March 24-30, 2005
artpicks
Funny Pages
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It's not just op-ed liberals like Molly Ivans who command attention on the editorial pages of national newspapers. Political cartoonists, too, take pointed pen to paper with funny and provocative views on world events. The Laugh While You Can Tour, billed as a humor and slide show, honors this illustrative medium during a decidedly post-re-election depression.
According to Tom Hart, one of three cartoonists on the tour alongside Jen Sorenson, a Lancaster County native, and Tim Kreider (pictured), a regular cartoonist for Baltimore City Paper, the tour plunks down on the funny side of the Patriot Act. Each artist will discuss his or her own work in the context of the last four years of tidal wave conservatism, as well as political anecdotes from the 1970s until today (read: lots of comparisons between the Bush and Nixon regimes).
Sorenson is best known for her Slowpoke series, as well as politically driven work for Ms. magazine. She's published two books — one an illustrated novel, the other a tome of humor shorts. On her blog at www.slowpokecomics.com, Sorenson describes a recent departure away from politics as a tease about technology, documenting the popularity of socks in culture, particularly Apple's iSock, a cozy for iPod.
Also owing inspiration to pop culture and politics, Hart explores the quirks of corporate America in Hutch Owen, a comic he describes as "Peanuts for the post-Enron generation." Using a premise similar to Michael Moore's Roger & Me, Hart redefines the idea of a peon with his snarky toons. He's also published Pitch Unger, a Japanese cartoon series, and has had work translated into French and Portuguese.
The third artist in this political gag reel, Kreider comes to cartooning with a background in critical writing. Having won over the likes of David Foster Wallace with his male anorexia cartoon, he's also been featured in several anthologies, including Attitude 2: The New Subversive Social Commentary Cartoonists. His latest book, Why Do They Kill Me?, will be released this year by Fantagraphics.
The Laugh While You Can Tour, Mon., March 28, 7 p.m., free, Robin's Bookstore, 108 S. 13th St., 215-735-9600, www.robinsbookstore.com.
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