Caricaturist Aslı Alpar: Humor does not stand by sovereign!

“Caricature magazines produce comics by using a visual language that reminds us of our victimization and never strengthens us. The magazines were able to take an opposing stance on all issues, but they could not produce a comic against heterosexism and sexism. But humor is nothing like that. Humor can exist by moving away from the sovereign and producing humor against the sovereign. I think the caricature must have a political concern. The caricature should have a problem with the ruling power. Otherwise, it might be funny but it wouldn't be funny humor, it wouldn't be a caricature. The drawings wouldn’t have satire.”

Zeynep Akgül
Ankara- Caricaturist Aslı Alpar, who raises the issues such as LGBTI + activists, violations of rights, animals, and particularly the challenges faced by women, says, “The caricature should have a problem with the ruling power and political concern. The caricature must be against the sovereign and the caricaturist must produce what is funny by stainding by the oppressed people. Otherwise, it might be funny but it wouldn't be funny humor, it wouldn't be a caricature. The drawings wouldn’t have satire.” We interview Aslı Alpar about her drawing story, male perception in this sector, and the difference between humor and comics.
• How did your drawing story, adventure start? 
I started drawing caricatures when I studied at the university in the department of finance in Zonguldak province. At that time, I felt suffocated and drew somethings but I had no connection with the caricature. I began drawing in 2004 but before that, I was a reader of some caricature magazines. My friends told me, “Look, the school has a caricature club, a good teacher gives lessons, you may visit.” They convinced me. I wasn't a very social person, but despite that, I went to the club and I've been drawing caricatures ever since. My master was Mete Arif Tokmak. He is a good caricaturist. That’s how I started drawing caricatures. 
• What do you criticize in your cartoons?
Caricature can be about everything. For example, most women do wax every month. This routine itself is actually a funny situation. Because it is conflicting… You are constantly removing something that comes out. Even this can be a subject of the caricature. I put everything on the agenda but I particularly raise the issues such as LGBTI + activists, violations of rights, violence against women. Surely, the issue of animal freedom…
For example, Ankara Governorship declares a ban and says, “We will not allow LGBTI + activists to march”, they say, “You cannot march”. LGBTİ+ people answer them, “Ok, we will not march but disperse.” They come together in a place and they protest by dispersing. it's humor itself. 
• The caricature world consists of men. What are your thoughts about that? 
First of all, let me say that humor is not something that comes from the biological characteristics of any gender. Having more testosterone level isn’t essential to be funnier. And today scientists say that there aren’t only two genders, thereby we cannot attribute humor skill to a specific gender. There are social and historical conditions for humor. Women and LGBTI + people are now entering this sector. 
“Caricature was produced with the language of the sovereign”
• What's the difference between comic and humor?
If I fall down, it can be comic. We can both laugh at this situation but it isn’t humor; because humor must have a problem with reality. It should make itself funny through reality. Therefore, it has been the function of humor since the beginning. It never stands by the sovereign. The comic thing can stand by the sovereign. LeMan, Uykusuz, and Penguen magazines have built a dissent structure in general politics. And they really produce humor.
Humor can exist by moving away from the sovereign and producing humor against the sovereign.
•  Why do the caricaturists keep silent in this period?
I think magazines still object much more than opposition parties. They are better than political parties that claim their only essential function to be opposition. Yes, they obliviously step back because lawsuits are opened against them. It is not easy for these magazines to survive economically. And I think lawsuits are deterrent. In a country where freedom of expression and thought is restricted, economically challenging conditions and prison sentences and discrediting have caused people to step back. They had to resort to self-censorship. 
Does the caricature have to contain a political message?
I think the caricature must have a political concern. The caricature should have a problem with the ruling power. Otherwise, it might be funny but it wouldn't be funny humor, it wouldn't be a caricature. The drawings wouldn’t have satire.”
WHO IS ASLI ALPAR?

She draws caricatures for Kafa magazine, Kaosgl.org, and Cumhuriyet dailynews. She won the caricature award of the Contemporary Journalists' Association (ÇGD) in 2017. Aslı Alpar’s caricatures have been published by Kafa magazine. Alpar also works as a reporter for Kaos GL Association. She graduated from university in the department of finance in Zonguldak province.