This page is for comics, keep em coming

So I thought that the non-Hindus should have shown some sensitivity to this issue then – the school was after all run by Christians. They should have deemed inappropriate what they wouldn’t tolerate/accept towards their own religion. One could also argue that the Hindus should have been the ones to object to this first. Then again, I am completely put off by the extreme reactions we see from Muslims to any perceived negative depictions of their religion.

I think the word “They” in “They should have deemed…” is somewhat inappropriate. We do not need to bunch together diverse people with different views on humour just because they all follow, or don’t follow the same religion. If some idiot who follows my religion gets offended based on some cartoon, that should not bar me from disagreeing with him and from drawing cartoons. I am personally happy to allow someone else their freedom of speech, and would not give up mine just because someone who I can be bunched together with is offended by something. I am a Hindu, but would not like to bunched together with the likes of the junior and senior Thackereys, and similarly I would not prescribe behaviour for all muslims/christians based on the behaviour of some.

In general, I don’t think too much tolerance is one of the problems afflicting Hinduism, and India at the moment. Being offended by something, and having a problem with it/objecting to it/shutting it down by force are different things. I may get offended by Durga on someone’s bikini, and I would react to that by not buying it and ignoring it. Similarly, I may get offended by pornographic movies, and I would react to that by not watching them. I may even personally disapprove of the people involved in productions of these. But I don’t see myself objecting to other people consuming these objects.

Sandeep, you’re following in a great tradition. More power to you.

Well I wanna be clear about one thing – comic and comedic don’t go hand in hand. Any hard core comic con frequenting person would say that the proper term isn’t “comic book” but “graphic novel” …

What I think is great about how Sandeep decided to approach Ack is the clearly fusion intent. He’s an American kid watching kid cartoons that was raised with stories Mahabharata.

I don’t think the question you are asking is really appropriate or makes any sense. It implies that anything “comic” is comedic and thereby a joke. Whereas I think comic = graphic novel = graphic visual art. And a form of story telling. It is simply using the form of art as a means of storytelling – Sandeep in Ack is clearly telling his interpretation of how he views a religion he deeply cares about – there’s nothing disrespectful going on.

If you dig a little deeper, even if you go to Comic Con, I bet you don’t have to dig very far to find “respectful” graphic novels honoring religions – Christian Comic Books here and Jews in Comic Books. I think using graphic arts as a way of connecting to an audience is great, if done respectfully and with no malicious intent.

As for Muslim comic tales – there’s a new comic series called “The 99″ (think Captain Planet for Muslims), and hijabi woman G. Willow Wilson has put out several graphic novels with a Muslim tinge. There’s also Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi.

We’ve discussed this on SM plenty of time before, too. Go to our archives on Nina Paley’s Sita Sings the Blues. Follow the thread. You’ll find the debate you are looking for.

That said, I share your frustration. It does seem societally more acceptable to make fun of Hinduism than Islam or Christianity (the same way it’s still okay to make fun of Indian people in ways that would bring outrage from other cultures…hey Metro PCS, fuck you).

But, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it anyway. Rather than look at what got a pass at either of our primary schools, I look to satirists I admire (Trey Parker/Matt Stone of South Park, Monty Python, Salman Rushdie, etc.). They’re throwing their best stuff at the religions they were born into; I’d like to throw my best stuff at mine (even if it’ll never be half as good!).

http://deepubalan.com/blog/2010/01/26/jai-hanuman-rare-collection-of-lord-hanuman-illustrations/

I grew up in India and during my high school days, comedy skits on the ‘modern’ Ramayana and Mahabharata were the norm. We had this at almost every inter and intra high school event. The main humor supposedly came from having the avatars and other revered characters do the inane ‘modern’ things. I, by the way, went to an ‘elite’ high school run by Roman Catholics – but the school’s student population was at least 75% Hindu. It occurred to me that one could perform these skits and parodies based on Hindu characters, but nothing could be based on Christian or Muslim characters – that was off limits.

So I thought that the non-Hindus should have shown some sensitivity to this issue then – the school was after all run by Christians. They should have deemed inappropriate what they wouldn’t tolerate/accept towards their own religion. One could also argue that the Hindus should have been the ones to object to this first. Then again, I am completely put off by the extreme reactions we see from Muslims to any perceived negative depictions of their religion.

@Taz – I see you threw in a quick allusion to Islam not meshing well with cartoons , but what is your view on this? Is the tolerance of Christianity (in the west), Judaism and Hinduism to comedic references a sign of the respective religion’s strength or weakness? And if one is offended by comedic depictions of their own religion, should they extend the same sentiment to other religions?

I know this topic was meant to be in light vein – but, as mentioned, I had been thinking about this very recently. So thought I’d put it out there.

I hope there is space for Rama, Laxmana, and Hanuman to form a progressive-rock power trio. HAIR BAND!!!!