Should cartoons end with a message?

There's something about this picture (above) that's...I don't know what to call it...mischievous.  It makes me want to acquire skill so I can play jokes on people too. The skill of the humorous artist makes me want to hone my own skill, even if it's not related to art. 

It's the job of artists to raise the bar in society. Our achievement in a public forum like TV should inspire others to be good at the things they do. But you can't inspire people if the cartoon is bland, even with a message tacked on to the end.

In my (lesser) words, excellence motivates.  Kids want to play basketball because they see Kobe Bryant or LeBron James doing something seemingly physically impossible, not because they see the 12th man at the end of the bench and think, "If he can do, so can I."  Art works the same way.  When I see a truly spectacular, skillful piece, it makes me want to go home, lace up my art boots, and play on that level.

c.