The 7th annual HYPE (Hosting Young Philosophy Enthusiasts) Day

Satire and parody have the power to provoke conflicting responses – laughter, rage, shock. By its nature, the cartoon is parasitic and provocative; it critiques stereotypes often by reinforcing stereotypes. In a world sensitized to ethnic, religious, and racial intolerance, the cartoonist often challenges us with an encounter with political incorrectness. In the wake of deadly terrorist attacks on cartoonists in Denmark and France, this subject has never been more topical. In his book The Art of Controversy: Political Cartoons and Their Enduring Power, Navasky asks some provocative questions: Are we living in an age when the visual image carries more weight than the written word? Is there room for censorship; when does a political cartoon act like a cry of “fire” in a crowded theatre? Is the freedom artists have enjoyed to make art as social critique undergoing a political or religious scourge?

On March 17 we will host a conference for high school students led by Souhegan High School Ethics teacher Chris Brooks. The conference will be the seventh annual HYPE (Hosting Young Philosophy Enthusiasts) Day. A thousand students and 75 teachers are expected to take part in HYPE Day.