We have compiled cartoons about the sea from the world's humor literature that make you smile, reflect and raise awareness. Not only that, we also tried to analyze the messages that the artists conveyed.
According to Jerry Seinfeld, humor is the art of anger. Every humorous film or book stars an internally angry character at odds with the world. This is often the case with cartoons as well. Many cartoons are expressions of some contradiction, frustration or despair. It becomes even more absurd when it comes to the sea.
The world of cartoons often portrays the theme of the sea on the axis of environmental issues. Then there are immortal themes. Titanic, Noah's Ark, refugees. Regardless of the issue, cartoonists underline the irregularities in the world and try to alert their readers. The better the cartoon, the easier it achieves this goal.
These are cartoons from around the world, many of which have won awards, that go to the sea or are by the sea:
1. Italian cartoonist Alessandro Gatto makes use of the desire we all have, to a greater or lesser extent, to move on and stay where we are as a theme in this cartoon. The sea is always the symbol of that call. Commitment on the one hand and endless possibilities on the other. Gatto symbolizes this perfectly with a man walking his bollard as if he were walking a dog.
2. Didie Sri Widiyanto's submarine cartoon is about awareness. We often fail to notice marine pollution, just like submariners who spend long periods of time underwater. Once we see the garbage, once they come at us, then we understand the problem. Most of the time we dive back in again.
3. Macedonian cartoonist Jordan Pop Iliev's cartoon of a painter on a desert island is filled with irresistible optimism. It is on the borders of Existentialism from a philosophical point of view. The painter, despite the desperate situation he is in, chooses to paint the same landscape over and over again instead of worrying about his situation. We actually know deep down that the sea is never the same and that we will always be painting a new picture, even if we always paint the same landscape.
4. Although Jean Loic Belom's tattoo cartoon seems absurd at first glance, it actually points to one of the hidden contradictions of mankind. As you know, tattoo artists are used to working with photographs. That is because it is very difficult to look at the real thing and tattoo it. Many people would rather replicate something that has already been made than invent it. Of course, it is also possible that the person getting the tattoo really liked the painting.
5. Romanian illustrator Constantin Ciosu's cartoon of a man spitting into the sea is a vindication of the proverb "you reap what you sow". The damage we are causing to the environment comes at a price and we will not be able to afford it. Besides, nature is not as powerless as it seems and its anger can be limitless.
6. Pawel Kuczynski's sail in a cage seems to be in search of an answer to the question "What is freedom?". It brings to mind the famous line of Constantine Cavafy: "This city will always pursue you". So the real question is, "Can one achieve freedom by relocating when one is not free within?"
7. Iranian artist Mahmood Nazari's "recycling" cartoon is both a scream and a laugh. It points out that nature tries in every way to give us a message, while at the same time telling us that no matter how bad the situation is, nature still strives to give us something, to put a smile on our faces.
8. 10-year-old Ilgın Deniz Karuk created a cartoon depicting the changes in the world with a sensitivity you cannot easily come across in a child of that age. Whereas people used to throw bagels at seagulls, now they throw hamburgers at them. More precisely, people throw whatever they find. The cartoon is essentially a reminder that we are all responsible for our actions.