30 Wholesome Cartoons Featuring Social Justice Themes By Henry James Garrett
Interview With ArtistSome 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.
It's like saying hello butterfly. No I identify as an antelope
Load More Replies...A trans man is mentally a man, and doctors can change his body to be very masculine. Feeling ánd looking like a man is meaningfully different, it's way more than just making a statement.
Load More Replies...False equivocation. Caterpillar and butterfly are more akin to child and adult categories and virtually no one disagrees that you inevitably transition from one to another. It's more like the butterfly is saying "I'm a lady bug" and the snail is saying "no you are clearly and obviously a butterfly". That's not phobic it's just a description of reality.
What functionality is that? Trans women are mentally already women, trans men are mentally already men. And you can change the body to work perfectly fine as the opposit sex. The only difference in functionality is fertility and the ability to breastfeed, but plenty of cis women also can't breastfeed, plenty of cis men and cis women are infertile too. Are they not really women and men n'either, because they lack the functionality of their sex?
Load More Replies...Nothing to do with humans and trans, it's transform phobia, godddddd!
It’s “equitable”, and who ever said life is equitable?
Load More Replies...Nah, you can't compare natural development to desired transition... It's like wanting to remain with first teeth you had through adulthood... Them wings grew on the body , nobody glue them on and said... I'm not crawling anymore...
Me and my family are conservative. My father acknowledges the LGBTQ community, but he raised my siblings and I to know right from wrong. We don't discriminate, but we don't follow. This isn't showing transphobia, it's truly just showing someone being rude to another human being. Sure, a confused human being, but a human being nonetheless.
Rodney, you have made many repugnant comments on this listicle. This particular comment, however, is not merely disgusting...it is scientifically inaccurate. The genome of a caterpillar is unchanged by metamorphosis. Only the physical morphology of the insect is changed. The illustration is apropos because the science stands behind both comparisons. The butterfly doesn't change its identity by changing its DNA, nor do trans humans. There is so much more to life than genetic sequence.
Load More Replies...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
Just like self-confidence: if you consistently act like you have it, you eventually will.
“The clitoris has 8000 nerve endings and it’s still not as sensitive as conservative men online.” 🙃
Solidarity because we are all human, not because we like one more than the other. I will not refuse to stand with you because you may have differences of belief or ways of being. I stand with you against all forms of oppression because we are human and every human is worthy of respect and love. See also "First They Came" by Martin Niemöller
Yeah but human strangers are so much more likely to be dangerous
However, there are visible differences, no? There is a difference between regions and borders.
It’s admirable to an extent, but there are certain things where it’s impossible to stay calm or impartial
Actually penguins rotate regularly so they all get about an even amount of time in the middle/on the edge
Idk, my imaginary sheep have medals of bravery, so that's a pretty high honour.
Yes, but I would argue that there has to be a tipping point where you can safely say someone is a bad person
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.
Great comics, full of wisdom and intelligence. From the comments below, I'm really glad that, for once, I didn't bother reading any comments.
Dear Hidrėlėy, Please kindly reply my below request, sent to you twice last week. "Dear Hidrėlėy, Author, Pro member of Bored Panda website, I write you this message as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Beyaz Nokta® Development Foundation in Istanbul, Turkey. Please find the English translation of our website at link: https://tinyurl.com/3pkb8x3m . Recently, we came across your interview with Henry James Garrett under title: “30 Wholesome Cartoons Featuring Social Justice Themes By Henry James Garrett” at link: https://www.boredpanda.com/spreading-smiles-and-social-justice-henry-james-garrett/ We wish to fully publish this interview and its Turkish translation at our website and its sub-sites. Therefore, we request you to inform us your kind permit for publishing this interview and its Turkish translation at our website and its sub-sites. Your kind affirmative response will be highly appreciated. Best Regards, Bayram Durmus +90.542.653-9401 (Whatsapp) bayramdurmus@gmail.com"
Dear Hidrėlėy, Author, Pro member of Bored Panda website, I write you this message as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Beyaz Nokta® Development Foundation in Istanbul, Turkey. Please find the English translation of our website at link: https://tinyurl.com/3pkb8x3m . Recently, we came across your interview with Henry James Garrett under title: “30 Wholesome Cartoons Featuring Social Justice Themes By Henry James Garrett” at link: https://www.boredpanda.com/spreading-smiles-and-social-justice-henry-james-garrett/ We wish to fully publish this interview and its Turkish translation at our website and its sub-sites. Therefore, we request you to inform us your kind permit for publishing this interview and its Turkish translation at our website and its sub-sites. Your kind affirmative response will be highly appreciated. Best Regards, Bayram Durmus +90.542.653-9401 (Whatsapp) bayramdurmus@gmail.com
Dear Hidrėlėy, Author, Pro member of Bored Panda website, I write you this message as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Beyaz Nokta® Development Foundation in Istanbul, Turkey. Please find the English translation of our website at link: https://tinyurl.com/3pkb8x3m . Recently, we came across your interview with Henry James Garrett under title: “30 Wholesome Cartoons Featuring Social Justice Themes By Henry James Garrett” at link: https://www.boredpanda.com/spreading-smiles-and-social-justice-henry-james-garrett/ We wish to fully publish this interview and its Turkish translation at our website and its sub-sites. Therefore, we request you to inform us your kind permit for publishing this interview and its Turkish translation at our website and its sub-sites. Your kind affirmative response will be highly appreciated. Bayram Durmus, bayramdurmus@gmail.com , +90.542.653-9401 (Whatsapp)
I like the animals and the drawings. I like the messages, but some of the animals and the messages seemed contradictory? Made me think though. Edit : maybe overthink/flat out missed the point. :)
Hidreley, thank you for scouring the internet to share comics with us pandas. We appreciate you!
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.
Great comics, full of wisdom and intelligence. From the comments below, I'm really glad that, for once, I didn't bother reading any comments.
Dear Hidrėlėy, Please kindly reply my below request, sent to you twice last week. "Dear Hidrėlėy, Author, Pro member of Bored Panda website, I write you this message as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Beyaz Nokta® Development Foundation in Istanbul, Turkey. Please find the English translation of our website at link: https://tinyurl.com/3pkb8x3m . Recently, we came across your interview with Henry James Garrett under title: “30 Wholesome Cartoons Featuring Social Justice Themes By Henry James Garrett” at link: https://www.boredpanda.com/spreading-smiles-and-social-justice-henry-james-garrett/ We wish to fully publish this interview and its Turkish translation at our website and its sub-sites. Therefore, we request you to inform us your kind permit for publishing this interview and its Turkish translation at our website and its sub-sites. Your kind affirmative response will be highly appreciated. Best Regards, Bayram Durmus +90.542.653-9401 (Whatsapp) bayramdurmus@gmail.com"
Dear Hidrėlėy, Author, Pro member of Bored Panda website, I write you this message as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Beyaz Nokta® Development Foundation in Istanbul, Turkey. Please find the English translation of our website at link: https://tinyurl.com/3pkb8x3m . Recently, we came across your interview with Henry James Garrett under title: “30 Wholesome Cartoons Featuring Social Justice Themes By Henry James Garrett” at link: https://www.boredpanda.com/spreading-smiles-and-social-justice-henry-james-garrett/ We wish to fully publish this interview and its Turkish translation at our website and its sub-sites. Therefore, we request you to inform us your kind permit for publishing this interview and its Turkish translation at our website and its sub-sites. Your kind affirmative response will be highly appreciated. Best Regards, Bayram Durmus +90.542.653-9401 (Whatsapp) bayramdurmus@gmail.com
Dear Hidrėlėy, Author, Pro member of Bored Panda website, I write you this message as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Beyaz Nokta® Development Foundation in Istanbul, Turkey. Please find the English translation of our website at link: https://tinyurl.com/3pkb8x3m . Recently, we came across your interview with Henry James Garrett under title: “30 Wholesome Cartoons Featuring Social Justice Themes By Henry James Garrett” at link: https://www.boredpanda.com/spreading-smiles-and-social-justice-henry-james-garrett/ We wish to fully publish this interview and its Turkish translation at our website and its sub-sites. Therefore, we request you to inform us your kind permit for publishing this interview and its Turkish translation at our website and its sub-sites. Your kind affirmative response will be highly appreciated. Bayram Durmus, bayramdurmus@gmail.com , +90.542.653-9401 (Whatsapp)
I like the animals and the drawings. I like the messages, but some of the animals and the messages seemed contradictory? Made me think though. Edit : maybe overthink/flat out missed the point. :)
Hidreley, thank you for scouring the internet to share comics with us pandas. We appreciate you!
