ARKAS – SAD and TRUE
Hi all,
here you go with our report about ARKAS, the great Greek cartoonist.
My definition of his work is SAD and TRUE… at least for the moment. The point of the philosophical animals helps me a lot to understand this crisis.
Perhaps cynism can help to sort this dilemma out…. read image 4 for example!!
ARKAS AND THE GREEK REFERENDUM
· THE CARTOONS
Well informed circles mention that, at the
conversation about the public dept, the government will use its ultimate
negotiate card: ‘What will you do with the money? Will you take it to your
grave?’
conversation about the public dept, the government will use its ultimate
negotiate card: ‘What will you do with the money? Will you take it to your
grave?’
–One last question, Mr Minister. How would you
describe the country’s present situation in one word? –Don’t be vulgar.
describe the country’s present situation in one word? –Don’t be vulgar.
[image3] no
text
text
[image4]
–What’s the difference between the government and the
organized crime? –The government is not organized.
organized crime? –The government is not organized.
[image5]
right
sign: BAD
sign: BAD
left
sign: WORSE.
sign: WORSE.
–Do you know the way? –By heart! I’m doing it for
years.
years.
[image6]
–Can you control yourself in crucial times?
YES
NO
NO
[image7]
I have complete trust in the government. It has its feet firmly planted
in the clouds.
in the clouds.
[image8]
A leader is someone who can avert a disaster, which would not come if he
didn’t govern.
didn’t govern.
[image9]
Unfortunately for the country, the people who really know how to govern
don’t have the time!… They are always posting on Facebook and Twitter.
don’t have the time!… They are always posting on Facebook and Twitter.
[image10]
It is a great fortune to be born Greek and it is a great
fortune to die Greek!…The in-between however, is a great misfortune!
fortune to die Greek!…The in-between however, is a great misfortune!
[image11]
What is the income per
capita of Uganda? Answer with ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
capita of Uganda? Answer with ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
[image12]
…After the manifestation a crowd of people forgathered
around the Prime Minister. ‘Do something, we can’t take it anymore!’ said the
Prime Minister to the assembled crowd.
around the Prime Minister. ‘Do something, we can’t take it anymore!’ said the
Prime Minister to the assembled crowd.
[image13]
–Do you know what I missed more through all these years
in the oppression of prison? –Women? –No! –Drinking! –No! –Food? –No! –Your
home? –No! –What, then? –The right to say ‘no’.
in the oppression of prison? –Women? –No! –Drinking! –No! –Food? –No! –Your
home? –No! –What, then? –The right to say ‘no’.
[image14]
In this county being with the others has become very
dangerous … no matter who the others are.
dangerous … no matter who the others are.
[image15]
There’s times when a laugh can give you power and hope, times when humor
can save you. This, however, is not one of these times.
can save you. This, however, is not one of these times.
[image16]
They will not halve us!
[image17]
Today the Ministry of Education announced the
abrogation of the exclamation mark, after realizing that nothing can surprise
us anymore.
abrogation of the exclamation mark, after realizing that nothing can surprise
us anymore.
[image18]
Leaving Europe, we shall not forget to turn off the
lights of civilization. It’s no time for high electric bills.
lights of civilization. It’s no time for high electric bills.
[image19]
The jellyfish have survived for 650 millions of years.
What makes you believe that the country does not have a future?
What makes you believe that the country does not have a future?
· THE REACTIONS
POPULAR CARTOONIST ARKAS CYBER-BULLIED
OVER ANTI-REFERENDUM SKETCHES[1]
OVER ANTI-REFERENDUM SKETCHES[1]
Popular cartoonist Arkas pulled down his Facebook page
after a concerted attack by pro-government cyber bullies. His “offending”
cartoon featured a newscaster (below) saying: “I have complete trust in the
(SYRIZA) government. It has its feet firmly planted in the clouds.”
after a concerted attack by pro-government cyber bullies. His “offending”
cartoon featured a newscaster (below) saying: “I have complete trust in the
(SYRIZA) government. It has its feet firmly planted in the clouds.”
Who is arkas?
Arkas emerged in the 1980s with cartoons featuring
animals in a state of philosophical quandary. Publicity-shy, nobody knows who
he really is though there are rumors that he is a psychiatrist or academic,
however there are no published pictures of him. The name Arkas is believed to
have been chosen because his background could be from Arcadia. The attack
caused fans to rush to his defense, urging him to continue his works.
animals in a state of philosophical quandary. Publicity-shy, nobody knows who
he really is though there are rumors that he is a psychiatrist or academic,
however there are no published pictures of him. The name Arkas is believed to
have been chosen because his background could be from Arcadia. The attack
caused fans to rush to his defense, urging him to continue his works.
CARTOONIST
CYBER-BULLIED AS GREEK POLITICS TURN SOUR[2]
By Dina Kyriakidou
ATHENS (Reuters) – One
of Greece’s most popular cartoonists has pulled down his Facebook page after
what appeared to be a concerted attack by pro-government cyber bullies.
of Greece’s most popular cartoonists has pulled down his Facebook page after
what appeared to be a concerted attack by pro-government cyber bullies.
A cartoon published by
Arkas last month seemed anodyne enough: a newscaster saying “I have
complete trust in the government. It has its feet firmly planted in the
clouds.”
Arkas last month seemed anodyne enough: a newscaster saying “I have
complete trust in the government. It has its feet firmly planted in the
clouds.”
But in Greece’s
polarised political climate, this prompted an avalanche of hostile messages.
“You exposed yourself irreparably. It will be on your head, you’ll
see,” said one.
polarised political climate, this prompted an avalanche of hostile messages.
“You exposed yourself irreparably. It will be on your head, you’ll
see,” said one.
The ruling leftist
Syriza party, which came to power in January promising to end austerity and
stand up to international lenders, denied it was involved.
Syriza party, which came to power in January promising to end austerity and
stand up to international lenders, denied it was involved.
“Not only we had
nothing to do with this but we protested the attack,” said Syriza
spokeswoman Rania Svingou, adding the party’s cyber team had issued a statement
supporting the artist.
nothing to do with this but we protested the attack,” said Syriza
spokeswoman Rania Svingou, adding the party’s cyber team had issued a statement
supporting the artist.
Such incidents however
reveal a new political culture, said Yannis Ktistakis, a professor of human
rights at the University of Rodopi in northern Greece.
reveal a new political culture, said Yannis Ktistakis, a professor of human
rights at the University of Rodopi in northern Greece.
“These are not
just attacks by frustrated unemployed people,” he said. “The climate
has deteriorated.”
just attacks by frustrated unemployed people,” he said. “The climate
has deteriorated.”
As Greece faces
economic catastrophe, its people fed up with the sacrifices needed to stay in
the euro, a referendum on Sunday split the country, with the government firmly
behind the vote to reject more austerity.
economic catastrophe, its people fed up with the sacrifices needed to stay in
the euro, a referendum on Sunday split the country, with the government firmly
behind the vote to reject more austerity.
About 50 protesters
recently stormed an Athens Bar Association meeting which was debating the
legality of the referendum. They shouted, gestured and made threats, said
association president Vasilis Alexandris.
recently stormed an Athens Bar Association meeting which was debating the
legality of the referendum. They shouted, gestured and made threats, said
association president Vasilis Alexandris.
“Despite the
profanities and the psychological violence, we voted that the referendum was of
questionable legality,” he said. “They screamed: ‘We are building
gallows for you’.”
profanities and the psychological violence, we voted that the referendum was of
questionable legality,” he said. “They screamed: ‘We are building
gallows for you’.”
Arkas, a recluse whose
real name is unknown, did not respond to requests for comment. But he posted
that he was “painfully surprised” to have caused such a heated
reaction after poking fun at “religion, family and sometimes country, the
three holy pylons of the conservative right” without incident for many
years.
real name is unknown, did not respond to requests for comment. But he posted
that he was “painfully surprised” to have caused such a heated
reaction after poking fun at “religion, family and sometimes country, the
three holy pylons of the conservative right” without incident for many
years.
“There was an
uproar of negative comments, some more appropriate to the age of homo
erectus,” he wrote.
uproar of negative comments, some more appropriate to the age of homo
erectus,” he wrote.
“Philosophical animals”
Arkas emerged in the
1980s with cartoons of philosophical animals, such a depressed rooster and a
melodramatic circus lion, who come up with lines such as: “Democracy is
four wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.”
1980s with cartoons of philosophical animals, such a depressed rooster and a
melodramatic circus lion, who come up with lines such as: “Democracy is
four wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.”
A shy man who never
shows up at the papers that publish him, he has avoided publicity for decades.
He is rumoured to be a psychiatrist or possibly a university professor and
there are no published pictures of him.
shows up at the papers that publish him, he has avoided publicity for decades.
He is rumoured to be a psychiatrist or possibly a university professor and
there are no published pictures of him.
The cyber attack
prompted support from fans who grew up with his cartoons and urged him to
continue his work.
prompted support from fans who grew up with his cartoons and urged him to
continue his work.
“This just shows
what sense of humour Syriza has,” posted John Avlakiotis.
what sense of humour Syriza has,” posted John Avlakiotis.
And Aristotelis Vathis
wrote: “For some, democracy only allows satirizing the other side.
Democracy was born in Greece and it looks like it’s dying here.”
wrote: “For some, democracy only allows satirizing the other side.
Democracy was born in Greece and it looks like it’s dying here.”
The first leftists to
rule modern Greece, Syriza raised hopes of ending the corruption widely blamed
for plunging Greece into economic crisis.
rule modern Greece, Syriza raised hopes of ending the corruption widely blamed
for plunging Greece into economic crisis.
For decades, political
life was dominated by families with close ties to the country’s economic elite.
State sector jobs and contracts went to political friends, while powerful Greek
oligarchs controlled much of the media.
life was dominated by families with close ties to the country’s economic elite.
State sector jobs and contracts went to political friends, while powerful Greek
oligarchs controlled much of the media.
Syriza politicians say
they have had little time to tackle such problems while handling the financial
crisis, and deny accusations of sowing discord.
they have had little time to tackle such problems while handling the financial
crisis, and deny accusations of sowing discord.
Critics say the
government, many of whose members hail from the pro-Soviet KKE communist party,
has deepened divisions in a society traditionally split between left and right
and embraced some of the bad practices of the past.
government, many of whose members hail from the pro-Soviet KKE communist party,
has deepened divisions in a society traditionally split between left and right
and embraced some of the bad practices of the past.
“On a daily basis,
there are so many arbitrary abuses. In another time, society and political
parties would have revolted,” said Christina Poulidou, a commentator for
the Protagon news site.
there are so many arbitrary abuses. In another time, society and political
parties would have revolted,” said Christina Poulidou, a commentator for
the Protagon news site.
In one case, the
partner of a senior Syriza politician was appointed head of the public water
company.
partner of a senior Syriza politician was appointed head of the public water
company.
In another, a judge who
wrote to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to express support
for the Syriza government was made head of the supreme court, contrary to a
tradition of appointing by seniority.
wrote to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to express support
for the Syriza government was made head of the supreme court, contrary to a
tradition of appointing by seniority.
After the cyber attack,
Arkas posted another cartoon. His newscaster says: “According to reliable
sources, the government has this last negotiating card to play with its
lenders: ‘What are you going to do with it? You can’t take it with you’.”
Arkas posted another cartoon. His newscaster says: “According to reliable
sources, the government has this last negotiating card to play with its
lenders: ‘What are you going to do with it? You can’t take it with you’.”
(Reporting by Dina Kyriakidou; Editing by Giles
Elgood)
Elgood)
GENERALLY ON
ARKAS
ARKAS
Arkas (Greek: Αρκάς) is a Greek comics artist that started his work in the early
80s. His comics have a unique style, combining humor and sometimes deep
philosophical questions. The structure of the stories is very simple, with each
volume having individual strips which follow some general plot guidelines. Most
of the times we will only see two main characters: One is the rational,
sceptical and questioning figure, while the other is a rude, vulgar or just
empty-headed character who has most of the funny punchlines. The stories take
place in a variety of different locations/situations and the protagonists can
be humans, animals or even videogame characters.
80s. His comics have a unique style, combining humor and sometimes deep
philosophical questions. The structure of the stories is very simple, with each
volume having individual strips which follow some general plot guidelines. Most
of the times we will only see two main characters: One is the rational,
sceptical and questioning figure, while the other is a rude, vulgar or just
empty-headed character who has most of the funny punchlines. The stories take
place in a variety of different locations/situations and the protagonists can
be humans, animals or even videogame characters.
Arkas seldom appears at conventions and generally avoids
publicity and appearances on television shows or interviews, as he has been
quoted to believe that the artist should be known through his work, not through
personal promotion. A mystery has been created around his identity and his real
name still remains unknown, although the Greek newspaper Kathimerini has also mentioned it as Antonis
Evdemon. According
to fan rumors, he is a psychiatrist, possibly a university professor.
publicity and appearances on television shows or interviews, as he has been
quoted to believe that the artist should be known through his work, not through
personal promotion. A mystery has been created around his identity and his real
name still remains unknown, although the Greek newspaper Kathimerini has also mentioned it as Antonis
Evdemon. According
to fan rumors, he is a psychiatrist, possibly a university professor.
Arkas in Greek means Arcadian or someone from the province of Arcadia. However, the CamelCase style in which his name is written
suggests that Arkas may be only his initials. Arkas has been translated into
other languages and has become known outside Greece. Translations of his books
can be found in English, French,
German, Romanian, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Bulgarian, Polish and Serbian.[3]
suggests that Arkas may be only his initials. Arkas has been translated into
other languages and has become known outside Greece. Translations of his books
can be found in English, French,
German, Romanian, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Bulgarian, Polish and Serbian.[3]
Please read and share and send us your comments to info@promosaik.com
Thank you
Dr. phil. Milena Rampoldi – ProMosaik e.v.
