Performing Offense: Redrawing the Lines of Political Cartoons

Abstract

Offense lurks behind the political cartoon like its shadow, capable of creating mixed reactions in the target. In terms of offense-giving, cartoonists are sometimes cautious and at other times cavalier, thereby causing intentional and inadvertent offense, respectively. This article examines the aspects of the political cartoon that facilitate the performance of offense, which is predominantly visual in nature. The article takes the position that there must be an earnest attempt at delimiting offense-giving. In order to emphasize this ethical turn, the authors attempt a delimitation exercise by experimenting with a select controversial cartoon.