I draw cartoons for The Los Angeles Times. This week we look at the possible imminent conclusion to the long wait LA commuters have endured until their Metro system finally makes it all the way to Los Angeles International Airport.
Some people I showed this to asked why I depicted a woman instead of a man because you know, the “generic human” is a white male in his 50s (perhaps, in an editorial cartoon, wearing a hat). As readers know, I try to avoid such tired tropes as much as possible. Women take trains too.
3 Comments.
You should have drawn the woman as a slutty prostitute on her way to get free birth control* from the government.
*Otherwise known as “a license to do things in a sexual realm that are counter to how things are supposed to be.” And on the taxpayer’s dime too!
(Misogyny. It’s all the rage now.)
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Ever notice how Ted Rall can’t win?
Some will look at that cartoon and say, “So what are you trying to say Ted? You’d rather a woman take the train than drive because women are such lousy drivers? And how come she’s not depicted as an African American? Did you run out of black ink?…. Ted’s not only a woman-hater, he’s a racist too!”
Really a wonderful ‘toon, and wonderfully local to L.A. and SoCal. Don’t see that often enough.
Just a general question and not intended as snark in any way shape or form, is it hard to create an effective editorial cartoon about an area in which you don’t live?
I would assume that the LA area has many cutting edge opinionati with artistic skills and may have criticism about a New Yorker taking over some of their turf and not getting the vibes right.
Again, this is not a snark, but just wondering how you approach this situation as a writer and artist.