[The New Regular] Dawn Mockler | Laughter in the Dark
Last weekend—do we still have weekends?—I received an email from Wes Tyrell, the president of the Association of Canadian Cartoonists and Caricaturists, of which I am a member. He was gathering cartoons to exhibit in the Association’s online gallery, with a daily cartoon to be shared on social media. The email read, “#CartoonistsAgainstCovid, this is an initiative from the ACC to aid Canadians with cartoon humour. We are all affected by Covid 19 and we hope that by sharing a daily cartoon, as well as a gallery, we can bring some sunshine, ideas and public service reminders to help everyone get through this together. Please share widely.” I jumped at the chance to join in.
I had already done some COVID-19 cartoons for my followers on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. I sent twenty cartoons from my collection, including a couple PSA posters on social distancing. I was happy to be able to do something productive while at home since my work in Advantage Physio was no longer possible. It also felt good to be part of a group trying to help people cope, while also helping health care professionals and essential workers by reinforcing the importance of complying with social distancing rules. Like a spoon full of sugar to help the medicine go down, a message with a bit of humour is often better received.
Laughter and art are especially useful tools when so many people are feeling out of sorts. Laughter evolved as a way for humans to connect. It releases endorphins: our feel-good chemicals. It strengthens your immune system, helps defuse conflict, and even reduces pain and stress. Art serves as an escape from reality. With everyone stuck in a monotonous lifestyle, art is more important than ever. The need for creative outlets has spurred COVID-19 sing-alongs, living room concerts, and comedy. My cartoons were even featured in the COVID-19 Online Comedy fest on Twitter with the hilarious Sean Cullen.
I am an anxious person but sharing humour helps me put things into perspective. We are all going through this together. We are all worried about our loved ones, our future, our own health. Not having a routine adds to that worry and fear. I have found the lack of routine very unsettling and not conducive to creativity. Having a cartoon to work on every day gives me a sense of purpose. Sometimes I get messages thanking me for making them smile. That is a great feeling because improving morale is important! I feel fortunate to be part of the ACC, a group intent on doing just that.
See timely selections from Dawn’s repertoire below and visit https://acc.format.com/ to see the other Canadian cartoons from #CartoonistsAgainstCOVID
