A guide to understand satyrical comics
with the last Charlie Hebdo drawing as an example :
This comic, drawn by the artist
Riss, depicts a Muslim couple running naked on a French beach.
Printed in the Charlie Hebdo issue 1255 of the 08/10, it is important to understand the context and the messages it is trying to convey. It echoes many themes of the French/world actualities.
The topics
- first, the very fresh debate about the interdiction of the burkini on the beach of Cannes, which is a very hot topic since the very disputed decision was finally accepted by the tribunal of the city. Since then, two more cities are trying to do the same (for a total of three medium or small cities in the whole country). The interdiction is - from the words of the mayor - not supposed to target especially the Muslim community, since veils are still allowed (as kippas and crosses) but well, from a right mayor looking for fresh votes, no one is really blind.
- an other theme linked to the first one is the approach of the religion in the country. The burkini is worn by a very low percentage of the French Muslim population, those few people being considered by many to have a radical vision of the religion (which is not very well perceived since
all the events in the country). It shows the problem of integration in the country, where the
"vivre ensemble" concept of secularism is showing some limits, and where the justice is trying to set some standards and examples.
- More casually, it echoes the
august vacations through the whole country when nearly half of the french workers take some days, mainly to go to the beach. French Muslim included. Old naked ladies burning in the sun also included.
- finally, it can be seen as a proof of the determination of Charlie Hebdo to keep its tone after the well known
shooting, since many writers/artists of the journal died that day. It is not the first Une since the shooting, but the first to generate so much hate mail. It is well known that all topics related to religion are not well perceived (I dont know if any American criticized
this one) , and they are still continuing that.
The messages
Now that we know what is it about, we can try to see the messages of the drawing.
- the sentence can be seen as a quote from a far right activist -> come on guys, stop doing stupid un christian things (critic of the mayor of Cannes for example)
- the sentence can be seen as a quote from a far left activist -> come on guys, stop being so religious (critic of people religion)
- the sentence can be seen as a quote from a normal french who just doesn't care about some electoral tricks -> let's enjoy the beach all together (a widely shared fed up feeling)
...
These are examples, I'm not here to explain how you exactly need to see it.
General facts
You have to keep in mind that if the drawing is supposed to look very simple, it is to allow the reader to go past the art and read the message behind the lines. It is also linked to the reactivity of the artists, often asked to produce such drawings hours before printing.
The cartoonish and grotesque faces are a standard in French satirical pieces, and a signature that allows to directly recognize the artists. There is no racist simplification of their faces or bodies, it's just the style of Riss (
oh my god he is drawing white men with pig noses, that's an insult).
This piece is also, usually, linked to an article in the journal. It is a cover, supposed to catch your eye as you are walking by. The choice is difficult for the artists and authors, I recommend you to watch this short video about the famous work around the "it's hard to be loved by dickheads" une, filmed before the attacks, with the old team of Charlie.
Here it is, in french (eh :/).
Finally, it's just a drawing of two naked people happily running around, don't take it too hard.