Uncategorized Another Saints Cartoon & Creators Incubator!

Another Saints Cartoon & Creators Incubator!

Uncategorized

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I couldn’t resist revisiting this cartoon. My brother, Alan, who lives in Baton Rogue, reminded me of a cartoon I had done in 1987 when the Saints went to the playoffs for the first time. I couldn’t find it in my files. But I always liked the emotion in this cartoon from 2006 when the city of New Orleans reclaimed the Superdome from the throes of Katrina.

There’s a new post on the Creators Incubator below this.

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9 thoughts on “Another Saints Cartoon & Creators Incubator!”

  1. Drew,

    I love your work. I don’t remember seeing this one before, but I must be honest with you. I think this is a mistake. You used a sacred and timeless image, with significant historical importance, and used it an inappropriate manner. There are some things that should never be used in a cartoon, and the heroes on Mount Suribachi are at the top of that list.

  2. Great cartoon Drew! And to the previous comment….The WWII generation saved the planet from tyranny. Deifying them is a mistake, IMHO. They were regular people who went out and did what they had to do. Comments like this make me uncomfortable because it is too close to the mind set we saw in Europe where a small group terrorized another’s freedom of expression over what was sacred and what should be allowed in a cartoon.

  3. AtomicLeo,

    “Too close the mindset we say in Europe…” I wasn’t recommending or even implying “terrorizing [Drew’s]…freedom of expression.” To imply otherwise is absurd. I’m simply stating that I believe the cartoon is in poor taste. Frankly, Drew can draw whatever he wants and I support that, but that doesn’t mean tolerance for speech requires someone to check their opinion. I shared my thoughts in what was intended to an honest and respectful manner. I used the word sacred to express a deep reverence for the men who died in defending freedom. I simply don’t believe such an image should be used in a cartoon, but that does not mean that I reject Drew’s right to do so. He’s free to use whatever and whomever he wants.

    Moreover, your use of the word sacred in the European WWII context is distinctly distinguishable from my use of the word here. There tyrannical governments punished and executed people for using certain elements in expression. You’re free to disagree with me. I welcome it, but ad hominem attacks do nothing to encourage intellectual discourse. I’m sorry I even shared my thoughts; ironically.

  4. Cartoonists often use iconic imagery to convey an idea. That imagery is like the pen and ink we draw with, one of the tools of the trade. Iconic imagery resonates with people because it is familiar, ie; the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, the Statue of Liberty, and, yes, this scene from Iwo Jima. I’m amazed sometimes at the things we are offended by and the things we accept as perfectly fine even though they are so far from it. The suffering that took place during Katrina was beyond anything our country has seen since the Civil War. Yet a cartoon depicting those people affected by Katrina raising a flag in triumph after overcoming that adversity is offensive? Really? The suffering of hundreds of thousands of people while a president stood by and watched it all happen without lifting a finger is what I consider offensive. Just saying.

  5. I know what you’re trying to get at Drew but, respectfully, no. This will anger a whole bunch of people and for good reason. As well as being something that really happened, the image is a symbol for the tremendous suffering during WWII that keep mankind free. To use it for football is to trivialize what happened on Mount Suribachi.

    I know you didn’t mean to do that, but I feel certain that will be the reaction… as well it should be if actually used this way.

  6. Just a bit of history on this cartoon. It was drawn on September 26 2006 to commemorate the reopening of the Super Dome after Katrina. The city was thankful to have the Saints home after playing their 2005 on the road and questions about whether the team would even return. Imagine the Broncos in that position and you’ll see where I was coming from. As far as being insensitve to the iconic images of World War II, my father served aboard the U.S.S Pennsylvania. I’m very sensitive to and proud of the amazing achievements of the Greatest Generation.

  7. Drew, I think the context determines how this iconic image can be used.

    If it expresses a noble triumph over mortal adversity or an enemy that threatens survival, it works. If it expresses a trivial triumph that, a few year from now will be forgotten by all except the most ardent of fans, it probably doesn’t.

    Think about it. You wouldn’t use this image to depict a class full of 3rd graders celebrating straight As on their report cards, would you? It would seem trivial.

    The triumph of survival after Katrina works because of the overall scope of the tragedy. The tragedy was on the same scale as Iwo Jima, which makes the triumph noble and eternal.

    Even though from that city, the triumph of a football team making it into the Super Bowl seems a bit trivial unless somehow put in the context of the overall rise of the city out of the waters of Katrina. Is there some way to depict that rise in the cartoon? Maybe with a caption. Something like, “After Katrina, the pride of New Orleans is further restored as the Saints go marching in…to the Super Bowl!”

    Respectfully, context seems to be the key.

  8. I understand how this might upset some people. But sports is habitual about conflating the importance of things (e.g. “It’s a WAR in the trenches…”) But, honestly the constant and incessant references by sportscasters and newscasters about how the Saints going to the Superbowl is going to actually do something for the positive for Katrina victims overstates the significance of this event. I don’t think making people temporarily forget about their problems by rooting for the home team is solve their problems. So, if you’re going to be mad at Drew, I suggest you be mad at the NFL, sportscasters, and newscasters and boycott the Super Bowl by not watching it. For me, I have things in perspective and will be there will a bowl of pretzels in my lap rooting for the underdog… because they’re the underdog.

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