What is the role of the cartoonist in today’s convoluted world?

Is it poking fun at the powerful, parodying the absurdities of life or according to cartoonist Rob Rogers, acting as “a troublemaker”. He should know for when Rogers depicted Donald Trump too angrily, he was fired from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  So, stakes run high for picking up the artistic pen.

But while Rogers poked fun at Trump, Scott Adams embraced Trump’s world view.  Adams, whose “Dilbert” cartoon strip catapulted him to fame, recently courted controversy by describing Black people as a “hate group.” Consequently, more than 300 publications announced they would no longer be running Dilbert.  Critics say his politics crept into his art when he introduced a token Black character to represent his negative views on racial diversity, albeit with greater subtlety. 

Is there still a role for Adams in the world of cartooning and are there any topics that are off-limits? Do cultural norms and political climates affect what is acceptable to ridicule?  

Phillip Martin, senior investigative reporter for GBH News will act as guest moderator for this timely discussion which features three prominent cartoonists.

Barbara Brandon-Croft, the first black female syndicated cartoonist in America and author of a new book, “Where I’m Coming From: Selected Strips 1991-2005” says she drew cartoons because her voice needed to be heard.

“Kal” Kallaugher, the international award-winning cartoonist for The Economist magazine, whose career spans 45 years, two continents and 10,000 cartoons.

Dan Wasserman, from The Boston Globe will complete the trio.  Wasserman began cartooning for The Globe in 1985 and drew for the editorial page for 35 years; his work has been syndicated internationally since 1980.  In 1984, Wasserman was a finalist for the H L Mencken Human Rights Award for cartooning.

Recorded April 11, 2023