It could have been worse. Some memes ridicule people for something dumb they said or did. Your cartoon became the best kind of meme! It inspired others to come up with other good examples and got people thinking. That’s brilliant.
As another artist, I was wondering, as I was reading, how you felt about all the appropriation of your original idea--and yes, you feel CONFLICTED--which seems even more appropriate given the topic of Conflict in Literature! It's weird to have the original work which inspired all the following iterations become invisible, but you handle that weirdness with such grace. We're a culture that seems to have no memory and the internet is a universe glutted with images. I'm glad, though, that your original did indeed go viral first. If it hadn't, and someone else had seen it and then copied it with their version which went viral, that would be worse. Love how you share your process!
funny. I was scrolling with fervor, hoping there is a Seinfeld reference (I love Seinfeld as much as I like your work) Phew! There is. Good luck with everything and thank you for the feelings you emphasize in us with your drawings.
Wow, I like them all. I think having memes of your work is a tribute. You're making an impact and Mrs Carson would be proud of her ripple effect o your impact.
1) My guy, you GOTTA play some DnD. It's truly the ideal game for creative people.
2) I would love to read that Calvin and Hobbes one. Calvin has absolutely no problems finding conflict, but does tussling with Hobbes count as man vs. man or man vs. self? I vote the former. I prefer to think of Hobbes as real, even well into adulthood.
I just bought your book (I Will Judge You By Your Bookshelf) and my kids (big readers) and I (two big walls with 16 feet each of shelves) are absolutely loving it!
That was a brilliant read. I need to dust my bookshelves and maybe rearrange them so people don’t think I’m a would-be murderer. I was hoping a Simpsons version would be there and it was. Again, great read.
A couple of semesters of writing classes in one rollercoaster meme. A good meme isn’t when there’s still more to be added; it’s one where nothing more can be removed. I think the word for that is “elegance.”
I really like this post! And I love memes too. By the way, it is so cool that you got to talk to Jeff Kinney, author of Diary Of A Wimpy Kid! Congrats! <3
It could have been worse. Some memes ridicule people for something dumb they said or did. Your cartoon became the best kind of meme! It inspired others to come up with other good examples and got people thinking. That’s brilliant.
Very true!
As another artist, I was wondering, as I was reading, how you felt about all the appropriation of your original idea--and yes, you feel CONFLICTED--which seems even more appropriate given the topic of Conflict in Literature! It's weird to have the original work which inspired all the following iterations become invisible, but you handle that weirdness with such grace. We're a culture that seems to have no memory and the internet is a universe glutted with images. I'm glad, though, that your original did indeed go viral first. If it hadn't, and someone else had seen it and then copied it with their version which went viral, that would be worse. Love how you share your process!
New title: "Conflicted in Literature"
Well said, Sarah!
Hahahahahaha
funny. I was scrolling with fervor, hoping there is a Seinfeld reference (I love Seinfeld as much as I like your work) Phew! There is. Good luck with everything and thank you for the feelings you emphasize in us with your drawings.
Ha! Thanks Crina, I appreciate it.
Brilliant! And much gratitude to Mrs. Carson! Where would we all be without those bright souls around us that light up the path!
Agreed! And I still have the Robert Frost poem in my brain she had us memorize :)
Thanks for telling us your story
As a high school teacher, having students create a variation on your meme would be a great (and hilarious) assignment.
The original drawing is very good, very creative.
Just found this on Tumblr, so I’ve just added you to my Substack ‘stable’. I love how many of us are on both media. A good read. Thanks so much.
amazing. so funny. thank you for this! also learned a lot about conflict in literature and with examples! 👏🏼🫶🏼
I love all of this, though yours are by far the best. You gave an unintended gift to the world. Bravo! 👏
Wow, I like them all. I think having memes of your work is a tribute. You're making an impact and Mrs Carson would be proud of her ripple effect o your impact.
1) My guy, you GOTTA play some DnD. It's truly the ideal game for creative people.
2) I would love to read that Calvin and Hobbes one. Calvin has absolutely no problems finding conflict, but does tussling with Hobbes count as man vs. man or man vs. self? I vote the former. I prefer to think of Hobbes as real, even well into adulthood.
That's the great conundrum of the strip! Where does reality end and imagination begin? What if there's no difference?
Exactly! Doesn't imagining something makes it 'real' by giving it emotional and creative life? Also relevant to DnD, might I add...
I just bought your book (I Will Judge You By Your Bookshelf) and my kids (big readers) and I (two big walls with 16 feet each of shelves) are absolutely loving it!
Great to hear that, thank you! Glad they are enjoying it.
Yes - we’re all enjoying it. I would highly recommend it and it would make a great gift for anyone who feels a connection with books.
That was a brilliant read. I need to dust my bookshelves and maybe rearrange them so people don’t think I’m a would-be murderer. I was hoping a Simpsons version would be there and it was. Again, great read.
A couple of semesters of writing classes in one rollercoaster meme. A good meme isn’t when there’s still more to be added; it’s one where nothing more can be removed. I think the word for that is “elegance.”
I really like this post! And I love memes too. By the way, it is so cool that you got to talk to Jeff Kinney, author of Diary Of A Wimpy Kid! Congrats! <3