Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Folklor/Edebiyat, cilt.30, sa.120, ss.917-938, 2024 (ESCI)
The evolutionary process of humans is not merely an anthropological phenomenon; it also serves as a ground for discussion that sometimes opens up to religious/ political approaches and at other times to humor. In this process, the facet shaped by scientific arguments or religious/political criticisms or support encompasses a level of “seriousness.” On the other hand, the biological and cultural flow stemming from changes in the human evolutionary line also takes on a humorous dimension, reflecting a distinct perspective in cartoons. The fundamental human impulse to mock oneself, which underlies humor, becomes even more ironic when related to the evolutionary process. The 6-million-year human journey, beginning with Australopithecus and moving through Homo habilis, Homo erectus, and Neanderthal to today’s Homo sapiens, not only pertains to the fields of biology and anthropology but also attracts interest in humor. Particularly, the dizzying pace of communication technologies and the changes it imparts on the human mind lay the groundwork for contradictions in the modern human who has completed this evolutionary process. In this study, I conducted a critical discourse analysis on 25 cartoons related to evolution, drawn by Kamil Masaracı and published under the title “Çizgilik” in Cumhuriyet newspaper over a 14-month period from March 2023 to May 2024. By analyzing the relationship between the subtext readings of the messages conveyed by these cartoons and the process of evolution, I aimed to describe the caricatured references to the journey from the first human to modern humans within the context of media anthropology. Ultimately, the framework of reading mass psychology, cultural tendencies, and preferences through the lens of human evolution emerged as a reality reflected in Masaracı’s cartoons. The common point of the 25 cartoons I analyzed is that they carry various nuances related to the essence of humanity. These nuances can be considered strong emphases on both an inherent tragedy and the richness of life.