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My November 9th Twitter "essay" on how comics can help

11/30/2016

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Dear folks who kindly follow me on Twitter, my blog and elsewhere,

If you're following me, I'm guessing it has something to do with comics, graphic recording, and/or cool visually-inspiring creative writing stuff. If that's what you've been hoping to see in my online channels, you may have been surprised recently to see a lot less art and a lot more retweets about politics. These aren't mutually exclusive, by the way - art is an important voice for change and social commentary, in political circles and everywhere else, too.

In the wake of Donald Trump's electoral victory on Nov. 8th, 2016 - and alongside the Canadian campaigns for leader of the federal Conservative party and Alberta's Progressive Conservative party - I've been thinking about ways that comics creators, and artists in general, can add important perspectives to the conversation. While all this stuff is simmering in my brain, I haven't had as much time to post (or draw) new pictures. With my retweets, I'm hoping to flag issues that seem important, and which might be part of whatever creative project evolves out of this. Stay tuned! And don't despair - pictures are coming.

In the meantime, I'm going to re-post a Twitter "essay" (it's not really an essay, but I'm not sure what else you call these things) that I put out on November 9th, about the way artists can participate in - and lead - the creation of positive change in society. New stuff coming soon, starting with my latest Ramsay newsletter comic strip on this subject, which I'll be posting tomorrow!

love,
sam

1/6 I'm thinking about how comics can help in the face of fear, helplessness & danger. @Nsousanis wrote this strip about #Election2016

(I'm sharing Nick Sousanis's comic here - but take a look at his own site, for his own post about this comic, and more amazing work.)
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2/6 Writing this 2012 comic helped me process the #SandyHook shootings. I'm a bit too messed up by #election2016 to draw anything yet today.
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3/6 In 2004, I was mad, but I was still able to look at the humourous side. #Rush! Also, I still felt like I was safe in Canada.
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4/6 Today feels like the scary feeling I wrote about in a 2003 @UCalgary textbook comics essay on post-911 Canada. http://ow.ly/vcBl3061dbh 
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5/6 I want to fix the whole broken system, but I have to remember small changes can help & have an impact, too. (Hug your kids! Save bugs!)
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6/6 Comics can give voice to the stories that we will need to hear. Comics will help get me through this, & I hope they'll help you, too.
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    sam hester

    I am a graphic recorder based in Calgary. I like local stories. I write comics when I have free time. And I leave eraser shavings everywhere I go.

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    my website

    www.the23rdstory.com started as a blog and now includes some information about my graphic recording practice as well.

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