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What’s Wrong With Today’s Society Captured In 32 Brutally Honest Illustrations By John Holcroft
Interview With Artist
There are a lot of issues in today's society. Addiction to social media, devaluation of workers, unhealthy lifestyles, and that's just a few of them. A lot of us don't even notice these problems; we either ignore them or don't run into them at all. However, artist John Holcroft tackles them head-on and illustrates the issues of today's world in his satirical and honest art.
John has been illustrating since 1996. He works and lives in the UK. His past clients include Guardian, Telegraph, Times, BBC, and many others. John Holcroft's art looks simplistic, but it hides a deep and complicated meaning. It's pretty amazing how he can portray such serious topics with one simple illustration.
If you want to see some of the previous posts about John Holcroft on Bored Panda, click here and here. Don't forget to upvote your favorite illustrations and to tell us what you think in the comment section below!
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This Illustration Is Going To Lose Me Some Followers
Not just his followers though, as the fall out affects all of the US
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Trumpvoters don't get this because Tweety has convinced them that he's the BEST PRESIDENT EVAH, with a mere 180 000 dead Americans on his record, a destroyed economy and burning cities. Thanks to the tremendous way he mismanaged USA Inc.
You must not have read the CDC updates lately on the death tolls. Only 6% of the "COVID deaths" they reported ONLY had COVID listed as cause of death. That means 94% had at least 2 other causes of death listed. The 2020 death rate is only at 8.8, 2019 the death rate was 8.782 which since 2015 has always gone up at least 1.1% as it did this year. He also cannot send federal help to "burning cities" when the state of the "burning city" refuses their federal actions. The state has to allow federal assistance which they normally all deny for many obvious reasons. Your specific arguments against him are invalid.
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wish they were sheep. sheep will run from wolves. to the uncompromised, it's obvious, don is as bad as advertised. w/a little research, a person will find, he's worse. it's there. easy enough to see. but unless it's revealed to them in a way they can accept - it's of little concern. some else is always to blame. it's unfair, untrue, or some other myriad of 'shoot the messenger' rationalization. what is so vexing is that these sound thinking, clear-eyed people will admit in their daily lives that they know little about numerous things. they'll admit they are not always right (most mostly), or know enough about plumbing, car repair, tree trimming, etc - but politics? always on the money. their choice is always in the front. to question that is like calling their grandmother a crook. makes them temperamental. indignant. righteous and pious. and all it will do is get you kicked out of granny's out-on-parole party.
Well said. Crystal clear to sane, rational people, he's the least suitable type of person to not only be president, but to be a leader in any capacity. I fear americans will once again not show up to vote and allow the objectively wrong person to be elected again.
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We have lost the concept of free speech. It's a shame that only the loudest voices are free. History is full of these examples of speech repression. As people that have grown up being free, we should stand up for everyone's right to express our opinion. I remember the saying; I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" (A friend of Voiltare). Thank you for a great pic.
To paraphrase a joke about doctors, "What's the difference between God and Trump? God doesn't think he's Trump."
1st thing some jackass has to make anything political. just shut the f**k up.
What sheep? What slaughter? If more liberty is a terrible thing then I’m still with Trump.
Given the date this was published (22nd june), I suspect this is about trump misleading people about the virus. His public backing of ineffective treatments, against medical advice, and his reluctance to embrace social distancing and mask-wearing, which made his follows treat them like a political badge.
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Re Trump: LOCK HIM UP and throw away the key. Trump isn't a shepherd, he's a wolf in orangutan clothing
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Yep. Same goes for Republicans. Both sides are cultish
Load More Replies...We got hold of John to ask him some questions about his art: "I started illustrating professionally in 1996, originally studying graphic design in the early '90s, but the recession made it impossible to find work especially as technology was going through a big change. I decided to illustrate using acrylics on board, which changed to digital in 2000. Having created a few different styles, I settled on my current style in 2010 and have been progressing ever since. I get my inspiration from observing life in general. I’ve always been an odd-ball and seen things differently so I think it shows in my work," said John when asked what inspires him to create and when he started to create art.
Illustration About Mental Health At A Time Of Social Isolation
"I don’t set out to lampoon different parts of society and I’m not on a crusade to solve all problems of today. I’m an illustrator and it’s how I make my living so I need to create show pieces to attract work and the work I create has to resonate with people."
One Day This Will Be Yours
John shares what issues in today's world he is most passionate about: "I’m not more passionate about issues than anyone else; however, I don’t like injustices of any kind so I usually focus my concepts on the things most people care about, such as corporate greed, climate change, and politics. If I had the power to change the world I would try to put an end to corrupt governments and corporate giants having control. I would make sure money is put in the right places, i.e.: tackling climate change and I would have a fairer system that cares for ordinary people."
Enough Said
Yes, America never has been greater. After destroying law and order, Trump is now telling people he's going to restore law and order. I guess setting your convicted friends free from jail is enforcing law and order.
A Piece About The Fight Against Climate Change
Government looks left, sees a plastic bottle in your garbage and fines you $10 000 for polluting the environment. Government doesn't see that on the right the president is allowing oilcompanies to drill in nature reserves.
"My style is conceptual and can sometimes be satirical, but I can normally adapt to the brief I’m working on. The look of my style was originally supposed to emulate the old-style screen-print posters, but it has evolved in the last 10 years and nowadays, I try to keep it simple but hard-hitting," shared John when asked to describe his style. He is a freelance artist and does a lot of commission work.
Social Media Can Have A Negative Influence On Teenagers' Self Esteem, Giving Them A False Impression Of How A Body Should Look
Climate Emergency And How We Are Dealing With It
We asked the artist what sort of reactions he gets from people when they see his art: "Most people appreciate the concepts in my work and give me positive feedback, whereas others either don’t quite get it or take great offence and give me grief. The point of my work is to get you thinking and discussing. Of course there will be those who disagree with my points and that’s fine because it keeps me in check."
Profiting From The Causes Of Climate Change
Anybody else notice, that the world is literally crushing Brazil beneath it in this pic. O_o
Making Money
Love Hurts
The Cost Of Pharmaceuticals
Housing Magazine Article About Asylum Seekers Being Evicted And Having The Locks Changed
Online Fraud
Ladder Of Privilege
Illustration About Testing For A Vaccine For Covid 19
No, scientific research is very different from what is portrayed here. Some president may say it's something like "Hey, let's try ingesting disinfectants and if that doesn't work we could try some light therapy." , but than, that president isn't the Jenius he says he is.
Working From Home In Self Isolation
I quite enjoy working form home. More time with my wife. More time to do chores. Less stressful commutes. I feel a little disconnected at times and there are definitely some tasks that were easier in an office, but more up sides than down. I'm lucky to live with someone I get on with though.
Going Nowhere
Virus In The Works
Piece About Microaggressions
As Bill Maher put it, if something is a micro-agression, shouldn't it only make you micro-angry?
Healthcare Bureaucracy
Cutting one red tape, but leaving enough red tape intact so that healthcare won't become accessible for people who really need it...
Illustration About Internet Security
That's the front door. But many people leave the windows and backdoor open while they announce on Twitter that they won't be home for the coming 7 days.
Phishing Email Scams On The Increase During Lockdown
Illustration About People Coping Financially During The Pandemic
This Is About Screen Time And How Too Much Can Affect Children's Physical And Mental Health
*sniff* I smell boomers... (P.S: Full Name, go f**k yourself like a redback spider)
This Is About Saving For Retirement
What Can We Do To Safeguard Our Economies From The Virus?
change the way economics works, change the game and its rules. don't equate growth to production only, but uplift the conditions of all under served ones with the money previously gathered, and let people discover ways of make their needs met, and put an intelligent diverse think tank to find ways to undo, replace and transition from present way of doing everything to another without minimum hassle
Illustration About The Cost Of The Virus
Well done! So simple yet so fitting, most illustrations are eloquent and on point
I think some presidents were as bad (maybe not worse) than the orange but a lot of the problems have been going on for years. so although they MAY seem modern they are actually very old. We humans think that we have the answer but most of them time we're just pulling out the barbed knife then shoving it somewhere else for someone else to deal with
If you have to explain what each picture means, you've missed the mark. Seriously, study the political cartoonists of the mid-20th century. Learn the art of being subtly obvious.
and tomorrow we will see another "murica is bad!!" article,after that some more "what is wrong with our society"...yeeee
I think we should take a step back and stop saying what is wrong and start saying what is. Many of these things are caused by opposing interests and differences in pov. I think wanting to go too fast and too complex is one big underlying problem and combined with an inability to empathize makes it look like others are deliberately trying to take things from you, wen in fact it's just that. Being unable and having too much power. But the thing is, power is given by others to have.
Dear Bored Panda... I am getting fed up with political cartoons. I am here to laugh and be inspired.
Brilliant as always, thank you for your awareness, as well as sharing your talents with the world. These illustrations bring to light so many issues in our modern world in such a smart way.
Well done! So simple yet so fitting, most illustrations are eloquent and on point
I think some presidents were as bad (maybe not worse) than the orange but a lot of the problems have been going on for years. so although they MAY seem modern they are actually very old. We humans think that we have the answer but most of them time we're just pulling out the barbed knife then shoving it somewhere else for someone else to deal with
If you have to explain what each picture means, you've missed the mark. Seriously, study the political cartoonists of the mid-20th century. Learn the art of being subtly obvious.
and tomorrow we will see another "murica is bad!!" article,after that some more "what is wrong with our society"...yeeee
I think we should take a step back and stop saying what is wrong and start saying what is. Many of these things are caused by opposing interests and differences in pov. I think wanting to go too fast and too complex is one big underlying problem and combined with an inability to empathize makes it look like others are deliberately trying to take things from you, wen in fact it's just that. Being unable and having too much power. But the thing is, power is given by others to have.
Dear Bored Panda... I am getting fed up with political cartoons. I am here to laugh and be inspired.
Brilliant as always, thank you for your awareness, as well as sharing your talents with the world. These illustrations bring to light so many issues in our modern world in such a smart way.
