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Art isn't created just to please our eyes; it also transfers ideas and provokes thought on social problems. Austrian cartoonist Gerhard Haderer has been producing satirical illustrations and cartoons for adults for decades now, highlighting the awful problems with society.

Gerhard Haderer had even faced the court for one of his brutally honest books, The Life of Jesus. It triggered violent reactions, because of the society problems discussed in it, in Europe, especially from the Catholic Church. The story culminated in 2005 when Haderer was convicted in Greece for insulting the religious community and was given a six-month suspended sentence in absentia. A few months later, however, this verdict was corrected on appeal, and Gerhard Haderer was acquitted.

The artist developed his realistic style when working as a graphic designer and illustrator for advertising agencies early in his career. It wasn't until a cancer operation in 1985 when Gerhard abandoned his commercial dreams and became a freelance caricaturist and satirical illustrator, mainly focusing on social issues. Scroll down to check out his unsettling and at times scary cartoons and vote for your favorites.

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#1

Satirical Illustrations

GerhardHaderer Report

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EM
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Did you know that a couple of years ago, there were more selfie related deaths than shark related deaths?

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#2

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stellermatt
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this happens so much at live concerts, just put the damn phone down and enjoy the experience!

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#3

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Phil.
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually even a put-on smile can lift your mood, say neuro-scientists.

Annette Zimmerman
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do you see the box underneath? Aren't they paying for the contraption? This picture shows a line of average unhappy or angry men and women being transformed into smiling men and women through the process of purchasing (for 4 Euro, or approximately $5.00) a contraption that’s worn to fixate facial muscles. There is a smiley face label indicating that they are purchasing happiness. The device, which is a simple wire that is not worth $5.00, symbolizes a useless material item. The resultant happy face is an analogy for the brief happiness obtained from consumerism. The irony is that people are willing to pay a lot of money for something useless in the belief it will make them happy.

Евгений Ильин
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ВЫ НЕ ПРАВЫ, ВООБЩЕ-ТО ЭТО ОЧЕРЕДЬ НА РАБОТУ...))))) И ЭТО ПРАВДА, КА,КХЕФ И КА-ТЕТ...

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Gayle Bynum Cardosa
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I highly recommend people look at the short animated films of Steve Cutts (http://www.stevecutts.com/animation.html). Many are similar in tone to these illustrations and they're absolutely wonderful. They speak to society and our need to be constantly tethered to our phones, etc.

Magpie
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you for the Link Gayle ! Been trying to re-find that film for ages.

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Dick Turner
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hello, my name is D**k Turner. I write because I am the inventor of the Smile Machine depicted in this painting. I invented it in 1991; here is an article from the Baltimore Sunpapers that proves it (http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1994-02-07/features/1994038137_1_smile-machine-turner-smile-campaign) . Since I invented it, it has been constantly appropriated form me, first by the Norwegian Olympic Committee who used it as a promotion gimmick and then by countless others. I have no ill will against Mr Haderer but, as I am an artist myself and one who must struggle to survive, it is frustrating to see my work used uncredited. Thank you, D Turner sunpapers-...1f0e1d.jpg sunpapers-photo-5acd1ad1f0e1d.jpg

XVS Sixfifty
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or... maybe it's such a simple idea that the artist thought it up on his own without ever hearing of you or your 'invention'.

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Katie Rubinstien
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i just saw another post that said smiling when you don't feel like it can increase happiness. I think what is really wrong with society is that it fails to see these obvious contradictions. Everyone just wants to be the one with the answers.

Nicole Faulkner
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes in some jobs you have to be happy all the time. It’s hard.

Anne Hutchings
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe this is what we need during Trump’s time in the White House.

Laz Munn
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Putting on a smile when things are not ok will make you a liar to everyone, and you will only help yourself momentarilily. But if you are honest enough to express your feelings and don't fake a smile you might even get the help you need. Talking to someone who wants to listen brings more benefits than being liar.

Dick Turner
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hello, my name is D**k Turner. I would like to bring to the attention of your readers that I am the inventor of the Smile Machine. I invented it in 1991 (here's an article from the Baltimore Sunpapers from 1992 that proves it: http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1994-02-07/features/1994038137_1_smile-machine-turner-smile-campaign ). My idea has been constantly appropriated from me, first by the Norwegian Olympic Committee as a promotion gimmick and by countless others. As I am an artist, this is particularly frustrating for me to see. I have no ill will against Mr Haderer, but I do wish to have the credit for my invention. Anyone interested in more information is welcome to contact me at turnerdick@hotmail.com Thank you , D Turner

Carmen Kosmicki
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this is showing that the smiles, no matter what they originate from, are normally fake

Jan Virtue
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This strikes a strange cord: This is exactly what people in this society have to go through. Because of the LIES as Truth, not adhering to any good, moral principles, and not being good, fair or equal to others - People walk through this society faking it; putting on fake smiles for most of the sick minded practices that goes on. You know what? The people get more sicker and sicker, because they're not able to be truthful with themselves or others about anything. It's in the medical journals of the mind. It's scary, actually.

A.R.
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one makes me sad. Sad because it's too close to reality.

Barbara
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, it sort of looked like a mini-human/alien/whatever forgot to close the door behind them (movie reference, Meet Dave)

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#5

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Ola Antosik
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This I do not understand. I like reading books in paper but there is nothing wrong with electronic editions. If anything, they are more eco friendly. It is still the same activity just different medium.

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#6

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Daniel Losinger
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Timeline: Catholic Church's sex abuse scandals https://www.cnn.com/2017/06/29/world/timeline-catholic-church-sexual-abuse-scandals/index.html

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#8

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Mika N
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've heard it said, how ironic it is that often times today, family time is getting everyone to put down their small screens and all look at the same big screen for a while.

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#10

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Sarah Miller
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not seeing this as a "fast food/obesity" thing, more like a CEO or corporate leader just greedily eating funds. Fat in wealth kind of thing

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#17

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Hilliary Smith
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I immediately thought that the commando in the middle thinks in black and white, and reality is all sorts of colors.

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#22

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Çalıkuşu
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

George Orwell- Animal Farm: ''Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."

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#27

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Vlad Horobet
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not sure how many people knew this, but there is a forth monkey in this series. See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil and do no evil.

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#31

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Lua boots
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Holidays...so many people leaves at same time...so they get stuck on the road..,and they spend half of their vac waiting on the car...sad...reality

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