitic cartoons, no matter the religion cartoonist, is not productive. The 'anti-cartoon' Muslims are not the 'enemies,' the bigots are.

[thebigidea]

9. I doubt they will be simple anti-Semitic cartoons

these being ah, Jewish cartoonists after all. They'll be ironic, and the best of them will make a point. Best wait until we see them before judging, yes? Somehow I doubt David Duke is going to have them silkscreened on t-shirts.

[Behind the Aegis]

10. Really?

Then this is an odd declaration: "“We’ll show the world we can do the best, sharpest, most offensive Jew hating cartoons ever published!” said Sandy..."

We can wait for them to come out, but I still think it is non-productive. I would feel the same about a Muslim group trying to "out do" the Danish cartoons; though, I doubt we'd see that.

[thebigidea]

11. yes, i'm sure he meant that completely seriously with absolutely no irony.

Then again, it may just be a cheap PR ploy to try to cash in on this stuff and give him some headlines. I guess I can see it from both sides - the cartoonist in me sees the potential for satire, the cynic sees a guy cashing in on misery. I guess we'll find out soon enough if at all.

[Behind the Aegis]

12. I guess we shall see.

Like we need more Jew-hating in the world. Sheesh, indeed.

[thebigidea]

13. yeah, a bit flippant. I edited it a second later with more.

You're right to be dubious.

Looking around at their work, they seem to be on the level with some decent quality material. A bit Dan Clowes-derivative, but some nicely produced anthologies. This could be an interesting project that would make for one unsettling/thoughtful gallery show that would spark a lot of debate. Either that or a screeching fiasco.

[Behind the Aegis]

14. Nuance.

This is why this 'contest' concerns me: the contest in Iran is very real, this one is supposedly sarcastic. Do you honestly think that many people would be able to distinguish the difference in the cartoons?

As I went to the other room, I thought of the perfect example. I don't know whether you saw the thread here or not, but there was a thread ripping on the FR because many of them thought the "Colbert Report" was a serious commentary on liberal issues (one FR comment, "The Colbert Report" is so refreshing after that crappy liberal "Daily Show"). They failed to see it was a parody of RW talk shows. So, extrapolate from that people seeing Jew-hating cartoon from Jews. They would see it as an admission and acknowledgment of the "evils of Jews."

People talk about the responsibility of media, this is where I see that importance come to life. If you and I had a history, you would know that I am very liberal, but if I make a gay joke, it is self-deprecating humor (I am gay), and not see it as a slam on all gays. However, if I walked into a bar and made the same comment, those people, despite many being able to guess I am gay, would not get that it was 'sarcasm' or 'self-deprecating' humor.

Does that make my position clearer or muddy the water more?