Saturday, October 4, 2008

Chinese Satire & Humour in 1987

Times have changed, China has changed and I don't know if Deng Xiaoping was a cartoon lover, but more than 2 decades ago, another catalogue "Satire & Humour" was published in China, adhering 'socialist principles'.

cover

To be honest, I'm not able to understand most cartoons in this book. Although there is an English translation on the first pages of the book most cartoons are very difficult to appreciate.
Nevertheless I'm happy to own this book of non-western cartoons.

Here's a part of the introduction:

"Caricature, an incisive, vivid and interesting form of art, has always been loved by people. Closely linked with real life, it reveals what happens around us in daily lives.
In the field of this art form, the past decade could not be surpassed by an other single period in Chinese history in its production of caricatures, number of caricaturists and variety of themes. This development has undoubtedly made positive contribution to the construction of socialist cultural civilization.
However there is room for improvement in the creation of caricatures, such as the lack of depth, pedestrion form, and imperfect drawings of some works. We express our sincere thanks to those readers who have sent their criticism in the hope of improving this publiciation.
Since its first issue early 1979, Satire & Humor has published about 8000 pieces of works, offering a favourable condition for both the development of the Chinese art of caricatures and the growth of caricaturists. Adhering to socialist principles, Satire & Humor has done what little it can to emancipate the ideas, to help start criticism against social evils, and to lead the caricatures creation on the socialist road. ... " (Satire & Humor - editiorial department)

Some cartoons in the book (and its English title):

"Surely you can recognize a geat horse
when you see one, can't you?" (Wang Fuyang)


Calculating over personal gains and losses (Sun Yizeng)

The pockets of nepotism (Miao Di)

"So you guys don't want to eat fish, hun?" (Xu Jin)

The bridegroom and his budget (Xu Pengfei)



"Eat some of this old news, it's good for you!" (Li Nailang)

Perils in the pathway of progress. (Wei Tie)

Learn more:
China's Cartoon - history of Chinese cartoon
Cartoonbook file:
Van Cartoonbooks Files

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