Daily Comics Digression #9: Twitter Becomes Hitchcock's The Birds
Daily Comics Digression #9: Twitter Becomes Hitchcock's The Birds
So Ethan Van Sciver left twitter suddenly. It seems he left due to an overwhelming amount of toxicity leveled at him. It's sad to see him go, but when the costs of a social activity outweigh its benefits, the decision to unplug is understandable.
However, I think that Van Sciver's departure once again highlights some issues that numerous creators from diametrically opposed sides of the political spectrum have experienced. Self avowed "hippiefreak" Mark Waid left, and it made the news when Joss Whedon, a feminist, abandoned the platform. When creators both politically left and right are leaving left and right, what' can be said about the wrong or right of social media websites?
However, I think that Van Sciver's departure once again highlights some issues that numerous creators from diametrically opposed sides of the political spectrum have experienced. Self avowed "hippiefreak" Mark Waid left, and it made the news when Joss Whedon, a feminist, abandoned the platform. When creators both politically left and right are leaving left and right, what' can be said about the wrong or right of social media websites?
On the one hand, Twitter provides an opportunity for customers to have instant access to creators and have short exchanges with them. There's a nice feeling of connectivity when a particular creator you've been following or reading for years interacts with you personally. Sites like Twitter provide these kinds of engagements in a way that other platforms cannot.Connectivity can help build community, which can translate to building a fandom and subsequent sales. Good stuff.
However, the other hand of social media seems to be slapping users so hard in the face that it is being deemed not worth the time and energy. Pouring out yourself into your art and your audience only to be eviscerated by levels of venom that only anonymous communication can provide is a daunting reality. Unfortunately, its a reality that only seems to be growing among comic book professionals.
However, the other hand of social media seems to be slapping users so hard in the face that it is being deemed not worth the time and energy. Pouring out yourself into your art and your audience only to be eviscerated by levels of venom that only anonymous communication can provide is a daunting reality. Unfortunately, its a reality that only seems to be growing among comic book professionals.
No matter what side of the political spectrum you ascribe to, having fewer comic book people on social media is a loss. There are no winners here, only lost opportunities to see into the minds of those who create the media we love so much.
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