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January 28, 2013

Which One of These Anti-Semitic Cartoons Is Not Like the Others

anti semitic cartoons.JPG

It's a trick question. They're all similar. The large one on the right was published in the Sunday Times of London on Jan. 27, 2013, a day designated as Holocaust Remembrance Day. The cartoonist is Gerald Scarfe.

Notice the stereotypical features; The large flapping ears, the exaggerated, unpleasantly shaped nose, the dark arched brow, the sneering expression, a large lower lip, the position of the face pointed downward while the eyes are looking upward to a evoke a menacing glance. All of these features are intended to create a demonic Semitic caricature. In fact, so classic are these features that one might suspect Scarfe studied the prior "art" to craft his cartoon.

Four of the comparison cartoons feature menacing sharp tools in at least one hand intended to evoke the classic blood libel charge against the Jews.

Of course, the Sunday Times of London denies any anti-Semitic intent. Banish that thought, the paper frequently publishes cartoons of non-Jewish world figures using classic anti-Semitic visual imagery. Oh sorry, actually it doesn't. Those collective features are reserved for depicting villainous Jews.


The cartoonist Scarfe has earned a place of distinction on Holocaust Remembrance Day, and a special salute from deceased Nazi propaganda minister Josef Goebbels, who commissioned many of the cartoons and films that popularized these stereotypical features. Here you can see the film poster for the "Eternal Jew" a Nazi propaganda film intended to incite the population to hate Jews. Notice the characteristic facial features that Scarfe emulated.

eternal jew.jpg

Posted by SS at January 28, 2013 10:56 AM

Comments

What crap - Scarfe's cartoon depicts a resemblance to Israeli PM - it's seems the supression of the truth portrayed is what the outrage is really about.

Posted by: DJC at January 28, 2013 04:59 PM

You should familiarize yourself with Gerald Scarfe's cartoon style.
Everybody has exaggerated noses and ears - does this imply every cartoon he draws is a pop at Jewry?
You should develop a "thicker skin" so to speak,accept that Netenyahu is the one blocking any peace in YOUR part of the world and stop attacking constructive criticism with the charge of being "anti-semitic".
When the Muhammad cartoons were published Muslims were all "tared with the same brush" for being fanatics .... now you cant take a factual cartoon.
Not that you will post this comment.

Posted by: hutch at January 28, 2013 11:16 PM

I've got to say, that's very mild by Scarfe's usual standards. Maybe do a little research before deciding to be offended?

Posted by: BES531 at January 29, 2013 09:48 AM

I wanted to see what this cartoon looked like after the fuss - thanks for putting it up.
Seems a me a bit like both sides have some truth to what they are saying...
You really do have to be pretty ignorant not to know the various anti-semitic connotations that would automatically and sensibly be made to a cartoon like this - and connotations are what these sorts of cartoon are about. Notice that the apology re the day of publication is an implicit recognition of this.
On the other hand, it is tame by Scarfe's standards and those outraged should really have compared it to his other work.
Interesting that it is such a sloppy piece, at least compared to the work that I know of his (remember those images of Thatcher!). The wall (hey - didn't he do work for Pink Floyd???) should be great fodder for a cartoonist, but it is a cheap and sloppy to depict the mortar as blood. And what a poor composition too.
The wall itself is so full of contradictions: on the one hand created to save lives on the other entrenching a disastrous separation; on the one hand a land grab on the other a a tacit recognition of sovereignty (think about it: the land on this side of the wall we grab as ours - the land on the other is yours). Be good if Scarfe took it as a challenge to make a better cartoon...

Posted by: pegasus at January 29, 2013 12:21 PM

"demonic Semitic caricature"?
Really? Familiarize yourself with Scarfe's cartoons before you jump on the bandwagon and start turning him into an anti-semite.
This is all about free political expression - he's NOT criticizing jews, but criticizing Netanyahu.

Posted by: pete at January 29, 2013 02:15 PM

How would you depict an Israeli politician in satire without the charge of anti-semitism?

Is it possible to depict anyone of any race without the cry of racism, because if it exaggerates any particular aspect of that race, then it must be racism?

Posted by: Simon at January 30, 2013 01:16 PM

At least we could do, as Jews, regardless of degree of observance,is not to cruise and/or travel to Europe except, if you have to keep your job. It's 1933 all over again--I know it hurts--you can't believe it--it's true. Have any of the Church or political leaders in Europe complained about the cartoon? Note that the Jews world wide have not taken to the streets and rioted and physically threatened anyone anywhere.

Posted by: Paul Lilling at January 31, 2013 01:06 PM

Europeans are jumping at the chance to rid the world of Jews once and for all. They use Nazi style propaganda against Israel and say the Jews of Israel are Nazis. Amazing, bizarro world of reality. They compare a separation wall, the sole purpose of which is to prevent killings by terrorists, or as the enlightened Europeans call them, freedom fighters, with the ghetto walls of the Nazis, the purpose of which was to starve and kill the Jewish population. Somehow they compare the Israeli treatment of Palestinians with the systematic and nonstop bloody mass shootings and gassing of six million Jews by the Nazis. And these intellectual Europeans truly cannot see the difference. Why would Israel or Jews take your advice? We will not let you lead us to slaughter again. Such absurd anti Israel propaganda is unconcealed anti Jew. If Israel falls, the rest of the world's Jews are the next targets. You must think I am as paranoid as a German Jew watching the systematic Nazi programs to disenfranchise and then murder the Jews in the 1930's.

Posted by: Jeffrey Kahan at January 31, 2013 04:53 PM

These comments are unbelievable! 1. The wall, which is mainly a fence, was not built by Netanyahu.
2. The blood spilled was Jewish in the second intifada, not Palestinian. That is why the fence was built in the first place, to save Israelis. 3. The picture continues a long line of Jews using non-Jews' blood for nefarious purposes. As for the Nazis, they killed all the Jews they could. How do you explain that under Israeli "occupation" the Arab population has increased, infant mortality has decreased, and the standard of living is better than in many other Arab countries? There is NO comparison between Israel and the Nazis. It does not matter if you keep repeating that lie, it remains a lie.

Posted by: Laura Goldmeier at January 31, 2013 11:29 PM

One would think that drawing cartoons of Kim Jong-il holding missles is anti-Korean or anti-Asian. Next any mention of the poll that show 70% of Israeli Jews are against the war on Iran is also anti-semitism.

Posted by: Oscar Molotov at February 2, 2013 01:12 AM

Mr. Molotov,
Your comments are what is known as a non-sequitur.
Have a cocktail.

Posted by: steve at February 6, 2013 11:13 AM

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