Comments on: ZA News and the difference between satire and complaint

By: Lisa

Lisa — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:33:53 +0000

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!

By: Dave Harris

Dave Harris — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:11:24 +0000

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.

By: Banana

Banana — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:45:41 +0000

I agree with RayJay
I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.

By: Mameim

Mameim — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:19:08 +0000

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!

By: Robin Grant

Robin Grant — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:15:33 +0000

@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.

By: Robin Grant

Robin Grant — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:09:47 +0000

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.

By: Donkey

Donkey — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:03:44 +0000

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.

By: Shelagh

Shelagh — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:05:02 +0000

@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?

By: ian

ian — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:16:59 +0000

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….

By: MuAfrika

MuAfrika — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:46:51 +0000

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.