| | I am a huge fan of comics. This is an art form that saved my life on more than one occasion. No joke. Art is for me a manifestation of the Divine in its purest form, for it is intangible, yet powerful to the mind and spirit. And, as for God, it is much talked about, yet never fully explained. It is nothing, yet it is everything. It is everywhere there is humans, and everywhere man is not, too - aren't the forest, the mountains, the planets and the very stars part of an immense poetic pattern?
Art is the soul's speech.
So, again, I am a huge fan of comics. I have read thousands of them over the years. Some good, some bad. Some exquisite, some disgusting. But I can't blame anyone for something I did not like to read. Who am I to judge of someone's art? Of someone's soul? In the end, raw appreciation comes down to personal taste, and someone's opus can always be some other's cacophony.
And, when you think of this, comics can't be harmful.
Or can they?...
I won't start doing the whole "Doc Wertham was right" nonsense routine, no. He, of any, was clueless and clumsy, and ended up doing wrong to thousands of strangers he didn't even care to meet.
For those of you who don't know him, Doctor Frederic Wertham was a psychiatrist who, in the mid-fifties, convinced the american government that comics where to detroy the youth of the country, making young men violent sociopaths, homosexual perverses (I will get back to this point later), and so on. His actions lead to the strict censorship of the comic book art form that gagged artists for over 40 years.
FORTHY YEARS.
Was the good Doctor Wertham right in the end? Let's look at it from an historic point of view : the generation that grew up reading the uncersored comics was the one that won WWII and went to the moon, while the generation that was part of the censored comics readership went to Viet-Nam and took part in the sexual and drug revolution that still plagues today's youth.
These historical facts have nothing to do with comics, you say? Well, you're RIGHT! Just like the degenrretion of america's youth had nothing to do with comics. As for mental illness or sexual identity, why blame comics? Perhaps it was just a blind judgement. But still, Doctor Wertham did not understand comics, and acted blindly out of GOOD WILL. He really wanted to do GOOD. And he did so much wrong, in the end, that it took forthy years to get back to the starting point...
But I am not here to talk about Wertham.
Here is the point (because there is a point to this) : sometimes, you act out of good will and you end up wronging the very people you wanted to help. And sometimes, you are SO SURE to be helpfull that you keep harming them. Sometimes because you are clueless. Sometimes even because you are clueless about the fact that YOU ARE clueless.
So, can comics be harmful?
Yes, they can. Just like good-willed psychiatrists can.
I was personnally bruised by a comic on the "online section" of Megazeen. This thread is just an atempt to reach the creator. It is called "Betrayal", and is still posted, so you can take a look and see by yourself.
First, I have nothing bad to say about the artistic abilities of Elgin Bolling.
In fact, Elgin, you show great dynamic style, espacially on page two (honestly, those ragged panel borders and speed lines work well, and your layout is just strong).
I was profoundly offensed by your attack on gay people. I understand that you acted out of religious beliefs. I guess that means you are not inspired by hatred, but by love. which is why I was so disturbed by your comic. If I had found this comics on a skin head forum, I would have understood the whole pattern and would not have cared to comment. But on a christian web site? By a christian artist? How can it be so?
Then, being a comics guy, I thought about the story of Doc Wertham, which is for me a powerful life lesson.
You see, Elgin, I do not think you wanted to do anyone harm. I think you have strong faith, and, since the Scriptures are unfavorable towards homosexuality, I think you see your comic was legitimate. You may even have intended it to be HELPFUL.
But let me ask yourself : do you personally know any gay people? If you do, are they THAT carricatural? Are they really women haters? Do they systematically see heterosexuality as being a perversion, or as you say "freaky", simply because it does not appeal to them? Do you REALLY think homosexuals are desperately looking for "freedom" by falling in love with a women? To become heterosexual? Is that their secret dream to you?
In an other context, could you have said "it is a black man's dream to turn white"? This point of view would have been percieved as racist, typical white-red-neck-type arrogance, and your comic would have been retired from this post in the blink of an eye. You see, homosexuality is an identity you can't simply "wash away". It is like being black or white. It is like being a man or a woman. It is who a person is.
I understand that you have your beliefs. Again, I guess you feel it unnatural that there are homosexuals, based on the fact that the Bible says so. But doesn't the Bible also preach tolerance, love, and self-example? Doesn't it also preach respect and communion with one another? The way you treated the subject of homosexuality is so full of prejucide and assumptions that you won't reach anyone with it : you will only insult people. And these people may in return see you as a hateful person. This is how the seed of hatred is planted.
This is why I think your comic is harmful. I think it is wrong and full of ignorance.
And, honestly, Elgin, I don't think that was your intention. I have the feeling you have strong faith. I think you believe in the principles of Love, but that you acted out of ignorance.
We all have questions. We all want to know. And I personally believe that the Bible do not hand answers out. At least, not that kind of clear, step by step answers. The Bible is not a "how-to" guides. In fact, I'd rather see it as a "what if?" book. It sets the mind and soul in motion, so that you can find the way by yourself. But you have to make an effort. You have to go out in life and make an idea for yourself. This is a process that demand the better part of anyone's humility and knowledge. And while the first is often cited by religious people, I regret to notice how much the second is so often missing. Here's my favorite quote from the Scripture, one I take as a warning to anyone religious :
" Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. (Roman 10:1, 10:2)"
Finally, I think it is better to work on reaching out to the people different from me than working on changing them. Honestly, wouldn't it be a better world if everyone with a different opinion worked on reaching out to the next man? I mean the REAL next man, not the one that sits beside you at the church, but the OTHER next man, the one it is REALLY rewarding to reach out to : the muslim, the homosexual, the convicted, the drug addict, the UFO cult adept... The ones you WON'T change. Again, woudln't it be a better world if we made the effort to reach out to the ones different from us? We all have something in common on which we can build something, after all.
There, I hope have I made my point. And most of all, I hope this message gets to you, Elgin. As you see, your comics shocked me, but it also convinced me to take a stand. And make the effort the reach out to you. You may ask yourself if I am gay myself. No, I am not. Many of my friends are, though, and they are not like in your comic, and I would never wish them to be portayed like this.
I took the time to write this thread because I thought it was important. You are welcome to write to me, Elgin, as is anyone who reads this thread. I thank you all for your time and consideration.
God bless you.
Olivier Raymond - Illustrator and comic book artist |
