Origin: The cartoon under discussion was created by Olle Johansson, who goes by the name
Tecknar-Olle. Johansson is an accomplished political cartoonist and is widely regarded as
Sweden's foremost cartoonist. The cartoon was published in the Norra Västerbotten, a
Skellefteå newspaper, in 2008, where Johansson contributed his editorial cartoons on a regular
basis. Despite being published over a decade ago, the cartoon remains highly relevant today, as
the Tibet genocide persists.
Purpose: The cartoon's primary objective is to raise awareness about the Tibet genocide and
depict China's oppressive control over Tibet while also conveying the Tibetan people's desire
for peace. The cartoon features a powerful Chinese dragon, also known as "loong," holding the
Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader and head of Tibet, who is holding up a peace sign in protest. The
dragon's shout of "OBEY" highlights China's persistent oppression of Tibet, despite Tibetans'
desire for peace. The cartoonist's intention is to not only inform and raise awareness but also to
give voice to Tibetans experiencing oppression and ensure that they are not silenced. The
cartoon challenges readers' perspectives on the genocide and serves as a reflection on current
events and genocides. The intended audience includes newspaper customers, students, and
historians seeking reliable information about the genocide. The cartoon is an effective means of
illustrating the injustice experienced by Tibetans daily and persuading viewers towards the
cartoonist's point of view.
Value: This source is highly valuable as it offers a unique perspective on the Tibetan genocide.
Through the portrayal of the roles of both China and Tibet, the artist effectively depicts China as
a powerful dragon seeking control, while the Dalai Lama is represented holding a peace sign,
symbolizing the Tibetans' desire for peace. The artist's publication of this work in 2008, over 40
years after the genocide began, highlights the ongoing relevance and unresolved nature of the
conflict. Additionally, the source's authorship by Tecknar-Olle in 2008 adds to its credibility and
reliability. Had it been produced by a different individual or at a different time, it may not have
contained the same level of expertise and experience in depicting genocides and political
cartoons, potentially leading to a less impactful or less accurate portrayal. Overall, this source
offers a valuable and unique perspective on the Tibetan genocide, emphasizing the ongoing
impact of the conflict and the desire for peace among the Tibetan people.
Limitations: This source could be limited because its purpose is focused on the point of view of
the people in Tibet and may not accurately be reflecting the views of China. Another reason
why it could be limited is that as an editorial it isn't very clear if the people who published it
agreed with the cartoon as Sweeden and China had trade ties together for almost 60 years by
then, so this might only show how the artist viewed the genocide and not represent others at
the newspaper, or Swedish officials.