Text - Rhodes University

Botes is very good at acidic social comment. Sy Skatjie is almost an expanded caricature.
He finds humour in absurdly exaggerated depictions- of closely observed details of
situation, place and person. Events are left to speak for themselves; the story is not
explained, and the reader must make his or her own judgements. The artist, while solely
responsible for creating the situation, refrains from direct comment. The cornic becomes
a reality, bolstered by cinematic compositions [fig 45] and closely paced action-to-action
transitions. Instead of a bare statement, a story is created that illustrates that statement.
Figure 45 Botes Sy Skatjie (reduced)
From analysis of a relationship [fig 46], Judas, by Botes, evolves into a mystery cornic. It
is rerninscent of In die AnTIs van 'n Apokalips, but more successful because of its
narrower focus. Narrative control is tighter, yet the drawing is looser, and more violent.
The story and drawings are dark, grubby and intense. Botes delights in incidental, realistic
details, while at the same time composing frames classically. Slapstick humour is
modulated by refinement and depth [fig 47]. Superficially the cornic is crude, but the
structure is polished. By the end of the episode, it can be seen that the domestic quarrel
at the beginning is another incidental detail, of plot, not visual composition, serving the
same function as the visual details, strengthening the sense of realism.
140