What is up with cabbage?
I don’t have much in the media bucket lately, mostly because my, uh, fourth replay of Dragon Age: Inquisition is ticking along at an alarming rate and I’m behind on everything else that’s actually pertinent to my critical and creative output. I swore to myself I’d never get emotionally invested in a BioWare title and … here we are.
Let me date Varric, you cowards.
On Ethics
Aren’t we fancy!
On the topic of Kickstarter campaigns, I’m vocal about not retweeting because I try to avoid bias as much as I can as a journalist. For me, my integrity rests on a balanced shake, and I can’t in good faith promote a campaign without turning my whole account into that kind of platform. That said, I’ve been promoting a few lately and I think it’s worth covering why.
Short answer: I had some part in something to do with the book. Likely script edits or pitch refinement, or looking over the campaign and offering structured feedback. As I take on more editing & comics marketing work it allows me to champion the work, so yay!
What it doesn’t allow me to do is review the book. Period.
So, I’m in a balancing act between what I cover critically and what I rep because of my part of the behind-the-scenes process. If I’m putting something out there and it’s not immediately apparent as to why (credits, etc.) then this is why.
So many of you are making awesome stuff, and I truly wish I could jump in and trumpet it. Mileage may vary for others, but I can’t live up to my own standards of critique and ethical engagement by doing so.
AGGRESSIVE SUPPORT
I tweeted out something I thought would get a few comments from my buds, and it turned into something exhausting and exhilarating! I’m blown away by the response, and now that the dust has cleared on this first go-round, I have some reflections.
One: We should support each other more. Not overzealously (capslock aside here,) but we’re a small community of weirdo artist types, and the market already fosters enough brutal competition that we don’t need to replicate it in our social interactions. Social media doesn’t always have to be transactional. We can be enthusiastic to each other, about each other, and foster community in small and large ways.
Sometimes that looks like cheering from the sidelines, and other times that means giving honest feedback in ways that generate growth. That’s an essay unto itself.
Two: I heard back from multiple people that it was awesome to see what other folks were working on! It can be hard and isolating to have your nose to the creative grindstone all the time, and taking a sec to see what else is out there informs and inspires our own work and creative lenses. If art’s in dialogue with art, culture, etc. it’s important to lift our eyes and explore from time to time.
Three: During an emotionally trying week, it was just as much fun for me to give support as it was for folks to receive it (based on feedback I got.) Taking just a little time to examine all of your offerings and attempt to engage on a true level filled my proverbial cup. And truly, just seeing all the unique and amazing stuff you all are making – whether it’s your first or 50th project – reminds me why I’m here, beating my weird little drum in our weird little void.
So, thank you. And more to come here, we’ll make this a semi-regular thing and I’ll ask that y’all give that support to each other, too.