Linguistic Quips as the Soul of Satire in Abu’s Subversive Political Cartoons

Abstract

The effectiveness of satirical political cartoons, especially in times of strict censorship, may be explained through their use of linguistic quips that complement the brevity and immediacy of the visual medium well. Several techniques within linguistic quips may be understood through the theories of Henri Bergson and Arthur Koestler that are drawn upon in this paper. However, it is through an analysis of the subjects and objects of these linguistic quips that we understand the subversive nature of the laughter produced through these quips. Linguistic quips, in addition to providing at least a minor, though inconsistent, protection from censorious authorities play a more vital role of exposing social and political hierarchies of power in the society. This paper locates the subversive potential of political cartoons and specifically of linguistic quips in exposing these hierarchies. The subversive laughter with its pin-pointed target, often asks for the participation of the readers/viewers in such a way as to create a space for the degradation of the target and vindication of the participant viewer. This paper demonstrates these ideas through an exploration of the cartoons of Abu Abraham during the Emergency Years in India (1975-77) when major restrictions were imposed on the freedom of the press by the government. In doing so, the paper tangentially comments on the role that satirical political cartoons play in the public sphere.