Name: The power of cartoons
Uploaded: 2010-10-21T08:48:00Z
Duration: 12 min 15 s
Description: In a series of witty punchlines, Patrick Chappatte makes a poignant case for the power of the humble cartoon. His projects in Lebanon, West Africa and Gaza show how, in the right hands, the pencil can illuminate serious issues and bring the most unlikely people together.

Patrick Chappatte: The power of cartoons

The power of cartoons

In a series of witty punchlines, Patrick Chappatte makes a poignant case for the power of the humble cartoon. His projects in Lebanon, West Africa and Gaza show how, in the right hands, the pencil can illuminate serious issues and bring the most unlikely people together.

Cartoons have the unique ability to spark dialogue and break through barriers, even in places torn by conflict or censorship. In divided societies like Ivory Coast and Lebanon, bringing cartoonists from all sides together led to honest, sometimes heated collaboration, but also to new understanding. Cartoons have fueled controversy and even tragedy, as seen after the Danish cartoon crisis, yet they also hold power to heal and illuminate. As technology and corporate platforms control what is published, the freedom to challenge, criticize, and connect through cartoons becomes ever more vital.