Is ZA News much needed political satire, or more tired fuel already smouldering fires?
ZA News, based on the UK’s Spitting Image from years back, is a new internet-only TV show that uses the cartoon images created by cartoonist Zapiro to inspire a bunch of beautifully built puppets of South Africa’s politicians and public figures. The debut episode has likenesses of Tim Modise, Julius Malema, Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu and Jacob Zuma, to name a few bobbing around and waving their eerily realistic hands about as they allow us to laugh at the goings-on in the upper echelons of politics.
Or so the theory goes.
What’s good about the show is firstly that it exists. In a country with so much to satirise, there is precious little of the stuff to go around. And Zapiro is certainly as good a place to start as any being as he has been at the centre of questions about media freedom in the past year perhaps more than anyone else. The puppets are a wonder to behold, and the show is well-produced and crafted. Also the notion of an “internet-only” show is novel, if not unique, with the folks over at Zoopy producing their own far more serious news show on a daily basis.
That said, I found the content to be a lazy amalgam of over-used jokes and obvious caricatures of people too easy to poke fun at. The Desmond Tutu schtick makes no advance over what Pieter-Dirk Uys has been doing for 20 years, and the boo-oo-ring segment with Julius Malema adds absolutely nothing to the national debate about what this man means to the country, and to our future.
Satire in order to work needs to not only mirror real life, but add a twist which makes one think differently. It needs to show up those it shows off, otherwise it’s mere mimicry. That may be amusing for a few minutes but is also instantly tiresome. I lost interest in the show after less than a minute for this reason.
We are a nation inexperienced in satire, so perhaps this can be forgiven, but the worst parts of our style of humour are also the worst parts of our styles of debate. Rather than take issue with the issues, we tend to mock. Rather than deepen our understanding, we go for the cheap laughs.
It’s early days — and episode 1, so perhaps I am being too harsh. But I fear the pandering to the lowest common denominator, the kind of person who laughs at Leon Schuster because he puts shoe polish on his face and sells biryani. South Africans have a bad habit of imbuing this kind of asinine garbage with the moniker of “comedy”. And comedy it may well be, but of the lowest, stupidest order.
What we need is really smart satire, biting, dangerous, spiteful stuff that walks so close to cruelty it makes you cringe. That’s what the British do so well, and that’s what we need more of. I sometimes read articles on Hayibo that come close.
May the people writing ZA News get braver and smarter. Because we do need this stuff, but we also need it to be better.
Couldn’t agree more. In comparison to England and the US South African humour is slapstick garbage, about as unintelligent as humour can possibly be.
ZANEWS is definitely a step in the right direction, and I support it fully. But they need to assemble a crafty and intelligent team of very good writers if they’re going to keep our attention.
Jarred, I agree with you to a point. Whilst I really enjoy British humour in all forms, it doesn’t appeal to everyone. British humour is very niche and at times it doesn’t export well. That’s not a criticism, but a reflection of the fact that not all countries enjoy or get dark comedy (Dave Harris, keep your trousers on I’m not being racist), sarcasm and all those other brilliant aspects that make British humour so wonderful.
As you rightly point out, South Africa is inexperienced in satire and what we need to develop is our own brand of humour that at the very least appeals to a wider SA audience. Maybe Leon Schuster just accurately reflects where we are in that development with the infantile nature of the comedy he produces. Doesn’t mean you or I have to like it…
I’m glad someone else has seen Zapiro for what he truly is – an overrated, two-bit cartoonist whose work is often biased with a mean streak – a far cry from clever, witty, entertaining satire we see elsewhere in the world media. His pretentious cartoons, however, seems to appeal to a certain select established audience who blindly lap up the bull he feeds them.
His misogynist tendencies is apparent from his use of the Lady Justice, an attractive black women, who always seems to be on the receiving end of some vile atrocity. His famous gangrape cartoon reinforces negative stereotypes about black men and appeals to the dark side of human nature lust, violence and fear by depicting Jacob Zuma as a rapist.
I’m sure CNN would revoke his 2001 award – CNN African Journalist of the Year, if they were aware of his recent works.
I think what may have happened here is the satire has been diluted due to a year long battle with the SABC – a “safe” first episode may widen the audience, believe me, there are lots of South Africans who respond positively to the comedic drivel we are served up. The queues for Mr Bones 2 are a testament to that. Given time I hope the show will become more satirical and less slapstick, South Africa needs it.
The problem with us South Africans is that we allow ourselves to criticize and shoot down novelties before having the time to properly form an opinion for ourselves. I am a firm believer in the necessity of ZA NEWS in SA if we want our democracy to grow and prosper. Ironic that this column is called ‘Thought Leader’. I also have no clue as to your choice of title. I don’t see any reference to any kind of ‘complaint’ in your article.
@Jarred – How can you compare Leon Schuster with ZA news? The one is complete crap. Do me a favour and I will do this too. For research purposes only, although I fear I will lose all my credibility at the video hire shop I will take out the most recent Leon Schuster film I can find. You do this too. Then after having watched BOTH LC and ZA News, then lets share thoughts on whether you really should lump them together.
@Mandy. I think you are right about safe startup.
@Dave Harris. You are just plain sad and an ANC apologist!
@Dave Harris
I disagree with your view of Zapiro, I think he’s brilliant. But anyone who stands up will upset someone and clearly you don’t like him. Fair enough, but as I say, in my opinion he’s anything but a 2-bit cartoonist.
I agree with the views on ZANEWS however. Good start, but the content is lacking. Keep going, and ramp up the quality of the scripts!
Totally agree, Jarred. I could forgive the lack of real satire if episode 1 had been funny, but it wasn’t. And where was the shock element for which Zapiro is so revered/reviled?
Another point: who’s got the bandwidth to view it anyway? It took me 20 minutes of buffering before I could watch this – and many employees are blocked from watching video at work. Who is the target audience?
@Dave Harris
Lady Justice always at the receiving end of some atrocity? Do you REALLY think that this says something about Zapiro’s character, rather than something about the country? Give me a break.
Being so politically correct and uptight all the time must really be tiring.
Lived in the UK for eight years, their humour is a cut above anything else, so my TV is programmed onto the BBC…SA has a long way to go..
The SA agovernment should be up for several comedic awards…its a joke….In the running too must be Eskom and the SABC.
Thanks to all for bringing laughter into my life on a daily basis.
Nice to se a mention for http://www.Hayibo.com at the end of the piece. More than anyone else in this country I think they get it right. Their’s is challenging and ascerbic satire in the very best tradition.
You all need a sense of humour – if you don’t wanna laugh then simply shut up and don’t watch! And since you love British comedy so much, why don’t you exclusively download the BBC’s drivel – some of us love Zapiro and others like him in this country, they are so unique and why do we need to mirror another country’s productions anyway??
That’s what makes South Africa so special to some of us who understand. I think satire should be kept simple and sharp – I don’t wanna have to feel like I’m reading a Renaissance poem everytime I see that stuff. Zapiro does it so well and it is simple enough to understand. We should never detract from the KISS principle: Keep It Simple Stupid!!!
@Alto
Much better to be an ANC apologist than an Apartheid Apologist – theres a special place in hell reserved for those guys, hey?
@Lisa
“Lady Justice always at the receiving end of some atrocity?”
Actually, I said VILE ATROCITY, and yes that speaks volumes about his Zapiro’s sexuality and his hatred of women!
@Dave Harris
“Much better to be an ANC apologist than an Apartheid Apologist – theres a special place in hell reserved for those guys, hey?”
I am glad you said “those”. Even though I may disagree with you strongly on almost anything you write, I don’t classify you as an apartheid apologist and I hope you don’t classify me as one either.
@ Dave Harris
I dont know what Zapiro’s sexuality, or your insinuations about it, has to do with the topic. Why are you even bringing it up? Indeed, is there anything to bring up? Personally, I don’t give a fig for Zapiro’s sexuality ar anything else.
Agree it was kept simple for the (planned) TV audience.
Satire is underdeveloped here because its battling to keeping up with political reality in SA, – hard to beat in its natural form.
Spitting Image as I recall wasn’t always cutting satire, there was an element of slapstick, as well as crude humour -who can forget dear Margaret and her booze bottle? My favorite was Ronnie Reagan. All in all a lot of fun.
Well Jarred it certainly has done wonders for your blog ratings… best to be thankful
Zapiro made a bad call to think cos he got an idea that he can make producer decisions. If he had allowed the elections to pass and people to get over his calling Zuma a rapist(when the court said he is not) MAYBE the SABC would have bought his ZNEWS and he wouldn’t be allover looking for pity. SO it was bad producer decision he made not other peoples fault.
SATIRE – Say WHAT! First South Africa is not ready for SATIRE.
1. White South Africa still hidding their racist views behind it
2. Satire still used to riddicule ‘black’ leadership only
3. Satire still fuels hate sites like newnation, southafricathetruth, boeremargate, and haibo.
the problem is serious in that ‘white South Africa’ still finds as in the case of students feedin’ people their piss, Bullard, Neil’s District 9, no problem in offending African people. Personaly I take offence to people who don’t tell stories about theuir own experiences but want to tell mine, as Yesterday, Faiths Corner, Zimbabwe director does and although mixed Leon Schuster tops them all.
Hmm, so wonder what the dave harris approved cartoon would have been? i.e. political satire based on current events, common public perception was that justice was getting screwed by the ruling party. Would it have been a group of gender neutral, race neutral persons mocking an average looking gender neutral justice? Maybe having justice sitting on a pinball table just for the merest hint of a vile atrocity about to befall..
Wouldn’t quite have any impact and would certainly be two bit….
@David Harris. I often disagree with your views but have always admired the way you express yourself; this time however you appear to have lost the plot. ‘Zapiro’s sexuality and his hatred of women’!! Where on earth do you get that from – or is this the abuse of a public forum for a personal attack?
I probably agree with you that SA isnt ready for satire that cuts too close to the bone on some pretty touchy issues like race, and whether we would like to believe it or not SA still has a lot of very conservative people.
I think satire workds very well in the UK, because the Brits have the ability to laugh at themseleves, class issues, race, govt, gender etc!
In SA we tend to laugh at others, but cannot laugh at ourselves…if that makes any sense…probably not, but have a laugh anyway cause I am.
South Africa has its own particular brand of humor. Having watched the first 2 episodes, I must say that I found the satire and humor to be both intelligent and relevant.
We are not British so to expect the humor to be in a British vein is simply silly.
I shall be watching ZA News regularly. Keep up the good work guys.
@Ian – There is no humor in Propaganda.
I have no doubt that none of the ANC stalwarts here on TL have the balls to be able to laugh at themselves.
Satire generally highlights absurdities which does not bode well with those who wish to maintain a holier than thou facade.
ZANews is very good for all of us, and particularly for those of us who think that there is nothing to laugh about in politics and that sometimes putting black polish on your face and selling briyani cannot also be funny. It’s your choice to you watch a Schuster movie or not, just as it’s your choice to love or hate Polanski and/or Woody Allen. Leave the man alone unless you have actually watched right through some of the brilliant scenes he has made.
No one forces anyone to listen to ZANews, but the majority of SAfricans are force to listen to the rubbish spouted on the SABC channels as ‘news’. So – if you personally don’t like Zapiro, I’m sure that Riaan Cruywagen will have your (110%) vote.
The rest of us, ordinary people who laugh at ourselves and at people with self-righteous views of themselves (they don’t look in the mirror before they’ve put on their makeup?) can’t wait to see how ZANews will develop.
Zapiro for advisor to the president!
I agree with RayJay
I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.
Come on now Shelagh, lets not kid around.
Firstly, how can you label an attempt to understand the “masterpieces” of Jonathan Shapiro a “personal insult”! We are merely trying to understand his misogynistic tendencies that are all too apparent when you examine his works more closely. btw. I didn’t hear you protesting Jonathan Shapiro’s constant demeaning of Zuma a rapist, showerhead etc. in a public forum before the elections in spite of a court ruling in Zuma’s favor?
Secondly, its kinda odd that you would jump to the defense of a public controversial cartoonist. Maybe you ARE Jonathan Shapiro himself?
Finally, even though you detest my views, don’t let that cloud your judgement of Shapiro’s true nature. Why else is Lady Justice thrust in such disgusting situations like gangrape, crucifixation…if he wasn’t misogynistic? The general theories explaining a misogynist’s “theatrical mockery of women” states phallogocentric and homoerotic qualities are most likely the root causes.
I’m afraid I still agree with Jarred here, in that recent Zapiro cartoons hardly qualify as clever witty satire, but only serves to further polarize our society along racial and gender lines.
I think Dave Harris is having us on!
At least, I hope so.
Dave, are you entirely unfamiliar with the idea of “Lady Justice” and terms like “the rape of justice”? Are you just pretending to be ignorant well known and oft repeated symbols and sayings?
You must be ASTONISHINGLY perceptive to see misogyny when no woman I know can see it.
Either way, please keep it up. Your posts never fail to amuse. What a sense of humour!