A critique of the rape of justicia, with emphasis on seven cartoons by Zapiro (2008 – 2010)

Abstract

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Regarding the work of Zapiro, a number of articles have been written, but only two postgraduate studies have been completed since 1991. On the Rape of Justicia cartoons, which were conceived recently (2008 - 2010) no academic study has been conducted. In this study seven cartoons by Zapiro are analysed, as indicated by the title and in the text. The theoretical approach for this thesis is founded on the Libertarian and Critical research models, as well as the views of the Cultural history school. As a rese arch methodology the qualitative approach was utilised. As data gathering techniques content analysis was complemented by literary and technical criteria. Interviews of selected informants were used as supplementary instruments. The goal of the study was to determine whether the Rape of Justicia cartoons can be construed as fair criticism, as is normally expected of a political commentator, while taking into account that editorial cartoonists t raditionally occupy a unique position in the field of journalism. The proposed hypothesis of this thesis is that Zapiro acted within his rights as a cartoonist in a democratic country. The conclusion was that Zapiro did not overstep the bounds of freedom of speech, especially not so in his capacity as a visual satirist.

AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ’n Aantal artikels is oor Zapiro se werk geskryf, maar slegs twee nagraadse studies is sedert 1991 voltooi. Aangaande die Rape of Justicia-spotprente, wat on langs geskep is (2008-2010), is geen akademiese studie onderneem nie. In hier die studie word sewe spotprente deur Zapiro geanaliseer, soos aangedui in die titel en in die teks. Die teoretiese benadering wat hierdie tesis volg gebaseer op die Libertynse en Kritiese navorsingsmodelle, sowel as die uitgangspunte van die Kultuurhistoriese geskiedskool. As navorsingsmetodologie is die Kwalitatiewe benadering gevolg. As datainsamelingstegnieke is inhoudsanalise met literêre en tegniese kriteria aangevul. Die doel van hierdie studie was vas te st el of die “Rape of Justicia”-spotprente as regv erdige kritiek beskou kan word, soos wat normaalweg van ’n politieke kommentator verwag word, met inagneming van die feit dat redaksionele spotprenttekenaars ’n unieke posisie in die joernalistieke sfeer beklee. Die voorgestelde hipotese van hierdie tesis is dat Zapiro binne sy regte as ’n spotprenttekenaar in ’n demokratiese land opgetree het. Die gevolgtrekking wat gemaak is, was dat Zapiro nie die grense van spraakvryheid oortree het nie, veral nie in sy hoedanigheid as visuele satirikus nie.