The Serena cartoon — too much, too far?

[Anonymous]

Australian newspapers have a moved to front page a controversial cartoon depicting a very angry, ugly, tantrum-throwing, Serena. As a matter of “journalism” is the cartoon offensive? acceptable?

[Anonymous]

But if there were a way to post a cartoon here ....

[Anonymous]

Eh. Its satire just like cartoons are supposed to be.

[Anonymous]

Of course it is obviously racist. Even leaving the depiction of Serena aside, why would the cartoonist turn Osaka into a thin blonde woman when in reality she is a very strong, broad Japanese woman?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course it is obviously racist. Even leaving the depiction of Serena aside, why would the cartoonist turn Osaka into a thin blonde woman when in reality she is a very strong, broad Japanese woman?

+1

The caricature of Serena is arguably racist, but the depiction of Osaka makes it pretty clear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course it is obviously racist. Even leaving the depiction of Serena aside, why would the cartoonist turn Osaka into a thin blonde woman when in reality she is a very strong, broad Japanese woman?

+1

The caricature of Serena is arguably racist, but the depiction of Osaka makes it pretty clear.

Wait, what’s “pretty clear”?

[Anonymous]

Pp is not taking into account that it is much easier to draw thin blonde women than brown women.

/s

[Anonymous]

the artist responded by defending himself - posted examples of other articles where the people being teased have very exaggerated features

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the artist responded by defending himself - posted examples of other articles where the people being teased have very exaggerated features

Right but what about the inaccurate portrayal of Osaka as a thin blonde woman? When she is clearly neither of those things.

[Anonymous]

It mocks her behavior, which is what cartoons do. I don't see anything about it that is racially specific.

A satirical cartoon is not racist simply because the subject is a minority. To call it racist, people need to outline what specific racial aspects the artist is mocking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course it is obviously racist. Even leaving the depiction of Serena aside, why would the cartoonist turn Osaka into a thin blonde woman when in reality she is a very strong, broad Japanese woman?

+1

The caricature of Serena is arguably racist, but the depiction of Osaka makes it pretty clear.

There is nothing racist about the cartoon and by making the opponent a blond woman the cartoonist was underscoring that Serena would have behaved the same way against any opponent.

If anything, it’s racist to suggest Serena is some type of black nobility who is above reproach or caricature. She is far from belonging on any type of pedestal.

[Anonymous]

It was terrible. I hate that it went through multiple levels of approval before being published. Of course it's racist!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the artist responded by defending himself - posted examples of other articles where the people being teased have very exaggerated features

Right but what about the inaccurate portrayal of Osaka as a thin blonde woman? When she is clearly neither of those things.

I thought Osaka had blond hair...

I don't think it's racist IF he draws other people with exaggerated features.

[Anonymous]

Cartoons are caricatures. And Serena Williams is a very masculine looking woman and she threw a tantrum when she was called out on getting coaching from her coach. The coach should also have been fined. He has admitted to coaching from the sidelines.

I also did not think that this cartoon overplayed the "angry black woman" theme. Why? Because Serena was at that moment an angry spoilt brat. She is entitled to be human. She is also entitled to be fined.

I did not find it racist at all.

However, I am shocked by the fact that Osaka was depicted as a White woman. This single thing, IMHO, showed the implicit bias of the cartoonist.

I did not object to Serena being shown as masculine (she is - people have eyes), but I completely objected to Osaka (Hawaiian and Japanese, with very dark skin) - being shown as a meek, subservient, White woman who was being told by a paternalistic man sitting way above her to just let Serena win - absolutely misogynistic and racist. I found it insulting to women of all colors including White woman.

Serena was not dissed. All women and Osaka were.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course it is obviously racist. Even leaving the depiction of Serena aside, why would the cartoonist turn Osaka into a thin blonde woman when in reality she is a very strong, broad Japanese woman?

+1

The caricature of Serena is arguably racist, but the depiction of Osaka makes it pretty clear.

There is nothing racist about the cartoon and by making the opponent a blond woman the cartoonist was underscoring that Serena would have behaved the same way against any opponent.

If anything, it’s racist to suggest Serena is some type of black nobility who is above reproach or caricature. She is far from belonging on any type of pedestal.

Or: here’s an angry black woman and her lovely opponent beautifully acting like a sane white lady.