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Reinterpreting the Distant Other in Nineteenth-Century Hungarian Political Cartoons Politicians tattooed with their crimes, corruption scandals, or political convictions are not exclusive to Hungarian cartoons but also appeared in Anglo-Saxon caricatures as well." Following the Berlin Conference in 1885, the satirical papers started to evaluate the civilization ideology of the colonization of Africa differently from Vasárnapi Ujság and the geographical journals. Regardless of their political position, both Bolond Istók of the opposition and Borsszem Jankó of the government published harsh criticisms of the Africa policy of the European powers. This was arguably due to the fact that during this time it became clear that the main reason for colonization was not a pan-European civilization mission in which everyone could take part, regardless of being a British, a German, or an Austrian subject. Nearing the turn of the century, African wars still appeared among the foreign political topics of satirical papers, but in the context of the increasingly bipolar European alliances, the focus shifted toward a criticism of colonial powers.” Despite this, the depiction of politicians as African natives—often as cannibals—and the Moor-washing and Moor-smearing motifs remained the main motifs of Hungarian cartoons criticizing Hungarian governmental politics up until World War I. These motifs did not vanish from the satirical papers in the 1900s when the significance of these papers declined: the new generation of satirical papers such as Mátyás Diák (Scribe Mathias)" and Kakas Märton (Rooster Martin)” still used these figures. Even after the interest in Africa and African events following 1900 waned, the cartoons remained, showing that these motifs became strongly embedded in the way the Hungarian public expressed their opinions before World War 1. References Blanchard P., Bancel N., Boëtsch G., Deroo É., Lemaire S. 2008, Human Zoos: The Greatest Exotic Shows in the West, [in:] Blanchard P., Bancel N., Boëtsch G., Deroo É., Lemaire S., Forsdick C. 16 See, for example, The Tattooed Man caricature series of Bernhard Gillam about James G. Blaine in the American satirical newspaper Puck in 1884 (Thomas 1987). '7 For example, ridiculing the Ethiopian campaign of the Italians in 1896 or criticizing British politics during the Second Boer War (1899-1902). 16 Matyds Didk (published between 1888 and 1921) was different for more reasons from the satirical papers introduced earlier. It was not connected to any political parties, although it regularly stated its opinions regarding internal affairs and foreign events (not just political). It was more similar to a “Vienna-style satirical paper,” meaning that in addition to political and social cartoons, popular culture and tabloid topics were covered. Because of its independence, it harshly criticized the government, but it was loyal to the monarch and the dynasty, which was assurance of the Hungarian status as a European power. The paper published several cartoons about the politics of European powers, and as a part of it, colonization, from the point of view of a major power. 19 Kakas Márton (published between 1894 and 1914) was very similar to Mátyás Diák, also being a “Vienna-style satirical paper.” The main difference between them was Kakas Mártons clear connection to politics: as a paper of the opposition, it supported the Fiiggetlenségi Part (Independence Party). It published not only political jokes but chants, couplets, and humoresques. 361
