Zapiro: Showerheads and freedom of expressionOnline article and photo gallery(see the original article here)
Cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro (Zapiro) speaks about freedom of expression and his cartoons as part of the 2011 National Arts Festival's Wordfest programme.
Jonathan Shapiro (Zapiro) is the man who bestowed a leaking shower head on President Jacob Zuma’s paper-and-ink likeness and transformed Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille into a rampaging representation of Godzilla.
One glance at his cartoons will inform you of current affairs and communicate exactly what he thinks. His work offends some and impresses others, but always displays his ability to cut through spin-doctoring and describe recent events in more than words.
When Shapiro was invited to speak on freedom of expression for the National Arts Festival’s Wordfest programme, he showed the assembled crowd that he was just as outspoken in person as his cartoons are in print.
During his presentation, Shapiro touched on issues surrounding the Protection of Information Bill, the ANC proposals for a media tribunal and his own legal battles with Zuma.
Shapiro discussed the “creeping incursion on freedom of expression” by the ANC.
“Without the ANC and the struggle we wouldn’t have the kind of democracy we have now,” said Shapiro.
“Unfortunately, I think that as corruption sets in in certain parts of government, and as the hangers-on are starting to crowd around and try and take pieces of what they can, the ANC and the government are trying to cover their tracks,” said Shapiro.
“They’re trying to introduce an element of secrecy that we haven’t had up to now during democracy. And that’s very, very sinister,” he says.
Shapiro emphasised the dangers of the controversial Protection of Information Bill and proposed Media Tribunal for both the media and society in general.
“The Protection of Information Bill affects the reporting of information,” explained Shapiro. “It would affect all of us – we’d know less.”
He acknowledged that while South Africans are not subjected to the extreme types of repression and censorship evident in countries like China, recent types of government action like the Protection of Information Bill seem to be steps along a path towards government interference in the media.
“I think there are alarming connections between the way some people in the ANC are thinking now and the mentality that allows repression to continue in China,” said Shapiro.
Some of Shapiro’s most recent cartoons illustrate the growing threat to freedom of expression in South Africa, particularly by the Zuma faction in the ANC.
Shapiro’s work has depicted current ANC leadership placing “terms and conditions” on the freedom installed by struggle heroes like the Sisulus, O.R. Tambo and Nelson Mandela, as well as the ANC’s continued affronts on press freedom.
Where to draw the line?
Arguably the most controversial of Shapiro’s cartoons on the subject shows Zuma about to rape a women representing free speech, while Lady Justice encourages her to fight.
This is a continuation of the rape of Lady Justice cartoon which motivated Zuma to pursue legal action against Shapiro.
The use of the rape metaphor has also drawn criticism from some feminist groups, who find the inclusion of an experience such as rape to be unnecessary in communicating the message of the cartoon.
Shapiro explained how this was the first criticism which really affected him, as most critics are politically motivated. He acknowledged that rape is an issue which should not be taken lightly, and as such he portrayed Lady Justice in a way that invoked empathy from the viewer.
Shapiro said that after completing the initial draft of the rape of Lady Justice cartoon, he sat back and thought “I can’t believe I actually drew that”.
“I was most worried about how women would receive it,” said Shapiro.
Necessary offences
However, he explained that it is his job to be a critical satirist. “We are given that space on the page to be rude, to be outrageous, to say what other people wouldn’t say,” said Shapiro.
“Speech or statements or drawings, or anything that incite one person or a group of people to go out and kill or hurt other people or another group – that’s the kind of speech which should be curtailed,” said Shapiro.
“But most things that people complain about to the Human Rights Commission (or take people to court about) are things that people have taken offence about because they’re worried about their reputation or they think their dignity is impaired,” said Shapiro.
“My line would be a lot further – I’d be a lot further out there than some people would be,” he explained.
“I don’t mind offending people when it’s necessary.”
One glance at his cartoons will inform you of current affairs and communicate exactly what he thinks. His work offends some and impresses others, but always displays his ability to cut through spin-doctoring and describe recent events in more than words.
When Shapiro was invited to speak on freedom of expression for the National Arts Festival’s Wordfest programme, he showed the assembled crowd that he was just as outspoken in person as his cartoons are in print.
During his presentation, Shapiro touched on issues surrounding the Protection of Information Bill, the ANC proposals for a media tribunal and his own legal battles with Zuma.
Shapiro discussed the “creeping incursion on freedom of expression” by the ANC.
“Without the ANC and the struggle we wouldn’t have the kind of democracy we have now,” said Shapiro.
“Unfortunately, I think that as corruption sets in in certain parts of government, and as the hangers-on are starting to crowd around and try and take pieces of what they can, the ANC and the government are trying to cover their tracks,” said Shapiro.
“They’re trying to introduce an element of secrecy that we haven’t had up to now during democracy. And that’s very, very sinister,” he says.
Shapiro emphasised the dangers of the controversial Protection of Information Bill and proposed Media Tribunal for both the media and society in general.
“The Protection of Information Bill affects the reporting of information,” explained Shapiro. “It would affect all of us – we’d know less.”
He acknowledged that while South Africans are not subjected to the extreme types of repression and censorship evident in countries like China, recent types of government action like the Protection of Information Bill seem to be steps along a path towards government interference in the media.
“I think there are alarming connections between the way some people in the ANC are thinking now and the mentality that allows repression to continue in China,” said Shapiro.
Some of Shapiro’s most recent cartoons illustrate the growing threat to freedom of expression in South Africa, particularly by the Zuma faction in the ANC.
Shapiro’s work has depicted current ANC leadership placing “terms and conditions” on the freedom installed by struggle heroes like the Sisulus, O.R. Tambo and Nelson Mandela, as well as the ANC’s continued affronts on press freedom.
Where to draw the line?
Arguably the most controversial of Shapiro’s cartoons on the subject shows Zuma about to rape a women representing free speech, while Lady Justice encourages her to fight.
This is a continuation of the rape of Lady Justice cartoon which motivated Zuma to pursue legal action against Shapiro.
The use of the rape metaphor has also drawn criticism from some feminist groups, who find the inclusion of an experience such as rape to be unnecessary in communicating the message of the cartoon.
Shapiro explained how this was the first criticism which really affected him, as most critics are politically motivated. He acknowledged that rape is an issue which should not be taken lightly, and as such he portrayed Lady Justice in a way that invoked empathy from the viewer.
Shapiro said that after completing the initial draft of the rape of Lady Justice cartoon, he sat back and thought “I can’t believe I actually drew that”.
“I was most worried about how women would receive it,” said Shapiro.
Necessary offences
However, he explained that it is his job to be a critical satirist. “We are given that space on the page to be rude, to be outrageous, to say what other people wouldn’t say,” said Shapiro.
“Speech or statements or drawings, or anything that incite one person or a group of people to go out and kill or hurt other people or another group – that’s the kind of speech which should be curtailed,” said Shapiro.
“But most things that people complain about to the Human Rights Commission (or take people to court about) are things that people have taken offence about because they’re worried about their reputation or they think their dignity is impaired,” said Shapiro.
“My line would be a lot further – I’d be a lot further out there than some people would be,” he explained.
“I don’t mind offending people when it’s necessary.”
