Approximately 55% of the world's population lives in a city. This figure could rise to 70% by 2050. And despite their importance, their complexity is so enormous that it is very difficult to reach a global understanding from any political, urban, economic or social perspective. Understanding its characteristics, its dynamics, its symbolic and heritage values, its potentials and weaknesses and an almost infinite list of variables is a daunting task. In the face of this, a more incisive, provocative and, although partial, perhaps more intelligent approach may be more useful.

This summer course proposes humour as a method of approaching the reality of cities. It will use the testimony of cartoonists, cartoonists, people linked to the press, psychology and humorists. The satirical vision will guarantee the predominance of intelligent criticism about problems or conflicts that have aroused society's interest in relation to the city in recent years. "If I have to explain reality, I have to understand it", says the cartoonist Peridis, "to understand what is happening, first I have to explain it to myself, to explain it to others". 

The course proposes two conference –'Humour to understand the city' and 'The city from the point of view of graphic humour in the Spanish press'– and also, to know the way of work of some of the most prestigious cartoonists in the country – specially selected because they have abounded a little more in the city – to understand the importance given to humour in the essay of a newspaper and analyze the strength or weakness of the message from a psychological perspective. In addition, the course is complemented by one or two workshops (depending on the issue of assistants) on graphic humor.

Course Address: group of research OFFPRINT. Pablo Arza Garaloces, Marta García Alonso, Héctor García-Diego Villarías (coordinator of the group and person of contact), Mariano González Presencio, Javier Sáez Gastearena, Andrés Tabera Roldán, Jorge Tárrago Mingo, María Villanueva Fernández.

Dates: 1 and 2 September 2022

Venue: Palacio de Condestable (conference room for conferences) and Workshop 4 ETSA (practical workshops).

Price: 15 €.

Programme