Hey fellow artists! Let’s face it. Not everyone is going to like your art. Hopefully, MOST will like it. The left over few will fall into the category of ‘meh, no reaction, don’t care.’ And then there’s the 1% who will openly dislike your work. The HATERS. Today we’re going to talk about them.
The person said something about how I stole the idea from a book cover…and that I had no integrity! …the next day my post was mysteriously gone. W-what?!
the dilemma
“Why?!” you may be asking. Well, I recently posted about A Crash Course in Comic Creation on Facebook. I even paid a little money to boost the post. It featured an image I thought was funny, a joke on the ‘evolution of man’ trope (if the image doesn’t come to mind, look at the image below). But then, on Jan 13, I noticed a single comment. Usually my work seems to fall in the “meh, no reaction, don’t care” category. So getting a comment was awesome! Until I read it. It was berating me! The person said something about how I stole the idea (of the image) from a book cover by some guy I’d never heard of. And that I had no integrity! So I wrote back saying I didn’t know who that guy or book was (and that it was low to accuse me of stealing). The next day my post was mysteriously gone. W-what?!
Run-of-the-Mill Hate
All of that is pretty much run-of-the-mill, every-day social media interaction really. I’ve heard of things like that happening again and again. But this silly little encounter I got me thinking. Why do haters hate?Well, I think it’s really got nothing to do with you or your work. Something else is going on in this person’s life and unfortunately your work was around at the wrong time to be their lightning rod. But for art-specific hate I can think of a few reasons someone’s inner troll me emerge. Some people may dislike the style because it clashes with what they like. For others, they dislike the proficiency. And for others…they just need something to funnel their frustration on. Trolling makes them feel better about their life, or at what they do, or who they are. Whatever the reason, the draw to hate is part of human nature (and inherent in each of us). But because of the internet, it has gotten much more common place to come face to face with that hate.
What Happened?
Now let’s look at that ‘guy’ someone accused me of copying and his cover. Enter Richard Williams. Up until now, I’ve never heard of him. But after taking a look at his wikipedia page, I know one of his works (Who Framed Roger Rabbit). Plus he won 3 academy awards. That’s more than I’ll ever win, so I tip my virtual hat to him. And his book is The Animator’s Survival Kit. I’ve never seen it before, but it looks pretty interesting. I might have to take a look at it now, because I’m sure I could learn something from it. But the cover image in question (see right) is NOT a take on the evolution of man. Nothing is evolving or becoming more complex. Instead, it was a walk cycle, a staple in animation, illustrating different characters. Cue the perplexed head scratching.
Now, let’s take a look at my little scenario. Let’s look at the image in question. It’s a classic ‘dad level’ joke about the evolution of man, a specific jab at the ubiquitous image of a monkey turning into a man (again, see the black and white image above). In this case however, a fish is turning into an artist. Yes, folks, apparently we artists are a species apart! Hyuck, hyuck, hyuck.
Hater Motivations
So, what gives? Was the commenter a) having a rough day and impulsively lashing out without really looking at the image, or b) simply trolling with an agenda only known to them? My detective skills (or wild speculation) lean towards option A. The comment had that vibe – a mix of self-righteousness, a belief in safeguarding principles, and a sprinkle of paranoia about a world infested with metaphorical cockroaches out to tarnish said principles. We’ve all been there, right? It’s a dance with the devil we’ve grown accustomed to in the age of online interactions.
But here’s the kicker – this knee-jerk reaction, this rush to judgment, is the very cycle that breeds the toxicity that this person was trying to thwart. It’s a chain reaction, a downward spiral into the depths of online destruction. And who wants that?
I don’t hate this guy. I don’t even harbor much resentment about my post being unceremoniously taken down (though I promptly reposted it because, well, stubborn creativity). The key, my friends, is to break free from the chains of hatred. We need to start seeing each other as people, intricate individuals with unique perspectives and experiences, not as faceless monsters waiting to pounce.
Disliking something is okay – it’s part of our diverse tapestry. But tearing down the creator or assuming ill intentions without facts only perpetuates the cycle and just makes the world a mine field that nobody wants to enter. Instead, let’s be curious, let’s ask questions, let’s seek understanding. If you suspect shadiness, investigate before throwing stones.
In the vast realm of comics and creativity, let’s build bridges, not walls. So, the next time you come across something you don’t fancy, take a deep breath, scroll on, and leave the creator to their craft. After all, we’re all in this together, navigating the tumultuous sea of creativity. Until next time, my artistic compatriots, keep those pens scribbling and your hearts wide open!
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*I don’t use AI for my artwork. These filler images are just for fun and aren’t meant to represent my art so they have been labeled “AI GENERATED.” I want my blog to be enjoyable for you but I don’t have 2-6 hours to draw each image (this blog is done in my free time). If you’re against AI in art, please direct your criticism elsewhere.
