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Jonathan Shapiro is a talented South African cartoonist, known for his sharp wit and insightful commentary on social and political issues. His cartoons often reflect the complexities of life in South Africa, addressing themes such as inequality, politics, and culture. Shapiro's work has been published in various newspapers and magazines, earning him a reputation for his ability to provoke thought and discussion through humor and art. His cartoons resonate with many, making him a significant voice in contemporary South African art.
"On one occasion in 1987 the security police came looking for me because of a drawing that I'd published."
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"On one occasion in 1987 the security police came looking for me because of a drawing that I'd published."

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"It's to be a person who's able to shoot little arrows into sacred cows and knock politicians off their pedestals, to look out for hypocrisy, advocate for all sorts of things from social justice to peace."
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"It's to be a person who's able to shoot little arrows into sacred cows and knock politicians off their pedestals, to look out for hypocrisy, advocate for all sorts of things from social justice to peace."

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"I think the eyes are very revealing and can expose a lot about a persons mood or character."
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"I think the eyes are very revealing and can expose a lot about a persons mood or character."

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"What's much harder is taking on people in your own community."
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"What's much harder is taking on people in your own community."

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"Gee, I am a complete Luddite when it comes to computers, I can barely log on!"
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"Gee, I am a complete Luddite when it comes to computers, I can barely log on!"

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"I try not to change my political point of view from paper to paper."
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"I try not to change my political point of view from paper to paper."

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"I normally keep a series of draft in a catalogue type of book in which I scribble, sketch and draw ideas."
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"I normally keep a series of draft in a catalogue type of book in which I scribble, sketch and draw ideas."

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"I eventually saw the satirical nature of caricaturing individuals."
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"I eventually saw the satirical nature of caricaturing individuals."

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"Mandela once phoned me out of the blue while he was still president, and at first he played with me a bit."
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"Mandela once phoned me out of the blue while he was still president, and at first he played with me a bit."

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"I would think a sense of the absurd is more important for a political cartoonist, because that could define things like a sense of hypocrisy or a sense of the things one has to be skeptical about."
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"I would think a sense of the absurd is more important for a political cartoonist, because that could define things like a sense of hypocrisy or a sense of the things one has to be skeptical about."

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"Even people that I agree with can do something that would be a target for a bit of humor."
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"Even people that I agree with can do something that would be a target for a bit of humor."

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"We do, and there is a law in the United States - the Torture Convention - that prohibits the United States from deporting an individual to a country where there is a reasonable expectation that he will be subjected to torture - physical, mental or otherwise."
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"We do, and there is a law in the United States - the Torture Convention - that prohibits the United States from deporting an individual to a country where there is a reasonable expectation that he will be subjected to torture - physical, mental or otherwise."

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"I see the cartoonist as contributing to the content, being critical, because we do poke holes in some of the dialogue and find new ways of seeing things."
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"I see the cartoonist as contributing to the content, being critical, because we do poke holes in some of the dialogue and find new ways of seeing things."

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"There are certain people within the new government who have a slightly disturbing tendency toward authoritarianism, but there are so many checks and balances that in that way their noises are just noises."
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"There are certain people within the new government who have a slightly disturbing tendency toward authoritarianism, but there are so many checks and balances that in that way their noises are just noises."

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"I was very lucky all three newspapers approached me and asked me to draw their cartoons for them."
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"I was very lucky all three newspapers approached me and asked me to draw their cartoons for them."

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"The cartoons which I enjoy have caused some kind of out rage, but they have got people talking about these issues out in the open and in essence that's what its all about."
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"The cartoons which I enjoy have caused some kind of out rage, but they have got people talking about these issues out in the open and in essence that's what its all about."

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"Sometimes I have to compromise my views, but I never compromise on issues like the death penalty and the arm trade laws, despite what the readers or letters may say."
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"Sometimes I have to compromise my views, but I never compromise on issues like the death penalty and the arm trade laws, despite what the readers or letters may say."

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