Go, Read: A Lengthy Interview With Ali Ferzat

Here's a solid interview by Cinatra Fernandes with the cartoonist Ali Ferzat, done during a recent creative conference. The Kuwait-based, Syrian-native cartoonist is of course known worldwide for his treatment at the hands of supporters of the Syrian government in 2011 after he made cartoons critical of that government: he was kidnapped, assaulted, and a specific attempt was made to damage his hands.

It's always good to check in with Ferzat, just to see what he's up to. I thought there were a few ideas floated of value, too. The first is his succinct response to the Charlie Hebdo murders. A second is his noting that the regional group of cartoonists in which he was once a prominent figure no longer exists because of censorship issues country to country. The third and best is Ferzat's idea of development by a political cartoonists. He says that younger cartoonists work in symbolism but as they get older they work with specific figures more directly, and that the reason for this is they now have an audience that protects them from reprisal. As he's a case where this didn't happen, or at least the protection was shown to have limits, it's interesting he still believes in this as a general rule. It's also an idea that says something about the shape and nature of the US cartoon marketplace, which might be viewed as one that thwarts cartoonists from developing this way.
 
posted 10:55 pm PST | Permalink
 

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