How to be a Cartoonist

1. How to be a Cartoonist Learning Objective: to understand that reality can involve artificial and authentic factors

2. Vocabulary • Authentic • Artificial • Fulfillment

4. Message • The importance of empowerment at the individual/personal level rather than just responding as sheep • The artist can play a positive role in society, if they are authentically trying to interpret reality and various truths. The artistic process is a noble one if it is genuine

5. Questions • What are the difficulties associated with being a cartoonist? • How does he view himself and his profession? • What was authentic about Leunig’s career? • What does he regard as being artificial?

6. Whose Reality? • Do you agree with Leunig that it is hard for us to hold on to a sense of our own individuality? • Are we able to maintain control? • Is Leunig hypocritical of his views in this essay? Is his process of creating cartoons for publication also the process of becoming the “sellout” he is critical of?

7. Authentic • Someone will tell you they couldn’t understand it and a bit of hate mail will trickle in…this person will tell you they love what you do.’ pg. 10 • After a while another war breaks out and you get all miserable and your eyes start to bulge. A rash develops and sleeping is difficult and itchy. You draw an anti-war cartoon and are instantly court-martialled…’ pg. 12

8. Artificial • Without thinking you agree to launch somebody’s book, to open somebody’s show, to set fire to yourself in public… pg.12 • Because you suddenly realise that you spend hardly any time drawing cartoons these days. Pg. 13

9. Leunig’s Writing • As well as drawing on Leunig’s ideas in your own writing you could also adopt some of his style and techniques. • In ‘How to be a cartoonist’ he uses imagery to exaggerate some of his points in order to explore bigger ideas that we then connect to ‘Whose Reality?’

10. Style • ‘Bull ants come and sting you, crows pick your eyes out, a new product appears in the shops with your name on it…but you can see the funny side of all this and it gives you a profound insight into the soul of fox terriers and a great idea for your next deadline.’ pg. 12 • Big idea: The public make harsh judgments and persecute you for your honesty. But not standing out and up for yourself leads you to become worthless. It is important to hold onto your individuality

11. Style • Use of imagery • ‘There is a furor and your skin is torn off and a stake driven through your heart’ pg. 13 • ‘And so it goes around and around and around, and yes, all of these things you must do and submit to.’ pg. 14 • Big Idea: • As long as you have conviction with what you are doing then you are able to take the good with the bad. Being a cartoonist and telling the truth doesn’t always help you make friends.

12. Your turn… • Choose one of the big ideas about ‘Whose Reality?’ we have looked at so far… • Create a description using imagery that introduces and explores one of these ideas. • Write an explanation that details how it will lead into discussing this idea.

13. Homework • Revisit the essay – • “Blood and Guts, Violence and Death” for Monday’s lesson