The Captured Brain

There is such a thing as lazy cartooning and then there are those drawings which add layers to our understanding.

I have an aversion against names and notions written across the forehead or back of the protagonists in a cartoon. Intellectual lazyness and as such a cardinal sin in cartooning. I do know it is usually imposed upon the cartoonist from outside. From someone who wants to be absolutely certain that everyone knows it is about THIS and not THAT once the cartoon is publicized.

Only the effect is as heavy handed as describing it above. The play with double meanings is after all a means of giving us a chock; the one of not being absolutely certain at first what is taking place, setting off reflection.

Fadi Abou Hassan uses but three elements here, moving the noose to that part of the body, which is usually not the focus of an execution and yet, of course it is exactly so:

Fadi Abou Hassan, Execution, October 7, 2014.

The cartoon shown is courtesy of Fadi Abou Hassan and must not be reproduced without his permission.