(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
Since my adolescence I have been an avid reader of comics and satirical political magazines. I have used comics extensively in my academic work, in my university teaching and in my communication and information work as a European civil servant. For the last twenty years I have organised political cartoon competitions and political conferences with cartoonists, and I have published a number of articles and books on the indispensable role of comics in the democratic debate. Based on this long experience I can say that it is extremely rare to come across a TV series that is intelligently designed and convincing in terms of both content, direction and editing, and that analyses both cartoonistthe courage and relevance of their work in the democratic struggle and in the defense of the rights of individuals and especially womanr's rights.
The struggle of six brave women
But this is precisely the case with the TV series Draw for Change . This was produced in 2023 with the support of a number of European TV channels and the EU program Creative Europe Media. The series consists of 6 52-minute episodes. reports, each directed by a female director of the same nationality as the cartoonist depicted.
"Our battlefield is drawing to make a difference"
In each report, we gain insight into the social and political context of the country in which the individual cartoonist works, so that we can understand the reasons for the struggle they are waging: Syria for Amany Al-Ali, where she lived in Idlib, a stronghold for jihadist groups; Mexico for Mar Moreto, a country where the number of femicide (eleven a day in Mexico City) and disappearances of women are among the highest in the world; Russia for Victoria Lomasko, who was forced to leave his country after the invasion of Ukraine; India for Rachita Taneja, who was threatened and prosecuted for his cartoons; Egypt for Doaa El-Adl, where she was the first female cartoonist, but where her work was an example to follow and inspired others to follow, despite threats and accusations of blasphemy; and the United States for Ann Telnaes, the Pulitzer Prize winner, who has been subjected to threats and censorship. [with Thing]. The various episodes explore the issues these women fight for, despite the challenges they face in the form of censorship, verbal, physical and legal threats, threats of rape and even death. Here we examine the reasons why they refuse to give up their powerful testimonies about the evil that undermines society, democracy, human rights and freedom of expression.
Ann Telnaes, the winner of the Pulitzer Prize, has been subjected to threats and censorship.
It would take too long to summarize each of the admirably thought-out episodes, so I prefer to highlight some of the statements of each of the main characters. They all unfortunately live in societies where misogyny shows no sign of disappearing, despite the fact that international laws are increasingly being undermined by the growing number of dictators, in both small and large countries, including in what were once our democracies. Although a drawing is often more explicit than a long speech, I think the few reflections from the cartoonists that I have noted, and the title of the episode dedicated to them, summarize their lived reality and their pessimism about the future as it appears in these troubled times.
Strong testimonies
Amany Al-Ali ( Syria ) / Baking tricks: – I am the only cartoonist in this area. I have dreams and ambitions, but I can't do anything but stay in my room, and I feel like things are getting worse and worse.
Mar Moreto (Mexico) / We are fire: – We have had enough of the systemic violence that haunts us every day. It makes you feel like your body doesn't belong to you. So my goal is to create a space for hope and solidarity.
Victoria Lamasko (Russia) / The three of violence: – I started working with graphic reportage to understand what kind of country Russia is. I looked everywhere for signs of the future. But all I saw were signs that sent me back to the past.
How does their work affect the society they live in? Last bastions of our freedom?
Rachita Taneja (India) | To draw a line: – When I see something that feels unfair, I think I'll make a cartoon about it. Criminal prosecution is used to gag journalists, but I guess we have to keep writing the story.
Doaa El-Adl (Egypt) / Draw me Egypt: Doaa El-Adl, a line of freedom: – I dream of a society where men and women can express themselves without fear. But instead of moving forward, we are going backwards.
Ann Telnaes (USA) / Democracy under siege: – I am very worried about American democracy. The average American does not realize how dangerous the situation is. Why do people follow authoritarian forces? Even though we are cartoonists, we actually deal with very real issues.
Best Documentary Series
These reports, which won the award for best documentary series at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, are well worth watching multiple times. They not only describe these women’s struggles and the context in which they work, but also analyze how their work affects the society they live in. A lesson that should provide a better understanding of how the satirical, political cartoons of these female press cartoonists, like the work of many of their colleagues around the world, may still be the last bastions of our freedom.
One can only regret that no European female cartoonists were the subject of an episode, as if the EU were immune to the suffering that afflicts the countries of the main characters in the series, which is far from the case.
Translated by MODERN TIMES' editor.
