T

ELL Race Representation in South African Comic Strips – Lecture Two Notes

Caricature

  • Definition: A caricature is a portrait in which the subject is recognisable, but one or more features, usually facial features, are distorted or exaggerated.
  • Historical note: In England, the term caricature was sometimes used broadly to refer to any humorous or satirical drawing (Bryant & Heneage 1994, p. vii).

Thomas Baines image (Kafirs on Trek)

  • FIG 26 THOMAS BAINES, KAFIRS ON TREK WITH THEIR BELONGINGS, HAND-COLOURED LITHOGRAPH, 1852
  • No further description provided in the slide, but serves as a contextual example of visual representation from the period.

Comic Strips: Definition and format

  • Core idea: Comic strips generally present a narrative told in a sequence of panels.
  • Narrative progression: Most comic strips use character dialogue or thoughts as one means of advancing the narrative.
  • Publication context: Traditionally grouped on one or two pages or in a dedicated section of a newspaper.
  • Current trend: There are now many more comic strips that appear exclusively online than printed in newspapers (Duncan, 2018).
  • Source: Duncan, 2018 (citing general practices of the form).

Comics and simplification

  • Key attribute: Comics are reductive in creation and additive in reading.
  • Reduction process: During creation, stories and concepts are reduced and simplified by the economy of expression of the comics form.
  • Condensation: The best single-panel comics condense a complex idea into one striking and memorable image (Duncan 2018, 456; citing Gombrich 1963, p. 130).

Examples of condensing ideas (visual and textual samples)

  • N° 276. 6' année. 17 Février 1900.
  • Un an: P & transwest. Le Rire
  • JOURNAL HUMORISTIQUE PARUISSANT LE SAMEDI
  • M. Pris JUVEN, M. A ALEXANDRE
  • 15 centimes.
  • 10, rue Saint-Joseph, 10, PARIS
  • LE GOTHA DU RIRE. N XXVIII
  • Lam 1900
  • Monsieur CECIL RHODES
  • CHAMPAG
  • CHARTEN
  • Le complice de Chamberlain aura fait verser plus de sang en Afrique que de champagne à Kimberley.
  • Dessin de Ch. LEANDRE
  • FIG 36 CHARLES LEANDRE, COVER ILLUSTRATION, LE RIRE, 1900

Cont. (1900 political caricatures)

  • 3157 al 17 Nov 1900
  • Prix exceptional: 50 centim
  • KRUGER LE GRAND et John Bull le Petit par CARAN D'ACHE
  • Numéro special publié par Le Rire
  • FIGS 36-37
  • CONTRASTING PORTRAYALS: Leandre’s portrait of a dissolute Rhodes vs Caran d'Ache’s dignified portrait of Paul Kruger
  • Significance: Demonstrates strong pro-Boer, anti-British sentiment in France during the Anglo-Boer War.
  • FIG 37 CARAN D'ACHE, COVER ILLUSTRATION, KRUGER LE GRAND ET JOHN BULL LE PETIT, SUPPLEMENT TO LE RIRE, 1900

Zapiro (1987)

  • FIG 52 ZAPIRO, CARTOON, SOUTH, 1987
  • Context: An example from contemporary South African cartooning illustrating ongoing use of caricature and stereotype in political commentary.

Comics and Stereotypes

  • Core idea: Stereotypes simultaneously exaggerate and simplify.
    • Exaggeration: Emphasizes a characteristic of a group to highlight differences between the group and others.
    • Simplification: Once a stereotype exists, a few keywords or images can activate broader concepts (e.g., noble savage, greedy businessperson).
  • The broader visual language: Even when not explicitly referencing stereotypes, outward appearance, personality traits, and actions can be exaggerated to communicate quickly about a person or situation (Harrison 1981, p. 69).
  • Theoretical background: The ancient idea that outward appearance reflects the quality of the soul permeates mainstream superhero comics—the heroes are often beautiful, villains grotesque.
  • Stereotypes as tool: Useful, perhaps inescapable, for constructing conceptions of a world that is too big and fleeting for direct acquaintance (Duncan 2018, 456; citing Lippmann 1965, p. 16).

How -ETAM-48 HY LEI… MAAR WAARHEEN? (1948)

  • FIG 63 ETAM, 'HY LEI… MAAR WAARHEEN?', CARTOON, DIE TRANSVALER, 1948
  • Context: An example of a South African cartoon from the late 1940s dealing with local political or social issues (title translates roughly to “But where actually?” in Dutch/Afrikaans, reflecting multilingual South Africa).

SA Comics and Stereotypes

  • Andy Mason’s perspective: In South Africa, stereotypes and caricatures arise not only from racial or ethnic anxiety but from firmly held beliefs, especially concerning the demonic Other.
  • Press context: The growth of the South African press exacerbates stereotyping the demonic Other.
  • Cartooning and press history: Cartooning is intimately entwined with the history of the South African press, which emerged in the mid-1800s.
  • Growth of media hubs: The discovery of gold in the Transvaal and the Johannesburg gold rush (1886) spurred boomtown papers; The Eastern Star (later The Star) became South Africa’s largest daily paper.
  • Regional centers: The expansion of newspaper culture mirrored in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, with W. H. Schröder as a prominent weekly cartoonist.
  • Knobkerrie mascot: Schröder’s famous mascot, The Knobkerrie, depicted a hybrid figure: half Zulu warrior, half British gentleman, carrying a cowskin shield, a knobkerrie, a pencil, and a pen.

The Knobkerrie: historical context and editorial philosophy

  • Publication: The Knobkerrie was published weekly in Cape Town (1884–1886) as part of The Knobkerrie cartoon paper.
  • Schröder’s editorial stance (first issue editorial, 11 June 1884):
    • In starting a little comic paper in Cape Town, publishers believed there was a need for light, amusing sketches and current topics.
    • Aimed for local circulation but hoped for general colonial acceptance.
    • Principles outlined: "Wit without Personality, Gossip without Scandal, Criticism without Bitterness, Humour without Broadness, Comment with Fairness, Clippings with Judgement"; and every effort to furnish a paper worthy of patronage by every family in the country.
  • The Knobkerrie’s purpose and tone: Local humor with an emphasis on fairness and measured critique, reflecting colonial dynamics and cultural intersections.

Stereotype or Archetype? Private or Public Thought?

  • The slide juxtaposes different perspectives on how stereotypes and caricatures circulate in South African media.
  • Key question: Do caricatures reflect private biases or public discourses shaped by media institutions and political power?
  • The Knobkerrie editorial lens provides a concrete historical example of an attempt to balance humor with fairness in a colonial context.

Connections to broader themes

  • Representation and power: Caricature and stereotypes wield influence over public perception, especially in scanned and rapidly reproduced media.
  • Media history: The rise of newspapers and weekly cartoons in South Africa shaped how race and otherness were constructed and contested.
  • Ethical considerations: The use of demonic Other imagery and stereotyped bodies raises questions about harm, accuracy, and responsibility in visual satire.
  • Real-world relevance: Understanding these historical renditions helps contextualize contemporary debates about race, representation, and satire in media across cultures.

Key figures and sources referenced

  • Thomas Baines (1852) – visual depiction of colonial-era subjects.
  • Charles Leandre – Le Rire (1900) cover illustration (France): contrast with Caran d’Ache’s portrayal to reveal pro-Boer sentiment in a global context.
  • Caran d’Ache – creator of anti-British, pro-Boer imagery in the 1900 Le Rire supplement.
  • Zapiro – South African political cartoons (1987) illustrating ongoing use of caricature as social critique.
  • Lippmann (1965) – theoretical source on stereotypes and public perception.
  • Harrison (1981) – discussion of how stereotypes convey information in visual form.
  • Duncan (2018) – overarching analysis of comics as reductive and additive, and the role of stereotypes in conveying ideas (cited throughout).
  • Gombrich (1963) – foundational reference for the idea of condensation in single images.
  • Andy Mason – interpretation of South African stereotypes and the demonic Other within the press history context.
  • The Star, The Knobkerrie – examples of local press and cartooning traditions in South Africa.

Notable quotes (selected)

  • "Perhaps the most important attribute of the form is that comics are reductive in creation and additive in reading. The reduction involves both simplification and exaggeration. During the act of creating a comic, the stories and concepts in the comics creators’ minds are necessarily reduced and simplified by the economy of expression of the comics art form. The best single-panel comics usually involve the ‘condensation of a complex idea in one striking and memorable image’" (Duncan 2018, 456; citing Gombrich 1963, p. 130).
  • "The contrast between Charles Leandre's portrait of a dissolute Rhodes and Caran d'Ache's dignified portrait of Paul Kruger demonstrates the existence of strong pro-Boer, anti-British sentiment in France at the time of the Anglo-Boer War." (Fig. 36–37, 1900).
  • Schröder, in the Knobkerrie first issue editorial (11 June 1884): "Wit without Personality, Gossip without Scandal, Criticism without Bitterness, Humour without Broadness, Comment with Fairness, Clippings with Judgement, and every endeavour on behalf of the proprietary and staff to furnish a paper worthy of the patronage of every family in the country."