JERZY GRUZA
"Chairman of the Jury"

Laughter Is Our Defence

It's the first time ever that I have been a member of a "jury" in a competition for satirical cartoons and what's more, on the subject of television. For many years I have been an active worker in that media. I was surprised by the competitors' opinion about this monster. Yes, we are scared of it! That's why we cover our fears with laughter. Fears of what? Nobody knows for sure, but the competition defined the boundaries of this dangerous minefield area.

In our habits, mental laziness, comfort, easy  digestion of media pulp, creation of media celebrities, susceptibility to colourful temptation of tv adverts and apparent hierarchies created by images on the screen.

The strong impact on me had a cartoon of a man, sitting in his pyjamas in front of an empty tv carton box and  staring at it. Maybe there is a new tv set inside and he is hypnotised by the anticipation of his pleasure. He is experiencing an orgasm, just looking at the empty tv box, since there is a wild, ecstatic pleasure in his eyes.

It reminds me of Prof. Lorenz's experiment with a pigeon which is trying to seduce the ball of white paper put in the cage, thinking it is its partner for sexual games. The pigeon is advancing to the paper in a wild forgetful way, it doesn't care about anything else.

The man in the cartoon doesn't care about what he is going to watch and what he is going to see -- just staring at the screen for hours is enough. Pure madness!

One of the funniest cartoons for me, is the one of peasants watching flying storks on the tv screen, where there is a reference to the icon of Polish art. I was also amused by the cartoon, where the house is on fire and  somebody shouts "Is the pilot falling (flying) with us?" while being rescued by fire brigade. Meaning obviously the tv pilot.

The scary one, is the cartoon, showing the death penalty being executed by switching the tv programme on. The penalty of physical, psychological or mental death?

But my main feeling when I look at the competion entries is the overpowering fear, fear of domination of our family life, brains and emotions by this media giant - television.

We defend ourselves with laughter. Good for us.