Racist! Really?

The thing is, only Williams features were exaggerated and it is pretty weird Osaka is depicted as a slight, blonde, white girl... Osaka is almost the same size as Serena and is half Haitian Half Japanese.

I found that hard to believe, I don’t watch tennis, but I was aware that Ms. Williams was on the large side, and in the only shots I’ve seen of Naomi Osaka, she looked slight in comparison, so I checked it out, and you’re almost spot on.
Ms. Osaka is 5’11”, and 10st 8lbs, Ms. Williams is 5’9”, and 11st.
As for the cartoon, I don’t know why Ms. Osaka was whitened, perhaps for contrast, and I’m not at ease with that part, but cartoonists caricature their subjects, remember Spitting Image?
I don’t think it was racist, but that’s just me, I’m often out of step on here.
 
I found that hard to believe, I don’t watch tennis, but I was aware that Ms. Williams was on the large side, and in the only shots I’ve seen of Naomi Osaka, she looked slight in comparison, so I checked it out, and you’re almost spot on.


Yup, here is a pic from the day

osaka-serena-us-open-achievement.jpg
 
While she certainly isn't white, she does have a blonde pony tail.
Personally, I think people are reading far too much into her depiction. The point of her part in the picture is that she essentially became just some girl in the background due to Serena's behaviour.

serena_williams_naomi_osaka_090818_getty_ftr_15lzc5dp7xfzi13fm4tpfss399.jpg
 
The cartoonist could have made exactly the same "joke" without reverting to the big lipped "Momma" gorilla jibe. That's just there for racist japes.
 
That's just how you choose to see it. I don't, but of course, you being offended makes you right.

Well, the thing is, me finding the cartoon offensive, means the cartoon is offensive (to me). And there's perfectly rational reasons why I find it offensive. You not being offended by it doesn't make it any less offensive.

And I'm not choosing to see it in any way. that's just the way I see it. Nothing to do with right or wrong.
 
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Well, the thing is, me finding the cartoon offensive, means the cartoon is offensive (to me). And there's perfectly rational reasons why I find it offensive. You not being offended by it doesn't make it any less offensive.

Nothing to do with right or wrong.
No but once you have a critical mass of offendees, then the artist is either forced to apologise or ostracised, and the ratchet cranks another notch.
 
No but once you have a critical mass of offendees, then the artist is either forced to apologise or ostracised, and the ratchet cranks another notch.

Good. That's why things change. That's why we don't have Jim Davidson-a-likes and the black and white minstrels on the telly any more.
 
The cartoonist could have made exactly the same "joke" without reverting to the big lipped "Momma" gorilla jibe. That's just there for racist japes.

Other people may just see it as a characature that whilst not exactly complimentary to Serena's physical appearance, painted a fairly humerous and accurate picture of how the event unfolded.

Do you think by making her lips brown instead of red would have made this cartoon acceptable or would we then be focusing on the volume or general masculinity?

Perhaps easier to make drawing a characature should be illegal just in case ?
 
That's just how you choose to see it. I don't, but of course, you being offended makes you right.

I like an argument, but I can’t argue with your view here Petey.

The cartoonist could have made exactly the same "joke" without reverting to the big lipped "Momma" gorilla jibe. That's just there for racist japes.

I don’t like to argue that much, but I think that you’re seeing what you want to see.
 
Well, the thing is, me finding the cartoon offensive, means the cartoon is offensive (to me). And there's perfectly rational reasons why I find it offensive. You not being offended by it doesn't make it any less offensive.

And I'm not choosing to see it in any way. that's just the way I see it. Nothing to do with right or wrong.

I get why you and others see it as you do. I see it as a simple caricature, and people are reading into it way too much.
She does have large features, and that's what caricaturists 'prey' on. It's the nature of the art style.

Yes, it does bear similarities to old racist cartoons, I can't deny that. However, I don't feel that it was the intention here and none of the artist's previous work supports him being a racist. (I've scrolled through a ton of his work on his twitter page).
 
I don’t like to argue that much, but I think that you’re seeing what you want to see.

No, I'm seeing it, because I have a cursory knowledge of the history of cartoons.

If you don't, and think that the cartoonist is merely exaggerating Serena William's features set apart from this historical context (like he's some kinda alien who's just landed) I think you're wrong.
 
No, I'm seeing it, because I have a cursory knowledge of the history of cartoons.

If you don't, and think that the cartoonist is merely exaggerating Serena William's features set apart from this historical context (like he's some kinda alien who's just landed) I think you're wrong.

Your privilege inogen.
 
Good. That's why things change. That's why we don't have Jim Davidson-a-likes and the black and white minstrels on the telly any more.
Sometimes it's things changing for the better e.g. tolerance and liberty, but I think that's the case here at all. No one is being intolerant of Serena, we are just poking fun at her for being immature.
 
I get why you and others see it as you do. I see it as a simple caricature, and people are reading into it way too much.
She does have large features, and that's what caricaturists 'prey' on. It's the nature of the art style.

Precisely, poor old Jagger's fat lips have been mercilessly lampooned for the last 40 years.

It's a decent cartoon, and sums up crotchety egomaniac Williams' inability to cope with losing a line call let alone a match.
 
Sometimes it's things changing for the better e.g. tolerance and liberty, but I think that's the case here at all. No one is being intolerant of Serena, we are just poking fun at her for being immature.

And for being an oversized, animalistic, throwback to 1920.
 
The cartoonist could have made exactly the same "joke" without reverting to the big lipped "Momma" gorilla jibe. That's just there for racist japes.

Gorilla did not even come to mind, just a baby having a tantrum, which is why there's a dummy on the floor.

EDIT: Wasnt it's Google image search that identified a black people are gorillas not long ago?
 
Gorilla did not even come to mind, just a baby having a tantrum, which is why there's a dummy on the floor.

You are aware that cartoonists often try to put a lot of imagery and elements into their cartoons? some work on some people, some on others, on different levels?

Because you don't see it one way, doesn't mean others won't. Saying "i didn't see it that way" doesn't mean it's not there.

The question of the artist being deliberate or not is an interesting one, but I'd argue that the artist chose to depict Williams in a way reminiscent of those old racist cartoons as it was an easy visual gag.
 
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