Just a few of the news notes regarding Friday’s tragedies as they relate to our corner of the world, if you can stomach it.
§ Urban Comics intern Ariane Theillerwas among those killed during the attack on the Eagles of Death Metal show at the Bataclan theater. Urban Comics is the biggest licensed publisher of DC comics in France and many international comics artists have posted their condolences.
French comics star Joann Sfar, noted as an acclaimed cartoonist and director and a former Charlie Hebdo contributor, posted a series of statements on his instagram account, translated here.
§ The above symbol quickly became the most shared image as a reaction to the events; although initially attributed to Banksy it was the work of French cartoonist Jean Jullien, who was interviewed by Slate:
Did you sketch any other things before you arrived at this concept?
No, this was the first thing—when I put my brush on paper, this was the first thing that came.
I know you drew a Charlie Hebdo illustration in January—do you often respond to news events in your work?
Yes, I do—I do graphics commercially for a living, but when I get affected by things, when something happens in the world, I usually communicate online with my drawings. I was very shaken after the Charlie Hebdo event, so I’ve taken a step back, but not really willingly. And I guess this sort of brought it back on.
Had you noticed the similarity between the peace sign and the Eiffel T
https://twitter.com/osamacartoons/status/665499943315054592
§ Here’s a round-up of international cartoons from the Independent.
§ This profile of French-Syrian cartoonist Riad Sattouf from the New Yorker a few weeks ago is getting renewed attention, and Sattouf’s be book The Arab of the Future: A Childhood in the Middle East, 1978-1984: A Graphic Memoir will doubtless get more attention as well. Sattouf’s book was controversial in France for its negative view of his father, who pursued a Pan-Arabist ideal at the expense of his family’s comfort.
§ Most Muslims—hundreds of millions of them, in fact—are neither religious extremists or terrorists. It is the goal of ISIS/ISIL to back up their own world view of an apocalyptic world war against Islam by using horrific events to turn world opinion against ordinary Muslims and drive them to extremism. It is a tragically effective strategy as it is impossible to not be repulsed by the inhumane acts ISIS/ISIL and those who committed them, and people are easily swayed to extend that revulsion to others who had nothing to do with. If you deplore these acts of terrorism, do not continue to carry out their work by turning against innocent people.
