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30 Wholesome Cartoons Featuring Social Justice Themes By Henry James Garrett
Interview With Artist
Some artists choose to use their talent and creativity to contribute to larger causes, focusing their work on common social issues. There's nothing wrong with dedicating their crafts to something as light-hearted as humor, as everyone needs it from time to time! Then there's a third group of creative minds, attempting to combine both approaches to create something light in form yet with deeper meaning, discussing important matters in a lighthearted way to make them more approachable to a wider audience.
Today, we're excited to introduce you to the work of Henry James Garrett, a writer, illustrator, and the creator of the wildly popular Instagram account formerly known as Drawings of Dogs, now simply named after him. Through his heartwarming drawings featuring animals and everyday objects, the artist focuses on expressing thoughtful ideas about wellness, social justice, equality, LGBT identity, and more.
More info: Instagram | henryjgarrett.com | twitter.com
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Bored Panda reached out to Henry to find out more about his work. We were wondering what inspired the artist to start creating his heartwarming cartoons. The illustrator shared with us: “I began creating comics in earnest when I dropped out of academic philosophy due to anxiety. I wanted a way to talk about morality - what doing the right thing consists of, and why we don't always do it - that was more accessible, had a wider reach, and was more likely to connect with people emotionally; in my drawings, I've found just that.”
Henry continued and told us more about his first creations: “The initial inspiration for drawing animals and objects was my dog, Billie, who was always with me and had such personality and warmth. Ideas delivered by animals act a bit like a Trojan Horse, people let their guard down due to cuteness, and then wham! I confront them with their complicity in violent forms of structural oppression.”
Asked about recurring themes and motifs in his cartoon series, the artist answered: “It's nearly all politics. But so is life. Dogs feature most regularly in terms of who the actual characters are. But thematically, I touch on gender, race, colonialism, capitalism, queerness, disability, fatness, and the Israeli genocidal campaign.”
"Hello adult, you're a child." Doesn't fit as well when properly translated.
Lastly, we wanted to know how Garrett comes up with ideas for his new illustrations, and we found out: “I ask myself what I'm angry about today. I try to contend with what tragically mistaken habit of thought has allowed a group of humans, all of whom I believe to be capable of courageous kindness and atrocious cruelty under the right circumstances, to head down that latter path. My comics are of course sardonic (and some might even say, glib) but I do hope to take seriously the harms I'm commenting on, and the material factors that motivate the ruling class, and those fighting for liberation.”
Bunnies devoured my vegetable gardens, I gave up and just planted clover all over. Adorable destroyers. (Also related to the cartoon that is indeed what the "haves" tell the "have nots".)
Those anti-poacher groups are some brave and selfless individuals.
The artist mentioned he hopes that in some way, his work is inspiring and plays a role in pointing the way to greater solidarity: “The drawings can be this kind of motivational, reassuring, connection-building, and argumentative-strategy-providing resources at their best and that function makes me ecstatic to be doing this work.”
I don't consider all tears weak, I consider them a sign of being human.
👆🏻The *truth*. Being/living somewhere safe is a huge lottery win that those of us who ‘won’ have done nothing to deserve, so let’s count our blessings and try to help those less fortunate. 😢😌
But if you move too slow do you miss out on the opportunities to be kind? 🤔
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but heartless words cut deeper/For bones may bend, and someday mend; the price for words is steeper.
LMAO I sometimes wonder what pets think we pick up the poop for.
Imagine some troll being so toxic they have a problem with this one..
I once found a shell and dropped it in a tide pool because I noticed a hermit crab with a broken shell, and I accidentally started a whole shell changing chain. It was really cool to watch.
Or the americans will make it a derogatory term for some minority group
For the people of the world that don’t belong to the privileged groups, there are doors that are closed in life and that you constantly have to push open in order to pass through. Some of those doors are permanently locked. For the privileged people, the doors are always open, and they can pass through their lives not even noticing the doors exist. The utter arrogance lies in not considering the situations of others, and not listening when they tell you.
True. I always find it ironic that the people accusing others of predatory behavior are the ones freaking out about kid’s genitals
Note: this post originally had 79 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
I am going to name names, Rodney sumner your comments are obviously unwanted and every single one had at least -4 down votes so it is proven that you are not supporting this artist and this space is not welcome for haters like you that just want attention and has absolutely no contribution. Also i loved these comics so much i loved the twists that was put on them and how it was kinda ruined by Rodney Sumner commenting hateful things.
I agree with you, but -4 downvotes is the same as 4 upvotes. I knew it doesn't really matter. It just bothers me for some reason
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Great comics. Too bad certain commenters feel the need to sh*t on them instead of trying to understand them.
I am going to name names, Rodney sumner your comments are obviously unwanted and every single one had at least -4 down votes so it is proven that you are not supporting this artist and this space is not welcome for haters like you that just want attention and has absolutely no contribution. Also i loved these comics so much i loved the twists that was put on them and how it was kinda ruined by Rodney Sumner commenting hateful things.
I agree with you, but -4 downvotes is the same as 4 upvotes. I knew it doesn't really matter. It just bothers me for some reason
Load More Replies... Great comics. Too bad certain commenters feel the need to sh*t on them instead of trying to understand them.
