deem to be the wrong side of the law ; the space of balancing tensions between free speech and causing division is even more difficult for cartoonists , who often get dragged to court as governments attempt to implement censorship laws .
But as The Conversation , which publishes news stories on the Internet written by academics and researchers puts it : “ Their work can challenge us to question ourselves , provoke empathy for others and often relies on an emotional reaction – one not always intended to elicit laughter – to convey their argument .”
One such cartoonist , who elicits all kinds of responses from South Africans depending on who is on the receiving end , is South Africa ’ s awardwinning Zapiro .
Who can forget his caricatures of the showerhead over former president Jacob Zuma who told the court he had a shower after having sex with his HIVpositive rape accuser ?
“ I believe in advocacy , so I like saying things strongly and sometimes controversially . In this way , I actively take part in debates , although I think it ’ s unusual to find a cartoon that on its own changes behaviour .
“ My cartoons are part of a wider discourse that may have some influence on what people do ,” he says on his
website .
The New Yorker , which is renowned for its cartoons , offers insight into the value of cartoons in this
Ted Talk . Take a look at the importance of expressing satire visually .
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