Offensive humor and Charlie Hebdo.
This cartoon was published in a French satirical weekly magazine, Charlie Hebdo, short after a three-year-old boy named Aylan from a Syrian family drowned near the Turkish beach while the family was trying to migrate to Europe escaping the horrors of the war in their home country. The print on the left hand side says: “Welcome to migrants!” “So near his goal…” and the message on the board with the clown reads: “Promo! 2 kids menus for the price of one.”
While, the cartoon criticizes European consumerism and failing European policies in regards to migrants the choice of using a picture of a dead little baby incites general repulsion towards the magazine and its cartoonist. Certainly, for the magazine to use the picture that created an emotional shock amongst international community is a good opportunity to popularize itself, especially, given the fact that it is not the first time it uses controversial cartoons to boost up its revenue and issue numbers. It has been reported that until recent attacks on the magazine over their controversial and provoking cartoons it had been considering filing for bankruptcy. Following the attacks the magazine made £22 million in sales. Similarly, when approximately three years ago, the magazine posted a cartoon mocking prophet Muhamed thereby causing an outcry in Muslim world, the magazine increased its sales dramatically. One begins to wonder whether, bearing in mind the motives, the cartoons can be considered a work of art, and whether the magazine truly serves the public in providing satirical art or simply is a business enterprise.
Although the cartoon and its message may be perceived satirical in France and other Western countries, in many other countries around the world which are in conflict, like Palestine, Israel, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Iraq, and some African countries, people most likely will consider it sacrilege. Especially, it is an insult or “purely violation” to those people who have lost their children in conflicts; or the many parents who do not speak the language and are only able to perceive the cartoon visually (Khazan, 2014).
After becoming a “popular” magazine Charlie Hebdo cartoonist must have known that their cartoons are circulated around the world considering that current digital technology allows content to be shared virtually instantly. Even if the cartoon and its message were intended to be used by the local audience in France any respected and professional journalist would know that current tragic image is still vivid in the eyes of the international community and using it for ridiculing might create a worldwide resonance. For such tragedy as death of a helpless child will always be dramatic.
Although time heals many injuries, certain dramatic and cataclysmic events always remain as open wounds. In recent history, events such as 9/11, holocaust and WWII, left people who were part of these human disasters, vulnerable and sensitive toward jokes about the events they witnessed. Probably, sensitivity toward such cartoons decreases over time when generations pass.
Satire is a unique form of journalism. In general journalists, as professionals have a code of ethics which was mostly created for the purpose of ensuring authenticity of information. Cartoonists, on the other hand do not gather information for their work. Therefore, cartoonists don’t abide by any professional standards. Their work is protected by free speech. However, there is a concept of responsible journalism, where journalistic work should not be created under the pretext of hate speech which in this case has a hazy border with satire. As John Ficarra, an editor of an American influential satirical magazine MAD, mentions in an interview: “Just because you can print something, doesn’t necessarily mean that you should (Cavna, 2015).”
Brooks, Adams in his article “I am not Charlie Hebdo” appeared in New York Times on 10 January, 2015 as well, correctly points out: “When you are 13, it seems daring and provocative to ”Ă©pater la bourgeoisie,” to stick a finger in the eye of authority, to ridicule other people’s beliefs. But after a while that seems puerile.” As you grow older, you should become less ignorant and treat others humanely, that includes work of art and journalism.
The choice of this picture by Charlie Hebdo is a perfect example of tasteless, morally irresponsible and unintelligent piece of journalistic work, which is by definition offensive humor. The fact that a boy drowned trying to flee a war conflict zone by itself is the fault of today’s world leaders. However, the use of the picture of the drowned boy in a satire, irrespective of its point, is a complete failure of humanity.
Work cited:
Brooks, David. “I Am Not Charlie Hebdo.” International New York Times 10 Jan. 2015: International New York Times, Jan 10, 2015. Web.
Cavna, Michael. “MAD Editor Ficarra on Finding Humor in an Era of Ebola, ISIS and Charlie Hebdo.” 14 Jan. 2015: The Washington Post, Jan 14. Web.
Khazan, Olga. “The Dark Psychology of Being A Good Comedian.” The Atlantic 27 Feb. 2014: The Atlantic, Feb 27, 2014. Web.
