Comments on: Rabble: An Interview with Toronto Cartoonist Jason Kieffer

By: at

at — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:31:13 +0000

Here is another viewpoint from a reputable columnist in the Toronto star.
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/773167–fiorito-nasty-book-aims-at-homeless

By: Jacob

Jacob — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:16:54 +0000

Firstly, Sara

Jason is the publisher of the book – it’s self-published. His potential ‘profits’ are so slim it’s laughable to call what he’s doing profiteering. Maybe you should ask yourself why the work makes you so uncomfortable? It’s certainly forcing people to think about something we would like to ignore as much as we can.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:07:53 +0000

Sara,
Just because the book is not to your liking doesn’t mean it’s not art. Jason is an artist and artists sometimes depict people. If you checked the book, you would see that there is a depiction of “The Artist.” I’ve only met Jason once, but that cartoon which is similar in approach to the other depictions seems to be Jason himself. That’s an example of selfdeprecating humour. Instead of trying to shame people you could develop a sense of humour. Street people themselves often have that kind of sensibility.

And why should Jason be obligated to give all of his earnings – my guess is that it’s a pittance – to the shelter system? That system should be supported by our tax dollars. Cathy Crowe, the street nurse and author, was able to share royalties with street people, but the nature of her literary endeavour was quite different from a poor cartoonist’s effort with a micropress.

By: Sara

Sara — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:07:26 +0000

Jason;
Do you realize that by publishing this work you are not only capitalizing off of these people but also IDENTIFYING them. Ny doing this you are putting already marginalized, already at risk people at further risk!
And I assume you are donating 100% of your profits to the downtown shelter system right, or dividing it forty ways and giving it to these people?
This isn’t art, it’s profiteering.
You and your publishing company should be so ashamed…