The times we live in now are not particularly funny, although from a certain angle they could be. I try to mix up the serious and the humorous in my drawings and writing because not only is it easier to take the tough stuff when it’s delivered with a humorous spin, it can be more effective. I want to tell you about a documentary project I am developing that also combines these elements, called Women Laughing. Laughter makes us feel better.

I have been studying women cartoonists for a few decades, and have found they are as diverse as any group of creators. They create all types of cartoons—overtly political, and slice-of-life. Cartoons tell us so much about who we are as creators and as a society. Since we have historically not heard from women creators, they bring new ideas, new experiences and new funny. They help us see differently.

I find this fascinating. I want more people to see and hear these women’s stories—those from the past and the present. When I wrote my book, Very Funny Ladies, I discovered there were women cartoonists in the 1920’s in the very first issue of The New Yorker magazine! There weren’t many at all in comparison to their male counterparts, but they were there. Now the numbers are equal.

It’s not just about the numbers, it’s also about what they said and drew in their very funny drawings. They showed us their lives, and still do. I am currently producing and directing a documentary about the women cartoonists of The New Yorker called Women Laughing. I am thrilled to tell you about it.

 

We will begin shooting this month and I will be working with Kathleen Hughes, a three time Emmy-award winning filmmaker, whose most recent films include THE AMERICAN DREAM AND OTHER FAIRY TALES with Abigail Disney, and TWO AMERICAN FAMILIES with Bill Moyers, as well as with producer Judith Mizrachy whose recent films include the BOOKSELLERS, UNCROPPED, and the Oscar-nominated THE MARTHA MITCHELL EFFECT. Combined, our team has deep knowledge and passion for telling these women’s stories.

In honor of the women creators, I live-drew some women laughing this afternoon, the video is below. If you would like to donate to the film, you can visit our website, or our donation page with the Film Collaborative.

I hope you will consider joining us in helping to bring these women’s stories to the screen.

 

It has been said of both Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, that they bring joy to the country. As individuals, it seems to be in their nature; now, together. I feel it. So I wanted to draw about it.

They are serious people, but they seem to appreciate connecting with others, enjoying the simple things in life.

 

Kamala Harris is wicked smart, we know that as a fact. Indeed she’s more: she’s brilliant. That she has yet to do a sit-down interview with the media has nothing to do with intelligence, as her opponents want their followers to believe.

First of all, she has been the nominee for what, three seconds?

But more importantly, she is doing what she should be doing: connecting directly with the American people. Kamala is traveling around the country stirring up all kinds of enthusiasm and connecting with voters.

I have become increasingly wary of the mainstream legacy media. Some, if not many, of the interviews they do are used only to stir the pot to increase viewers. They spin to their benefit, normalizing Trump, fearful that if they are negative about his craziness, they will lose eyeballs. There are so many good journalists who try not to do that, I respect so many of them. I personally know some of them. We need them, but they are individuals within media corporations.

I hate that I may sound like Trump when I express concern about the press (he would put it much more bluntly)— I am trying to walk a fine line here. This tendency of the legacy media may be because these companies are struggling to stay viable. People are getting information from a much wider array of places.

I am an independant. Yes, I publish drawing and writing in legacy media such as The New Yorker (40+ years), NY Times, Washington Post and others. I was employed by CBS News for four years up until the pandemic. But as a freelance journalist, I get my income from many places, and don’t rely on one large company. Substack and Medium are now increasingly important partners in what I create.

Even though I am a seasoned professional who has had a lot of success (which I do not take for granted), it has become difficult to get a drawing or an article published within legacy media. I am too small, too quiet. That’s what I like to think, anyway. Maybe I doubt myself and think my drawings have gone downhill. But I really don’t think so, I think the places where I publish have changed and are continuing to do so.

Change is hard, and I admit to struggling with it. I mourn the days when I would have a cartoon in The New Yorker almost every month, a written piece in the Wapo, then an Op-Ed piece in the NY Times, weekly live-drawing assignments on CBS. I don’t know if those days are entirely gone, but they are fewer. I do what I can and I really, really enjoy the new platforms. This is not a pity party, but rather an acknowledgment that change is happening to a lot of people, myself included. (Somewhat related to this: Katie Couric, who has weathered a LOT of change in her career, wrote a great NY Times editorial about women and the media landscape, this after Norah O’Donnell decided to make a change in her career as anchor of the CBS Evening News.)

I tried my best to get access to the DNC this year; months ago I began knocking on all the media doors I could. I live-drew the 2016 convention when Hillary was the nominee and it was fascinating and inspiring. Unable to get past the gatekeepers, I will now happily live-draw the four days from my studio.

I love talking directly to you all, my audience. This is what Kamala is doing now while she can. She is not muddying the waters of her message right now by giving an interview with legacy media corporations who are trying to survive a changing landscape.

Change is happening in our political world, vis-a-vis the media. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz will bring a lot of change in a lot of places, if elected. Just her being a Black woman in this position in this moment of time is big change.

Change is good.