Political Correctness VS. Cartoons

Political correctness started out with good intentions, but it has since turned into a monster. To be politically correct, you need to avoid expressions, pictures or actions that may insult or discriminate people who will see or hear it. It might be good for politicians to be politically correct, but artists are now being affected by this fad. When an artist cannot draw, paint, or sculpt what he/she wants because it might insult someone or discriminate a group of people, then it is hindering their artist ability?

A great example is that of cartoonists, as explained in the article, “Political Correctness Gone Wild.” Should the old cartoons be edited so that they are politically correct? Do you believe that political correctness should not affect artists? Or do you believe that everyone should try to be politically correct, even cartoonists?

http://www.commentaryusa.com/commentary/political-correctness/political-correctness-gone-wild.html

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,312086,00.html


Our Responses:

Jennifer Malone:

America today is vastly different than it was 50 years ago, and watching cartoons that might include smoking or racial slurs is a way to understand this concept. If we change the cartoons, we are doing two things:
1) We are hiding behind how we treated or perceived certain ethnic groups.
2) We are trying to rewrite history and make it look “nicer.”

History is messy! Historically, our nation has mistreated the African-Americans, Native-Americans and women. Why are we hiding behind how we treated or perceived the ethnic groups in these cartoons? Cartoons that were created in the 1950’s or 60’s should stay the way they were created in the 50’s and 60’s, because it is part of our nation’s history and reflects current beliefs and conceptions of that time.


Gustavo Navarro:

To me, political correctness is a bizarre idea! Think of how much time will have to be spent on having to go back and edit tons of cartoons and comic strips, just for the fact that it may be seen as offensive to certain people. I also believe that artists should not be censored for the simple fact that they are inserting characters with stereotypical attributes into their work. I mean, no one is trying to mute Larry the Cable guy for using his prominent “redneck” persona (are they?).

But let’s use Speedy Gonzalez for a bit here. Speedy was considered politically incorrect by Cartoon Network, which eventually led to a ban of Speedy cartoons in the USA, but when news broke out that Speedy had been banned, over 90% of the complaints to get Speedy back on the air were from (get this) Mexicans! What?? I must be kidding, making absurd allegations like that. Well, I am not, folks! Now who would have thought that the people whom Speedy was actually supposed to be “offensive” to actually liked him! How could that be? Probably because the fact that our society will sue with a smile on the face nowadays, and if artists are not careful, they could end up sitting in front of a judge asked to justify themselves for something they didn’t even know they were trying to do.

Lisa Langanke:

I love watching the old cartoons with Bugs Bunny and Speedy Gonzales. They feel historic and an example of the era when they were made. It is suggested now that since they are not politically correct, they need to be edited to hide smoking and any racial suggestions such as Speedy with his accent, sombrero, lack of shoes and last name. Will any vintage cartoon that shows smoking and drinking eventually be edited to hide those scenes? I feel that to go back and change that cartoonist’s art is a slap in the face to them and a sign to all other artists that they have limits on what their art can be. What next? Will Shakespearian works be changed so that they can be more politically correct?