Barack Around The Clock

[Atman]

He raises another $20,000,000 in his race to be defeated by Hillary.



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[zanne]

1. Objectionable content, my friend.

I don't know where you got that caricature, but it's definity NOT cool........

[frazzled]

2. I concur ...

No matter whether you support Obama's campaign or not, that is some racist caricature there. I think it might be wise for the OP to remove it.

[Atman]

4. Why on earth is it racist???

It is a near exact duplicate of the most common news service pic of him. He is pointing to numbers on the clock. There is absolutely nothing racist about it.

This is a ridiculous position that cartoonists so often find themselves in. The art of caricature relies on taking certain features of the subject and accentuating them or exaggerating them. Otherwise it's not a caricature, its' just a portrait. It works the same no matter what the race of the subject. But this was one of the most difficult ones I've ever drawn, because Obama is black. I was conscious of that the whole time I worked on it that if I approached it as traditional caricature that SOMEONE would likely be upset. I think I actually came out closer to the "portrait" than the caricature -- with the exception of the body, because he is dancing and pointing to numbers on a clock. And he's tall and thin.

How would YOU have drawn him? Am I not supposed to draw Obama at all? Is merely DRAWING him "racist" to you?

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[Atman]

3. What is objectionable about it?

Please, do tell.

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[frazzled]

6. I assume you ask sincerely

So I'll answer sincerely (and remember, I am not suggesting you are racist, just that the caricature is).

It's the shuffle and jive stuff. Perhaps you're aware that one (particularly harmful) racist stereotype of African Americans is that about the only thing they're good at is "rhythm"--the Bojangles, Steppin' Fetchit, James Brown kind of rhythm (sho' can dance!). By reducing Obama to this particular tap-dancin', jivin' image, the caricature plays into a particularly harmful image of black people. It doesn't address Obama as a politician, but as a member of a race.

I remember having a similar reaction some years ago to a posting that characterized Joe Lieberman as being "filthy." Now, I dislike Joe Lieberman's politics immensely, but this was a particularly unsavory way for someone to express that dislike--because the stereotype that jews are "dirty" (Juden Rat) has a long history and particular underpinned the Nazis' selling their plan to exterminate them. So criticize Lieberman, but don't use racially charged images.

Same for Obama: express your opinion of his politics and/or campaign, but don't use racially-charged images to do it.

[Atman]

7. I respect your explanation, even if I don't agree with it.

I'm assuming black people dance, right? I mean, I like to dance, when we go out clubbing with our circle of friends, the various people of color seem to be enjoying themselves just as much as I am. So, back to the cartoon; before the first pencil line was drawn, the word-play, "Barack Around The Clock" came to mind. People dance to it at sock hops and such. I came up with idea after his last huge fund-raising victory, when the mass media covered his fund-raising virtually non stop for a couple of days. It was about his 24 hour fund raising coverage, set to music...thus, the images of money, clocks and dancing. Barack happens to be the candidate.

Think about the underlying racism in your charge of racism. And yes, I'm being quite sincere. You've reduced the image of a black man enjoying himself into a symbol of racism. If I had shown him doing "the white guy dance," stiff back, thumbs up, would that NOT have been racist to you? If you don't want the image of a black man dancing to be construed as racist, stop calling "racist!" when someone posts a picture of a black man dancing. It's not as if it's an image of lynchings used as a joke, which of course would be extremely offensive.

It never had anything to do with his race, but you've reduced it to a commentary about black men and shuckin' and jivin', "sho can dance," stuff I never said or alluded to. I never once thought the final image was racist, because it was just about a guy dancing -- in fact, I have one version of it with a different background, called "The Big Dance '08". It doesn't work imho, even on the clock image, if the subject is just standing there rigid, like Mickey Mouse on a watch face.

I really do appreciate your opinion, but I obviously disagree with you. Some times a cigar is just a cigar.

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[frazzled]

10. You're a really good artist

and I'm totally impressed the drawing is yours. Again, I'm sure you had no intention to make an objectionable image, but as an artist you have to know that images communicate things. They have histories, just like words, that you need to be aware of. I think some of the response here (and especially the Jim Crow image another poster put up) suggests that whether you intended it or not, images can conjure up associations and offend. Take it as a comment on the semantics of visual imagery, not a comment on your intentions or artistry.

[Atman]

5. BTW, is THIS "racist?"

No one ever objected to THIS version. So I'm assuming you think its the body that's racist? Compare my drawing to his photo on the left...what did I do, draw his freakin' CHIN to big for you? His teeth? :wtf:

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[Kelly Rupert]

9. I think the face is fine, personally.

I think it's a cute caricature.

[Kelly Rupert]

8. Here's what's offputting about it.

It looks kinda like a Jim Crow-era dancing-darky picture. He's got a goofy, wide, big-toothed grin on his face, dead eyes, his legs are bent and dancing, he's got terrible posture, and his arms appear to be flailing wildly.




(that would be the iconic caricature of the original Jim Crow, if you're unfamiliar)


Now, I don't think the picture is racist at all, nor did I see anything remotely objectionable in it. I'm explaining what I believe to be the root cause of the complaints you've gotten. If you squint your eyes just right, it bears a striking, accidental, and unfortunate resemblance to Jim Crow.

[Atman]

11. You don't even have to squint

You're absolutely correct, there is a striking resemblence to the Jim Crow drawing you posted, and of course it was unintentional. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I extend my apologies to anyone I might have offended.

It's important to understand that I've had that cartoon posted on my site for months, and it's been posted on DU at least once in the past, with no complaints. As I recall, it didn't get much reaction at all, but certainly no complaints. So until I saw your post with the drawing attached, I had no idea of such an obvious comparison.

I'm not big into knee-jerk reactions, but I admit my first thought when I saw your drawing was "Yikes! I should take down the cartoon!" But I'm beginning to think otherwise. On my web site, I sell several different Obama stickers and such. I'm not a supporter. I'm not a detractor. I've posted negative things about his energy policy, as I've posted negative things about Hillary's war stance or even Dennis Kucinich's SCHIP vote. Point being, I'm not coming at this from a campaign perspective. I'm being purely pragmatic on this one.

Rather than simply removing the "offending" cartoon, I'd be more inclined to use it as a discussion point. After all, if someone hadn't saved and posted the Jim Crow image you posted, most people (okay, most DUers, at least) probably wouldn't have fully understood your larger concern. But there is so more here than meets the eye. From so many different perspectives.

Hmmmmm.

Stay tuned. And, in all sincerity, I appreciate your bringing the Jim Crow illustration to my attention. It's has given me lots to think about (though not the way you may think).

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[ruiner4u]

12. well Helllllllllllllllo Dolly!

how damn racist..