41. Today in 1920s Turkey: 15 December 1924 (Stratification and Oppression)

(Cartoon by Ramiz, Akbaba or “Vulture/White-bearded Old Man,” 15 December 1924, no. 212, page 1.)

Comments:
Few words are necessary to explain the imagery of this cartoon. With its use of universally legible visual vocabulary it virtually legible to readers hailing from any era or geographic location. Here, we witness a contrast between a well-dressed and well-fed aristocrat on the one hand and the nude, emaciated mass of people on the other. The superior status of the singular well-off man is echoed in his placement above, or rather, upon the mass of starving people whose only purpose in life is to serve as a cushion for the “great one.” The masses, although greater in quantity, must all suffer for the comfort of the few.

This cartoon serves as an allegory of capitalism and oppression. The unbalanced wealth distribution is placed at the center of this image to highlight the senseless suffering that happens simultaneously with the accumulation of capital in the hands of the few. Indeed, there are enough resources to go around and make a few people unfathomably wealthy, yet somehow, there is still poverty. Despite this mind-bogglingly obvious injustice, the well-to-do man does not seem to understand, comprehend, or acknowledge that the very success that this man “enjoys” would not be possible without the faceless masses who work for him, buy his goods, vote him into office, and go to war for him.

English:
Above: The bottom layer, the upper layer.
Below: — May God never deprive us of the great ones above!

Türkçe:
Üstte: Alt tabaka, üst tabaka.
Altta: — Allah üstümüzden büyükleri eksik etmesin!

(Entire page, Akbaba or “Vulture/White-bearded Old Man,” 15 December 1924, no. 212, page 1.)