Power of Comics

On Thursday, my stepdad and I took a 3 1/2 hour drive to see a new exhibit at the Dole Institute. A few days before, my mom had forwarded me an email about the exhibit because it was something very relevant to where I’m heading in life. It was an exhibit of Herblock editorial cartoons, and Joe Liccar, a fellow editorial cartoonist, was giving a presentation on political cartoons and the life of a political cartoonist.

If you aren’t familiar with Herbert Block’s cartoons, go look them up. He was an active cartoonist from the great depression through about 2001, covering all kinds of topics. His cartoons are fantastic, and the way he communicates so much so simply and clearly is genius. His cartoons helped to shape and steer American public opinion and policy making for decades. Walking through the display of cartoons blown up to poster size was inspiring. There is so much power there, such brilliant communication. I’ll never be Herblock, and I may not focus my career on editorial cartoons, but this ability to communicate and master the balance between words and images is so important to everything I want to do. His mastery of it was amazing.

Joe Liccar’s presentation and the conversation we got to have before hand were also fantastic. I felt inspired to brush up my portfolio and start sending my work to papers across the state, to step up and state my opinions loudly and clearly even though any opinion is likely to make somebody angry, and not to be afraid to use all of the material available to me as I write–myths, literature, letters to the editor, funny things that pop into my head–and not just the news and the politics of the day. He also had some great cartoons, so while you’re looking up Herblock, look up Joe Liccar too.

Thanks for reading. Upcoming posts may include reflections on life changes, growing up, summer jobs, apartment hunting, writing projects and/or the stuff I’m working on over at cafepress. Check back soon for updates.

–Allison

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