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What’s Wrong With Today’s Society Captured In 58 Though-Provoking Illustrations By Al Margen
We all know that nothing is perfect. Our modern society included. Many things are problematic and troubling, and even though we notice them, we are not too fast to work on fixing pressing social issues.
Al Margen, an illustrator from Buenos Aires, Argentina, creates depressing drawings pinpointing the world problems of our times. He creates dark drawings that are sometimes louder than words and are extremely thought-provoking. The author himself is very critical about his works and talks about them in a really artistic manner: "They are children of boredom, nonconformity or anger. <...> They are the representation of discarded ideas. They are the garbage of the subconscious. But they are more visceral and sincere than other sad drawings because they have no obligation to please. <...> Because they were born only by an impulse and nothing more. Because they were born to annoy because they show the problems with society."
Take a look at some of his satirical works on social problems below and let us know which one was your favorite.
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#4
Roberta Morrison 8 years ago
If only those parents had eyes to see what it does to their kids...
Cherryl Sagan 8 years ago
I don't know how many times I've heard someone say, "we're only staying together for the kids." People like this rarely raise a happy, well-adjusted child. For the love of God and you child(ren), do your ki a favor and end your toxic marriage.
Miklós Nagy 8 years ago
Nah, that's how it worked even when I was kid. And it was really long time ago.
Ali Johnston 8 years ago
Many adults tend to talk without pause, and often times, unless they consciously work on such behaviors, they tend to constantly be waiting for their turn to speak within conversation. This means they are not truly tuning in and listening to what the other person is saying. This makes them, metaphorically, as the picture depicts: just mouths. Children on the other hand are highly absorbent and often in tune with their surroundings and senses. One essential way they absorb information is BY listening, so this child is just taking in all the negativity and mindless banter from parents that don't consider all that they are instilling. Parenting is SO MUCH MORE than what you say to your child or the rules you teach them. Everything you release out into the world is being used as a model for your child. The things you say to your partner, friends, even how you treat strangers, is how your child will model you. Act with compassion, kindness, curiosity...and your child will reflect this!
Gisella Rae 8 years ago
So powerful and amazing how this artist can capture that through art. This pic is so sad :'(
Lyn Limpert 8 years ago
People have no filters when it comes to children anywhere they are. Thank heavens for counseling.
Valerie Treichel 8 years ago
I lived this....really awful. My parents aren’t bad people but we’re too self involved sometimes.
Aurea Parker 8 years ago
Every child in the world should never have to deal with parents problems or even have to sit by and listen and watch the conflict there's enough hate in the world and should not have to live in a home of conflict.
Donna Mixon 8 years ago
All mouth...never listening to what they are saying. The child is all ears.
Chitta Mylvaganam 8 years ago
Big mouthed, fat headed fools unqualified to bear and raise children, holding the future of humankind to ransom.
Ljiljana Srebrenovic 8 years ago
Only it's not a debate. Usually it's a rant.
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Alia Gail 8 years ago
His parents are only mouths and they are arguing and he is just an ear so all he hears is his folks always fighting.
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#6
#10
nameme the undieing 8 years ago
I know how it feels to walk up dollar stairs and be met with a d**k to the face
#16
#18
Tina Nebiolo 8 years ago
When the mind's defense mechanism is to drown the possibility of thoughts in music.
#19
Kane Cheung 8 years ago
Peace does not always bring about freedom. And not hard to become a prisoner of peace. Bane said it best, victory has defeated you.
#20
Rogue Angel 8 years ago
It all comes down to fame and fortune. The artist makes the music the audience wants, becoming his audience and losing himself, then he fades into oblivion and is forgotten.
#21
Stefania PiovPr 8 years ago
I think , socety tries to make you look mad if you have different opinions ...or ideas
#22
#24
Allie Orona 8 years ago
It's hard to be a kid in a money-less family, when the parents won't change their lifestyles to the lesser amount of money they now have. You have to give up so much of yourself to try to make things better, as far as money goes, and it all goes down the drain anyway. It really, really sucks.
#25
Ποιητικό Αίτιο 8 years ago
Look at that. He's only chained by his mind. His feet and arms are let free. And the chains leading to his mind are connected to negligible obstacles. It's the mind that's keeping you away from love...
#26
Rogue Angel 8 years ago
Shackled to the internet. So true. So many people live their lives on the Net, they forget there's a life away from it.
#27
Alex Libre 8 years ago
I think it's more to do with stereotyping and how we view people based on a few arbitrary "defining" characteristics. Rich people are greedy, fat people only think about food, police officers are just out to stop people from having fun, and a beautiful woman is just a beautiful body. Flawed thinking.
#29
Edouard Youssef 8 years ago
The one think too much of the past, the other one is embarrassed by the future and the third one can't live the present day, so they all come here to take their "carpe diem" pils...
#30
Cheryl Adams 8 years ago
Turn off consumer mentality. We're supposed to care for the earth, not consume it.
#31
Martin Forbes 8 years ago
With these drawings, as I believe most of us get what the artist is trying to say here, its clear that we really are in a dystopian society and we just don't see it because we don't want to see it. sigh...
#32
Danielle Scott 8 years ago
Really? I see power stripping away dignity, strength, and freedom from helpless individuals & obliterating them
#36
Kari Ann Popovic 6 years ago
How about he who has help and access to better technology is going to produce more than one who's working with old technology on their own. It's about the inherent advantages in the class disparity that leads those who don't even see what they have as an advantage to think they're simply better, or that others are less: less clever, less creative, less able.
#37
#40
Jacqui O'Rhea 8 years ago
Love is blind. You will open the door to your heart and let them walk right in if you don't know the person and only go by appearances, and they could be hiding their intent to do you harm.
#46
Bridgitt Belanger 8 years ago
Her blood, sweat, and tears have gone down the drain as a college graduate.
#49
Jessica Roose 8 years ago
Dude takes pills either for drug addiction or Rx and it alters his state of mind so that he is unable to write. Everything that comes from him goes to waste hence the trashcan
#51
Jacqui O'Rhea 8 years ago
Finger nails have a nail bed, so the roses under the nail of the fingers with wedding rings are "a bed of roses". The barbed wire represents a prison you can't escape from. What they though was bliss when they got married turns out to be a life sentence. The man and woman are popping up from a toaster. They are done, dry. Their love has dried up. From her head is a spool of silk. A spring silkworm produces silk until it dies. There is a Chinese thought that likewise, giving one's thought to another person is like a spring silkworm producing silk until it dies. He has a banana on his head. There is a book called Mr. Bananahead at Home about Mr. Bananahead who tries hard to do all the chores on Mrs. Bananahead's list but can't get them right. So the symbolism on their heads means even though they both have tried to to please each other, in the end it is no good, if that is all they do. It is too consuming and they dry up as people.
#53
Nickie Pacheco 8 years ago
The life of social media. Everyone posts looking for validation via likes. Only to find opposition from people close to them.
#54
Jessica Roose 8 years ago
She is a prostitute. Her tongue holds powerful men in her prison. Bc with the ability to blackmail she has power over them with the words she speaks. The only one who pleases her is her drugs where she can find escape from what it is she does.
#56
Arshad Ali 8 years ago
Ayer means yesterday in Spanish and his mind is a pencil being shaven (wasting away) because all he can focus on is the past.
#58
Cala Sophia 8 years ago
She looks at him as her knight in shining armor. She sees the man as her warrior, her savior. People generally look to other people to complete them.
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What do you think ?
Squeaky Balls 8 years ago
"What's wrong with today's society". Are you kidding? This has been around since the dawn of man. Parents arguing in front of their kids? People lying to others? Smoking is bad? If you think working 9-5 in a computer chair sucks, then imagine working five in the morning until seven at night in a coal mine during the 1800's with no safety regulations. Oh yeah #5? What's that about? Going to college destroys ideas? Nah going to college is a means of expanding your knowledge in a particular field. /rant
Sheralyn 8 years ago
Exactly. It should be "What's wrong with an industrialised society".
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Greg Peterrson 8 years ago
Almost as boring as complaints about pessimism.
Load More Replies...
Caroline-Lily Crompton-Griffith 8 years ago
The author needs a little introspection regarding his view towards women as it has delivered another of society's failings--a deeply sexist and misogynist view of women. All women in his art are depicted as sexual objects or in the domestic sphere. He has eliminated them from all other aspects of life. This is deeply troubling and shows a severe disconnect with reality, illustrating that his illustrations deeply lack verifiable evidence of the world's problems.
Sherlock Holmes 8 years ago
If Bored Panda has an article titled "Satirical Cartoons show what's wrong w/society", its gonna be a bunch of pessimistic BS. Trust me.
Batya Livni 8 years ago
This disgusts me. People should try to see the good in the world. We should be aware of the bad things but there cartoons make it seem like that's all there is.
Sheralyn 8 years ago
Yup artistically, it's always easier to provoke emotion and thinking with sad and depressing imagery. It's harder to do so with happiness and joy. Why do you think Oscars and all other similar artistic awards are won vast majority of the time on the back of tragic imagery? Haha.
Load More Replies... Morsa 8 years ago
I didn't see much of society, at-large, here. The drawings are hugely autobiographical. The artist is steeped in contempt, contempt for education, women, the family unit and mental health treatment. He seems to be aware of some social ills, but still trapped in those same tired conventions. I did enjoy the one linking the parasitic relationship between the courts, law enforcement and the criminals.
It was Mark! 8 years ago
I feel like art captures emotions, be it in music or any other form of art. Your simply relate or you don't. This artist is amazingly talented and gets his message across. Job well done
Seong Jin 8 years ago
I think that there are too many series titled "What's Wrong With Society" basically this is just complaining through drawings. What we really need are series titled "What We Can Do to Make Society Better". Something that will motivate people to make a change rather than just sitting around knowing that people suck.
DeJeri Young 6 years ago (edited)
I remember when I studied in Spain back in 2000 I participated in group meetings with Libertarian Anarchists. There was a magazine called Al Margen and I believe that all of the artwork in it was showcased from this particular artist. I found one of the old magazines, and a flyer from an Anarchist book fair that I attended. He's truly talented and I believe the artwork is meant to express his political views. He's from Argentina I believe. There are a bunch of snarky comments regarding his work....I'd love to see those people who have so many negative opinions artwork displayed...Oh wait!!!
Conway Redding 8 years ago
All of them are thought-provoking, some of them with a clear anti-technology and anti-education bias, but my favorite is the one of the man lighting the fuse to the bomb in his chest.
Daniel Marsh 8 years ago
Smoking is bad... Selfies mean a lot of people look at you... talking heads on TV hurt your brain... sleeping recharges your batteries.... These are hardly novel insights. (I'll admit that I don't quite get #9... I do rather like the child as an ear.)
Pamela Lopez Wade 8 years ago
I found it reflective of today's society and a bit sexist ( society still is LOL) every illustration told a story with many textures.
Jeannette Gillert 8 years ago
Really very provocative, the best I like the picture with the model
Jesse Short 8 years ago
Though-Provoking? Please learn to proofread before posting. I'm not sure what "though-provoking" actually means. "Thought-Provoking," though, makes more sense.
Angie Steele 8 years ago
The only one he missed is a complementary photo for the one with the woman climbing the money mountain to the man's crotch. It's counterpoint could depict the issue of male sexualization of the female body, as I noticed female sexualization of the male body is the only one of the two illustrated here. It could include elements of the pressure males put on females to take their clothes off for those booty selfies...I mean, they aren't taking them for ME because I'm not one of the hundreds of thirsty men who inevitably express their undying love for a set of boobs that ANYONE can buy, but only a select few are willing to reveal to the world.
John Imlay 8 years ago
Fantastic art...deep in some, dark in others; was very reflective & true! Artist was magnifico
Matthew Bizzarri 8 years ago
Um, huh? I kind of got the reference with the girl taking a picture, but I was lost on all the others. Maybe have an explanation below them for those of us blind to thinking non linearly? Then again, interpreting art is my weak spot. As a technical person, I don't get art, but I appreciate it. Expecting me to understand this would be the same as expecting an artist to know how to fix a car.
Anders Sutherland 8 years ago
Honestly, I think it's pathetic that the author didn't even take the time to spell-check the article title.
Caroline-Lily Crompton-Griffith 8 years ago
I think the artist needs to contemplate his attitudes towards women as part of "what is deeply wrong with today's society" and that is a sexist and misogynist image of women. All women in these painting are depicted only as sexual objects or in the domestic sphere. It illustrates a deep lack of awareness that is positively disgusting and a failure on the artist's part to provide a veritable social commentary.
Scott Davis 8 years ago
#10 is an agenda packed one, so I think it's more of smoke and mirrors than thought provoking But the rest were though. I actually missed the message in #9
Alap Naik Desai 8 years ago
These creations become WAY MORE Graphic once the sad & horrifying truth behind them presents itself.
Karim Ghantous 8 years ago
Which ones described pathological altruism, obesity worship, cultural Marxism and modern feminism? I couldn't find those.
Nicole Henson 8 years ago
Everyone claiming that these are "so deep" lol this barely scratches the surface area of greed and corruption within any structural society. These are a tired display of what most informed citizens have thought since they first began learning about their government
Peter Brand 8 years ago
Ironically, no-one noticed the spelling mistake in "Though-provoking" in the headline. Unless the article was supposed to provoke though's.
Alan Harwood 8 years ago
8 is a good reflection on today's thinking, ignoring the beautiful cheetah to take a selfi....need to show this to my daughter.
Stephen Bales 8 years ago
Tocqueville's "democratic art." Art used to have quality. Standards. It was about the celebration of the beautiful or, at the very least, the genuinely visually pleasing. We no longer have standards. Now, you get THESE piles of nothing. They claim to be thought provoking, but they are anything but. They make statements that everyone over the age of, say, 11, knows for certain. Not that classical or traditional artists NEVER made statements with their art, but it was never at the expense of beauty or quality. These have no statement worth making that hasn't already been made ad nauseam, and no beauty. Zero stars.
Roger Hammack 8 years ago
“Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall THEY EAT OF THE FRUIT OF THEIR OWN WAY, AND BE FILLED WITH THEIR OWN DEVISES. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.” [Prov 1:24-32]
Jami Russell 8 years ago
Nothing about this is really anything new or thought provoking. And a lot are that pretentiously pathetic "Fire bad, technology evil, Tesla was a witch*" c**p. Only losers draw that sort of stuff. *Yes, I know it's supposed to go "Edison was a witch" but Edison stole a lot of his ideas from people like Tesla, so I'm correcting the quote.
Miklós Nagy 8 years ago
If for nothing else, it deserves an upvote for not using the facebook cliché again.
Kane Cheung 8 years ago
These are frigging amazing. Not sure if it's the nostalgia thinking, but this type of commentary/confrontational art felt like was fairly common in the 90s and probably 70s. Feels like there is less of it now or maybe it's being drowned out by mainstream ideas.
Squeaky Balls 8 years ago
"What's wrong with today's society". Are you kidding? This has been around since the dawn of man. Parents arguing in front of their kids? People lying to others? Smoking is bad? If you think working 9-5 in a computer chair sucks, then imagine working five in the morning until seven at night in a coal mine during the 1800's with no safety regulations. Oh yeah #5? What's that about? Going to college destroys ideas? Nah going to college is a means of expanding your knowledge in a particular field. /rant
Sheralyn 8 years ago
Exactly. It should be "What's wrong with an industrialised society".
Load More Replies... Greg Peterrson 8 years ago
Almost as boring as complaints about pessimism.
Load More Replies... Caroline-Lily Crompton-Griffith 8 years ago
The author needs a little introspection regarding his view towards women as it has delivered another of society's failings--a deeply sexist and misogynist view of women. All women in his art are depicted as sexual objects or in the domestic sphere. He has eliminated them from all other aspects of life. This is deeply troubling and shows a severe disconnect with reality, illustrating that his illustrations deeply lack verifiable evidence of the world's problems.
Sherlock Holmes 8 years ago
If Bored Panda has an article titled "Satirical Cartoons show what's wrong w/society", its gonna be a bunch of pessimistic BS. Trust me.
Batya Livni 8 years ago
This disgusts me. People should try to see the good in the world. We should be aware of the bad things but there cartoons make it seem like that's all there is.
Sheralyn 8 years ago
Yup artistically, it's always easier to provoke emotion and thinking with sad and depressing imagery. It's harder to do so with happiness and joy. Why do you think Oscars and all other similar artistic awards are won vast majority of the time on the back of tragic imagery? Haha.
Load More Replies... Morsa 8 years ago
I didn't see much of society, at-large, here. The drawings are hugely autobiographical. The artist is steeped in contempt, contempt for education, women, the family unit and mental health treatment. He seems to be aware of some social ills, but still trapped in those same tired conventions. I did enjoy the one linking the parasitic relationship between the courts, law enforcement and the criminals.
It was Mark! 8 years ago
I feel like art captures emotions, be it in music or any other form of art. Your simply relate or you don't. This artist is amazingly talented and gets his message across. Job well done
Seong Jin 8 years ago
I think that there are too many series titled "What's Wrong With Society" basically this is just complaining through drawings. What we really need are series titled "What We Can Do to Make Society Better". Something that will motivate people to make a change rather than just sitting around knowing that people suck.
DeJeri Young 6 years ago (edited)
I remember when I studied in Spain back in 2000 I participated in group meetings with Libertarian Anarchists. There was a magazine called Al Margen and I believe that all of the artwork in it was showcased from this particular artist. I found one of the old magazines, and a flyer from an Anarchist book fair that I attended. He's truly talented and I believe the artwork is meant to express his political views. He's from Argentina I believe. There are a bunch of snarky comments regarding his work....I'd love to see those people who have so many negative opinions artwork displayed...Oh wait!!!
Conway Redding 8 years ago
All of them are thought-provoking, some of them with a clear anti-technology and anti-education bias, but my favorite is the one of the man lighting the fuse to the bomb in his chest.
Daniel Marsh 8 years ago
Smoking is bad... Selfies mean a lot of people look at you... talking heads on TV hurt your brain... sleeping recharges your batteries.... These are hardly novel insights. (I'll admit that I don't quite get #9... I do rather like the child as an ear.)
Pamela Lopez Wade 8 years ago
I found it reflective of today's society and a bit sexist ( society still is LOL) every illustration told a story with many textures.
Jeannette Gillert 8 years ago
Really very provocative, the best I like the picture with the model
Jesse Short 8 years ago
Though-Provoking? Please learn to proofread before posting. I'm not sure what "though-provoking" actually means. "Thought-Provoking," though, makes more sense.
Angie Steele 8 years ago
The only one he missed is a complementary photo for the one with the woman climbing the money mountain to the man's crotch. It's counterpoint could depict the issue of male sexualization of the female body, as I noticed female sexualization of the male body is the only one of the two illustrated here. It could include elements of the pressure males put on females to take their clothes off for those booty selfies...I mean, they aren't taking them for ME because I'm not one of the hundreds of thirsty men who inevitably express their undying love for a set of boobs that ANYONE can buy, but only a select few are willing to reveal to the world.
John Imlay 8 years ago
Fantastic art...deep in some, dark in others; was very reflective & true! Artist was magnifico
Matthew Bizzarri 8 years ago
Um, huh? I kind of got the reference with the girl taking a picture, but I was lost on all the others. Maybe have an explanation below them for those of us blind to thinking non linearly? Then again, interpreting art is my weak spot. As a technical person, I don't get art, but I appreciate it. Expecting me to understand this would be the same as expecting an artist to know how to fix a car.
Anders Sutherland 8 years ago
Honestly, I think it's pathetic that the author didn't even take the time to spell-check the article title.
Caroline-Lily Crompton-Griffith 8 years ago
I think the artist needs to contemplate his attitudes towards women as part of "what is deeply wrong with today's society" and that is a sexist and misogynist image of women. All women in these painting are depicted only as sexual objects or in the domestic sphere. It illustrates a deep lack of awareness that is positively disgusting and a failure on the artist's part to provide a veritable social commentary.
Scott Davis 8 years ago
#10 is an agenda packed one, so I think it's more of smoke and mirrors than thought provoking But the rest were though. I actually missed the message in #9
Alap Naik Desai 8 years ago
These creations become WAY MORE Graphic once the sad & horrifying truth behind them presents itself.
Karim Ghantous 8 years ago
Which ones described pathological altruism, obesity worship, cultural Marxism and modern feminism? I couldn't find those.
Nicole Henson 8 years ago
Everyone claiming that these are "so deep" lol this barely scratches the surface area of greed and corruption within any structural society. These are a tired display of what most informed citizens have thought since they first began learning about their government
Peter Brand 8 years ago
Ironically, no-one noticed the spelling mistake in "Though-provoking" in the headline. Unless the article was supposed to provoke though's.
Alan Harwood 8 years ago
8 is a good reflection on today's thinking, ignoring the beautiful cheetah to take a selfi....need to show this to my daughter.
Stephen Bales 8 years ago
Tocqueville's "democratic art." Art used to have quality. Standards. It was about the celebration of the beautiful or, at the very least, the genuinely visually pleasing. We no longer have standards. Now, you get THESE piles of nothing. They claim to be thought provoking, but they are anything but. They make statements that everyone over the age of, say, 11, knows for certain. Not that classical or traditional artists NEVER made statements with their art, but it was never at the expense of beauty or quality. These have no statement worth making that hasn't already been made ad nauseam, and no beauty. Zero stars.
Roger Hammack 8 years ago
“Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall THEY EAT OF THE FRUIT OF THEIR OWN WAY, AND BE FILLED WITH THEIR OWN DEVISES. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.” [Prov 1:24-32]
Jami Russell 8 years ago
Nothing about this is really anything new or thought provoking. And a lot are that pretentiously pathetic "Fire bad, technology evil, Tesla was a witch*" c**p. Only losers draw that sort of stuff. *Yes, I know it's supposed to go "Edison was a witch" but Edison stole a lot of his ideas from people like Tesla, so I'm correcting the quote.
Miklós Nagy 8 years ago
If for nothing else, it deserves an upvote for not using the facebook cliché again.
Kane Cheung 8 years ago
These are frigging amazing. Not sure if it's the nostalgia thinking, but this type of commentary/confrontational art felt like was fairly common in the 90s and probably 70s. Feels like there is less of it now or maybe it's being drowned out by mainstream ideas.
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