Cartoon Controversy

The following materials are provided as background reading for our discussion on Tuesday, February14.  Since this list is by no means complete, you are encouraged to find additional materials in the daily news media so that the class can increase the resources we might draw on collectively.  Be sure to read the NOTE below.

                    The Original Cartoons, from the Danish newspaper Jyllands Posten, September 30, 2006

                    Political Cartoon Controversy, PBS News Hour, February 2, 2006

                   Clash over Cartoons, PBS News Hour, February, February 6, 2006

                    A Startling New Lesson in the Power of Imagery, New York Times, February 8, 2006

                    A Sequence of Events, New York Times, February 9, 2006

                    Developments in the Controversy, New York Times, February 9, 2006

                    Cartoon Fury Hardens East-West Lines, New York Times, February 9, 2006

                    Political Cartoons: The Perils of Mocking the Prophet, World Magazine, February 10, 2006

                    When Cultures Collide, Time Magazine, February 5, 2006

                    A Right to Offend?, Time Magazine, February 5, 2006

                    Two views from Slate, the on-line magazine, February 4 & 8, 2006:

                          Cartoon Debate: The Case for Mocking Religions, by Christopher Hitchens

                          Depicting Mohammed: Why I'm Offended by the Danish Cartoons, by Reza Aslan

                    Reaction in Muslim World to Muhammad Cartoons, Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, February 10, 2006

                    Capture the Flag, New York Times, February 12, 2006

                    Our Faith in Letting It All Hang Out, New York Times, February 12, 2006
                          (A "last word" from Stanley Fish)

 

NOTE: This constitutes one of the prompts that you should include in your journal.  It is a controversy that raises a number of important issues.  As you read the material above and pick up on other media reports and/or discussions that you might have with others try to identify at least some of the issues which seem important to you.  Since this is a prompt for the course, you should write down your ideas as they occur to you and then give yourself some time to reflect on and perhaps edit or expand them.  Please bring your written responses to class with you on Tuesday.