Everything’s Coming Up Zapiro

Recent news from prominent South African editorial cartoonist Jonathan "Zapiro" Shapiro, a powerful media figure in the region and a well-known artist internationally:

* although the thrust of the article is rightly on the career achievements of Khaba Mkize, it's worth noting that Zapiro's "Rape Of Justice" cartoon has won another prize, this time the cartoonist award at the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards. I think it's fascinating how such a strong cartoon -- Zapiro depicted various politicians holding down justice so she could be raped by current South African President Jacob Zuma -- has won so much recognition. I just can't fathom this ever happening in the US, even for the best cartoon in the history of cartoons.

* the cartoonist was apparently the final feature in a 13-episode set of documentaries on prominent South Africans. It asserts that the documentary dealt with the shadow of the Holocaust, which is interesting because I have no idea how that might have had an influence on the cartoonist's career.

* the long-troubled Spitting Image-style television show featuring puppet caricatures of South African politicians based on Zapiro's visuals has found new life on the Internet, the place to go for new life in this century.
 
posted 8:50 am PST | Permalink
 

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