It’s just entertainment, right?

Editorial or political cartoons play an important role in American culture and communication. An important statement or perspective can be shared through these kinds of cartoons, and Americans have used cartoons to share opinions and perspectives for decades. One reason that cartoons have been successful for so long is because they can provide a relatively safe way to discuss serious issues without stepping directly on anyone’s toes or overly offending them. Cartoons are a form of comedy and entertainment and are presented using a medium that is there to be laughed at and not taken so seriously, even though it may address a very serious topic or situation. This is why comedians such as Bill Maher, George Carlin, and Chris Rock can have so much important social and political content within their routines and not be taken as seriously as if a politician made the same point with or without comedy. Both cartoons and stand-up comedy provide a safe way to openly address important issues without getting too much flack. After all, it’s just entertainment, right?

However, political cartoons may be going out of style as more and more Americans seem to devote much more of their interest and time to TMZ and American Idol than they are in most social or political programming. This seems to be true with most of the younger generation today, but many “grown ups” are paying less attention to social or political issues within entertainment. Overall, Americans seem to be less and less politically aware and more focused on celebrity topics and TMZ-esque topics. This is not restricted to political cartoons, as art that is delivered through other forms of media are also lacking any real social or political value. This is true with much of the music of today, which is also reflective of this kind of diversion away from paying attention to social or political issues. In previous generations, serious social and political debate and expression would take place within music, going back to Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger in the 60s, Edwin Starr, James Brown, and Gil Scott Heron in the 70s, and hip hop artists such as Run DMC, Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five, Public Enemy, and NWA in the late 80s and early 90s. But those days are gone now; instead of important social commentary being infused into music and lyrics, most music today is just about partying, the opposite sex, and bragging and boasting.

Also, the types of political cartoons that are produced for print, like newspapers or magazines, are becoming somewhat of an endangered species these days. Printed medium in general is becoming extinct, and as more kinds of animated cartoons with political content are produced for the cable television and Internet mediums, this is where many people will be going to get their cartoon and comedy fulfillment, as well as to address political and social topics. We can say goodbye to the Sunday newspaper’s editorial cartoons, and welcome social and political topics to be discussed on (adult swim), The Boondocks, South Park, and Family Guy.

Tattoos are sometimes being used these days as political cartoons. Many tattoos use drawings that are cartoonish in style, sometimes even using detailed and unique characters. And they quite often tell stories as well as make statements at the same time, sometimes stories or statements that are quite controversial. Maybe this is the next medium for social and political commentary.