New Yorker cartoon by John O’Brien.
In this interview, I chat with Phil Witte and Rex Hesner, the authors of, Funny Stuff, a new book that explores the creative process behind great cartoons, specifically the tradition of the one-panel gag cartoon in The New Yorker. What exactly is it that makes for a perfect New Yorker cartoon? Well, you get a lot of answers in this book, starting with the Foreword by one of the legendary New Yorker cartoonists and editors, Bob Mankoff. As a cartoonist, myself, I’m on cloud nine with this read and you will be too.
New Yorker cartoon by Leo Cullum.
What, when you get right down to it, is a New Yorker cartoon, down to its essence? This is a very important question given that we live in disruptive times eager for change. With that in mind, here’s a book that simply lays it all out: what it takes to make an engaging, funny, and successful New Yorker cartoon, including the more subtle aspects. As for what the cartoonist is aiming for, Hesner boils it down to a cartoon where “the humor is not on the nose. It’s not going to be obvious.” And Witte points to “the cartoon’s subtext. What is it that the cartoonist is really saying.”
New Yorker cartoon by Bob Mankoff.
The main point, I believe, is to take a pause and appreciate what is involved, and what is at stake, in the creation of such a cartoon. You know it when you see it, right? It’s not protest art. It’s not cathartic art. It’s not even outright funny art. Heck, it’s not even “art,” per se, although we can argue the finer points in another post. One thing it is, for sure, is funny. It is a one-panel cartoon that not only will stand the test of time but will also instantly engage the reader with a laugh in a very distinctive and offbeat way. It’s not easy to do right and there’s no need to re-invent the wheel. There are tried and true methods that go into such a work. So, it’s worth it to take the time to understand the nuts and bolts behind this very special thing we’ve come to know as The New Yorker cartoon.
Phil Witte and Rex Hesner are two of the most well-versed authorities on all things having to do with New Yorker cartoons. You can find their observations on the state of New Yorker cartoons over at their blog, The Anatomy of a Cartoon at CartoonStock.com. Phil Witte, is an outstanding cartoonist in his own right, published in such notable places as The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, New Statesman and, of course, The New Yorker.
