SU, Central New York invited to participate in cartoon caption contest

SU, Central New York invited to participatein cartoon caption contestOctober 01, 2004Kelly Homan Rodoskikahoman@syr.edu

Members of the Syracuse University and Central New York communities will have the opportunity to share their senses of humor with a wide audience-and with Bob Mankoff, cartoon editor of The New Yorker-in a cartoon contest sponsored by Syracuse Symposium 2004: Humor.

The contest is being held in advance of the Oct. 28 symposium appearance by Mankoff, who will speak on “Cartooning and Creativity as Seen Through the 68,647 cartoons of The New Yorker Magazine” at 7:30 p.m. in Shemin Auditorium, located in the Shaffer Art Building on the SU campus. Mankoff’s presentation is free and open to the public.

In addition to Mankoff’s appearance, an exhibition of New Yorker cartoons will be on display Oct. 17-Nov. 6 in the Panasci Lounge of the Schine Student Center. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

The subject of the contest is an original cartoon penned by Mankoff. Participants must write a caption for the cartoon that meets four criteria-it must be: funny; original; a single sentence of not more than 25 words; and it must complete the image in such a way that the final product would make a good New Yorker cartoon.

“New Yorker cartoons may well be the longest-running popular comic genre in America, and their quality is superb,” says Eric Holzwarth, deputy director of the Renee Crown University Honors Program and assistant dean in The College of Arts and Sciences. “Bob Mankoff is a very funny man, a gifted speaker and quite an expert on the topic of humor. Having him lecture, answer questions and meet with students will be a real treat for the campus.”

Mankoff will select the winners. First prizes of $300 and second prizes of $75 will be awarded in each of four categories: SU students; SU faculty/staff; SU alumni; and the general public. All winners will also receive a copy of “The Complete Cartoons of The New Yorker,” signed by Mankoff.

The cartoon and a contest entry form are available on the symposium Web site at http://symposium.syr.edu. Participants may submit their entry online or mail it to Cartoon Contest, Syracuse Symposium, 329 Hall of Languages, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y. 13244-1170. The deadline for entries is Oct. 22.

Mankoff is a 1966 graduate of The College of Arts and Sciences and a leading commentator on the role of humor in American life. He is author of “The Naked Cartoonist,” a book on the creative process of cartooning.

The Syracuse Symposium is an intellectual festival, hosted by The College of Arts and Sciences, which celebrates interdisciplinary thinking, imagining and creating. The theme for the Fall 2004 Symposium is humor. Other keynote speakers and performers scheduled for this semester include The Capitol Steps political satire group (Oct. 12, performance is sold out); writer and satirist P.J. O’Rourke (Oct. 19); Muslim stand-up comic Shazia Mirza (Oct. 25); University of Chicago philosophy professor Ted Cohen (Nov. 11); and actress and performer Anna Deavere Smith (Nov. 18).

More information on the Syracuse Symposium speakers, performances and exhibits can be found on the Web at http://symposium.syr.edu.