What to expect when you aren't expecting anything
what I plan to post here, and other things you might not know exists
Greetings, friends from Earth (and everywhere else)
Welcome to my little stacky thing.
I know you probably read a lot of little stacky things, and everyone is imploring you to read and subscribe to theirs. And honestly, I’m no different. However, I am hoping that my little corner interests you and opens you up to some quirky little things you maybe didn’t know about.
Yes, but what is it?
ok, calm down, I promise I’m getting there. My name is T.J. and I have two main areas I have found myself passionate about in life. I have been a lifelong cartoonist and illustrator who has loved everything from Peanuts, Calvin and Hobbes, The far side, Garfield, and Asterix, to Monet and Banksy. I have always loved music and play two or three instruments crudely and ineffectively. I read a lot - nonfiction, sci-fi, detective novels, philosophy and plenty more. Needless to say, I love art in general.
Which brings me to my next passion. I have degrees in International Relations, and International Development. I really dig into good articles and analysis of world events; history and the way nations interact with each other and their people. A little heavier than Garfield, I admit, but bear with me, I think these two things can come together in an interesting way.
So why would I read this?
Great question! The newsletter I am planning to publish will hopefully be weekly (please excuse any hiccups in the early days, as I am new to all this) and take a look at ways that nation states, governments, and the people who populate nation states are affected by and utilize art in interesting, and hopefully not too depressing ways.
Gimme an example, mate…
For instance, I am already planning editions that deal with the way art is woven into our cultural daily lives, and by OUR cultural daily lives I don’t mean JUST you. As the name of the newsletter suggests, I do indeed intend to represent as much of this cute little blue planet and its people as I can. And even though I myself, a white, middle aged, Australian man cannot understand directly some of the subject matter, I will do my best to present it and interpret it the best I can.
For example, editions will basically center around themes like, art influencing international policies, artists as ambassadors, famous art heists, political cartoons, art in conflict zones, national identity and art, art as protest, and more.
Each theme will likely include several editions that focus specifically on particular case studies. As I want to post as regularly as once a week, these will not be super in-depth analysis, but presented in a way that gives a brief introduction and focused look at a small part of much bigger themes.
As an artist I will be illustrating the newsletter myself with my little notebook style doodles in lieu of photos for most of the newsletters. I do this in part because I also love to doodle, but also in part due to my fear and lack of knowledge around online copywrite and trademark law. I don’t want to get sued, cancelled, or otherwise immiserated if I somehow fall afoul of proper creator credit rules. So, I will just create it myself to be safe *Eddie Murphy tapping head gif*
here are some little pictures I drew for various reasons, I just figured I should include some in this little post because I enjoyed drawing them.
I look forward to chatting to you guys in “notes” and the chat area thing, and hopefully you find enough value in my writing, drawing, and intrpretation of the subject matter that you read often (and support for cool extra cartoons, editions, discord etc).
Have a great day on Earth today!
T.J.