The Missing Monopoly Card

It's not "Advance to Go (Collect $200) to buy 1 (one) bag of groceries."

There’s a loosely defined “International style” of editorial cartooning that features a heavy use of symbolism. You’ve seen the icons: doves, mushroom clouds, faceless dictators, shadowy sihouettes of monsters, etc. I was leaning in that direction when I thought to anthropomorphize SPEECH and put him behind bars.

Famous “FREE [NAME]” signs and slogans

• “FREE HUEY” – Signs and posters demanding the release of Huey Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, after his 1967 arrest.

• “FREE MANDELA” – The anti-apartheid slogan seen globally from the 1960s through the 1980s, calling for the release of Nelson Mandela from prison.

• “FREE WILLY” – From the 1993 film campaign, later also used as an animal rights slogan to free captive orcas.

You knew the last one was going to make the cut, didn’t you?

Scribble, scribble, scribble, erase, erase, erase

The process of changing the letter forms of S, P, E, E, C, and H was an exercise in trial and error. If it weren’t for a deadline, I’d probably still be trying to get it just right. I’m not totally happy with the result, but it makes the point I wanted.

You can see the making of this cartoon as a 30-second clip:

Or a two-minute version with more detail:

I don’t care what ANYbody says

If I want to yell “THEATER!!” in a crowded fire, I damned well will! First Amendment, Mister!

It may be true that Congress shall not pass laws to prohibit individuals from expressing themselves without government interference or punishment. But it appears that our current president has a whacky twist on The Bill of Rights. The wannabe autocrat cannot tolerate any satire or mockery of his kingly self, which presents quite the conundrum.

The role of the court jester

These court jesters had a sharp wit and often dark humour, using comedy to critique political figures and court decisions. In many cases, jesters were given a surprising amount of freedom to mock nobility without fear of punishment.

SOURCE: historythroughfiction

If DJT is hell-bent on being king-like, he ought to embrace the modern-day jesters who appear in television, film, stand-up comedy, and the theater.
Add political cartoonists to the mix.