MANILA, Philippines – As disinformation, now powered by troll farms and corrupt artificial intelligence, poses a greater threat to democracies worldwide, can visual arts play a unique role in amplifying facts and catalyzing important conversations?
Political cartoons have been around since newspapers. In the digital age, are they getting a new lease on life?
Cartoonists gathered at the Rappler newsroom in September to talk about how the medium has evolved and has found new audiences and a new role in the online sphere.
Amid lightning-speed developments in generative AI and the power of algorithms to curate content people see, good old brush strokes and shading are fulfilling an even more critical mission.
Cartoons as ‘fact-checking tools’
At a time when the attention span of social media users becomes shorter, creators are forced to find ways to appeal to their audience in just a glance. Hence, the natural advantage of cartoons and visual art.
Combined with fact-checking skills, cartoons can be a powerful tool for relaying facts and fighting disinformation.
During a September 29 roundtable on political cartooning for democracy and human rights, #FactsFirstPH partner and PITIK Bulag member cartoonist Zach explained how cartoons have become more than simple political commentaries.
The fact-checking comics were first conceptualized by cartoonist group PITIK Bulag, which soon became one of their regular contributions for the collaborations with Rappler through the anti-disinformation coalition #FactsFirstPH.
“We want to provide a new space to make cartoons more accessible to people,” cartoonist Zach said. “We converted fact-checking into comics because we believe that using satire and also humor, [they] make fact-checking more memorable.”
PITIK Bulag produced more than 200 animated and regular cartoons.
“Cartoons can help ‘in doing the pitik’ (flicking) those [who are] pretending to be blind,” Zach said as he explained the reason behind the PITIK BULAG name.
Tapping its provocative nature
According to French cartoonist and Cartooning for Peace president KAK, political cartooning holds power in democracies because it can spark debate among individuals.
“I think cartooning is an invitation to debate. I think you say, ‘This is what I think. What do you think?’ And if you don’t agree, just say it. And then we start talking. And talking is building a human society,” he said.
Acknowledging this power, Australian political cartoonist Cathy Wilcox said that self-regulation is needed among artists given the delicateness of cartooning as a platform able to generate opinions.
In navigating cartooning, Wilcox spoke of a do-no-harm policy, especially on sensitive topics, and advised artists to avoid sacrificing the thought in their works in an attempt to stir controversy.
“[Cartooning] is a delicate weapon we wield, so you have to use it with discretion and wisdom for it to be effective, otherwise you will alienate a chunk of your audience,” she said.
Medium for political expression
Talking politics in the Philippines can definitely hit a nerve.
But for local artists and cartoonists, they see the art of cartooning as a good avenue to air out sentiments in a visually appealing way, regardless of how good or appalling it is.
At a Rappler live chat last October 30 in the Public Art chat room inside the Rappler Communities app, users have mentioned how this is exhibited in their works.
Rappler Communities users shared how cartoons have been a useful medium to make people aware of certain issues and topics that matter to the community.
“Very effective siya kasi naipapakita ang current events into ‘bite-sized’ pieces, na minsan challenging din kasi you can only say so much and maaaring may room for misinterpretation if hindi clear ang messaging,” said Rappler Communities user and cartoonist Jesie.
([Cartooning] is very effective because it presents current events in ‘bite-sized’ pieces, which can sometimes be challenging since you can only say so much, and there may be room for misinterpretation if the messaging isn’t clear.)
Their pieces being consumed by the general public would mean that it is subject for critique.
In politically polarized societies like the Philippines, there is a heightened concern about offending others during debates about politics rather than encouraging productive conversations.
This apprehension arises from the fact that public opinions are often expressed in extreme, binary terms, making it difficult to engage in open discussions without provoking conflict.
Hence, Rappler creative director Emil Mercado said that cartoonists must maintain a strong sense of awareness of who their works target in democratic processes, especially when discussing topics of elections and the electorate.
“There’s this phrase called ‘bobotante,’ ‘bobo’ is stupid in Filipino and botante is a voter, so, [it means] ‘stupid voter’…I guess that is something that we will never cross, we will never blame the people for choosing their candidates,” he said.
Lines not to cross
Meanwhile, while their pens can draw lines, shades, and curves freely, definitely, there are still no-go zones.
For Allen Leycano, popularly known as the cartoonist Kapitan Tambay, he had one rule that requires great patience and virtue.
“Sa ngayon, rule ko lang [ay] ‘wag pag-tripan yung kapwa mo Pilipino na kasama mo sa baba,” Leycano said. (Right now, my only rule is to not mess with your fellow Filipinos who are with you down there.)
“Kaso minsan tinutulak ka talaga ng mga trolls e,” he said jokingly. (But sometimes, the trolls really push you.)
Meanwhile, some try to veer away from taking easy routes to humor.
“Lately sinusubukan ko bawasan ang paggamit ng profanity or curse words dahil pakiramdam ko easy way out lang siya, na kapag gumamit ka ng profanity ay matic nakakatawa na.” Jesie said.
(Lately, I’ve been trying to reduce my use of profanity or curse words because I feel like it’s just an easy way out; when you use profanity, it automatically becomes funny.)
In a time when disinformation is everywhere, political cartoons are shining a light on the truth and adding some creativity to the mix.
Artists use their pens to tackle tough issues and get people talking, showing us that a good laugh can be a strong weapon in the fight for democracy. They invite us all to join in, think critically, and stand up for a more informed and fair society. – with reports from Fernando Pierre Marcel B. dela Cruz and Randolf Maala-Resueño/Rappler.com
Fernando Pierre Marcel B. dela Cruz is a Rappler intern from the University of Santo Tomas. He is a fourth-year student taking up Bachelor of Arts in Communication.
Randolf Maala-Resueño is a Rappler intern from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Manila. A fourth-year Bachelor of Arts in Journalism student, they served as the News Editor of The Communicator, the official student publication of the university’s College of Communication.