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Me_hagakure

Sean Michael Wilson's Blog

Web Address: http://www.zcommunications.org/zspace/Sean Michael
Bio: Sean Michael Wilson is a comic book writer from Scotland, who now lives and works in Japan. He has been published by a variety of US, UK and Japanese publishers. His main influences include British... (More)

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Parecomic - the reasons why we are doing it.

By Sean Michael Wilson at Mar 19, 2012

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"Now to give a longer, more detailed note on our PARECOMIC book with Michael Albert. There are two mains reasons why I wanted to do this book: one is to do with the comic book medium, that I work in and love, the other is to do with the subject matter.

As to comic books - It’s good to do these kind of stories that help show the greater range of stories and issues that can be done in comics, beyond the usual superhero stuff, and beyond the silly image of comic books being for kids (which was always an inaccurate stereotype). Comic books are an excellent way of putting over complicated information in an accessible way. The mix of words and images seems to be easier for our minds to take in, to process cognitively, than just text alone. And, in some ways, it appears to be easier to recall. So, it's a useful vehicle. I've done several books now of this 'documentary' type, such as ones on Iraq, Palestine, war, corruption, history, biography.

It's interesting to do these documentary/political/historical books - I learn a lot in the process. To do a book of this type is like doing a university thesis - I need to read a lot, research, ask questions. We often have large text sections at the back also - in this case on aspects of Parecomic, written by Michael himself.  And in this case, Noam Chomsky has agreed to write an introduction too. Specifically in the PARECOMIC book we want to consider the issues of how we organise our societies and economies, via this visual medium. The main issue is therefore how to get over complicated ideas of economics and politics and sociology in an accessible way using a mix of visuals and text. How to weave narration with information with images. 

As to the specific topic - I have had a dissatisfaction with the present capitalist system since I was about 16 years old (I'm 42 now). At that time I remember my family definitely thinking it was 'Just a teenage phase'. I've had the satisfaction, as time has gone on, of my family moving more to a position of 'Hmm, I think you are on to something here Sean'. Of course I learned about marxism, socialism, considered the issues of the abuses of the communist states and considered what our alternatives might be. In the last few years I have become more interested in anarchist type models and then come across Znet, Michael and the parecon model.  I was impressed and wanted to learn more.



So, here was a chance to use my comic book skills, to learn more about this approach and possibly help to bring it to a new audience, or a new form at least. So, I contacted Michael, with the idea of making this PARECOMIC book together, and with some foresight he agreed that it might be good. Michael has worked with me closely on it right from the beginning, checking the script for the correct ideas, people, places, etc. giving his opinions, but always saying in the end that its my call. The script is now 90% done and the artwork is about a quarter done on this 220 page book. So, the PARECOMIC book is about his life’s struggle as an activist reaching right back to the 1960's student demos and lifestyle rebellions, and taking in the development of the anti war movement, civil rights, the woman's movement, and the black panthers to the establishment of alternative media like South End Press and Znet itself.  Most importantly, of course we look at the participatory economics model in some detail. The key thing to the whole book is to present this well worked out system, for the readers consideration, and to do so in an interesting narrative with appealing visuals.

PARECOMIC is due to come out in spring 2013 from Seven Stories Press in NY. But, as is often the case, they can only afford a small advance, and this long detailed book will take us a year of considerable effort to do - on the part of myself as writer, and Carl Thompson, as artist. So we thought we would start this funding drive on the Kickstarter, to help us get a bit of extra money help as we work on the book. Of course, we are not doing this primarily for money, but for the reasons noted above of learning the issues and using the comic book medium to help spread the ideas. And we are very much enjoying that, its coming together well, and a real pleasure to see. So far it's about 30% funded and I've been impressed and pleased by the good support from both progressively minded folk, many of them from Znet, and also from comic book readers.

So, please go and have a look at the info and video there, and pledge something if you like and want to support the PARECOMIC project. Even a little adds up, bit by bit. The thing with kickstarter is that if the target money is not made in the set time (60 days) then we get ZERO. Its an all or nothing thing. So if you can afford much please consider pledging at the $40 button - as that is the level that also gets people the actual book as one of the rewards for the support. If you feel like being generous then maybe the $150 button or more!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/471898784/parecomic-a-documentary-graphic-novel

Cheers,
Sean and Carl

Comment On This Blog Post  See All Comments (2)

Me_hagakure

Re: Parecomic - the reasons why we are doing it.

By Wilson, Sean Michael at Apr 10, 2012 13:21 PM
The PARECOMIC kickstarter funding drive has given us a lot of encouragement - we've had lots of nice support about our plan of going into the ideas of parecon and Michael Albert's life in graphic novel format. We've had several good mentions and interviews, such as in Carl's local newspaper, the industry magazine Publishers Weekly and hundred's of people noting it on their blogs, facebook and web sites... great stuff.

Still, as to the actual money into the fund, we are behind now - and if we dont make the FULL target amount in the time limit alloted then the creators get nothing at all, it's all cancelled (that is kickstarter's rule) . There are just 13 days left now.

So please give something to the book today if you can. Maybe at the $40 button maybe (thats the level that also gets you the book as one of the rewards for the support) . More if you can afford it.  The money is only a PLEDGE at first, it does not get taken out of your account now, its taken out at the end of the funding drive - and only if the total target money is made. To pledge you just select an amount from the choices on the right side, and it processes it via amazon:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/471898784/parecomic-a-documentary-graphic-novel

Thanks,
Sean

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582867

Great

By Small, Brian at Apr 04, 2012 03:01 AM
I never really got into Graphic Novels, didn't know there were any with decent substance. Following your links educated me.  I assumed you were based in Tokyo, but the IOPS site says your in Kumamoto, down here in Kyushu. Let me know if you ever get into Miyazaki. I'm in Miyakonojyo now. I have plans to be in Takachiho (on the border between Miyazaki and Kumamoto) on April 29th. I go to that beautiful valley whenever I can though, help with the rice planting and mushroom making, there's a decent house with a kitchen and bath that's 1,000 yen for adults free for kids so it's simple to visit.  The April 29th meeting is a good group that's been fighting for the victims of state-corporate arsenic pollution in the little village of Toroku for the last few decades. I've never met another Znetter face to face. Let me know if you're ever in the area taking a break from your Graphic Novel work.
  
  There's a big Persimmon Tree there that became the theme of a famous artists Kami Shibai story of the struggle to get reparations for the arsenic contamination victims. I just uploaded pictures of a reading of the Kami Shibai and the actual tree just in case it might be useful.

Phoenix of a Persimmon Tree Pictures.

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Me_hagakure

Re: Great

By Wilson, Sean Michael at Apr 10, 2012 13:21 PM
I just saw this now after seeing your note on IOPS Brian,
thanks for the suppor, for pledging to our kickstarter drive and for checking out more about graphic novels - they are an excellent artform in many ways and one which I love. I will reply to you more on IOPS now.
Yoroshiku!
Sean

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582867

Re: Re: Great

By Small, Brian at Apr 11, 2012 00:40 AM
I had the graphic novel genre associated with extreme violence and sexual brutality more than anything else. The impression probably from that re-make that Bruce Willis or someone in hollywood did.  Following the links from your blogspot blog is what educated me. The Robot6 site made me think of Paul Goodman 
"Fuedalism is susceptible to earnest attack" when they write about Pareconomic,  "Does that sound entertaining or just earnest? Admittedly, economics is a bit of a tough sell, but as Jon Gruber and Nathan Schreiber just demonstrated with their graphic novel about health care reform, the graphic medium can be an effective way to convey quantitative information. What intrigues me is how Albert’s story illustrates the economic principles involved. If it “puts a face on it,” as we say in the newspaper biz, it could be fascinating..." I didn't know there was a graphic novel about Single Payer health care. I think the Parecon book will be great to share with people, Douglas Rushkoff has been doing substantive graphic novels too right? Why should he have all the fun? Well written Japanese translations about Parecon would be helpful too.

    The axiom magazine article gives a great, succinct definition. " PARECON – participatory economics. Its a model for an alternative system of organising our economies and societies on non-capitalist lines. Thats the key thing underlaying the whole book – to present this well worked out system, for the readers consideration, to does so in an interesting narrative with appealing visuals..." and you let on being of Scottish descent - that gave me an excuse to e-mail a local fellow foreigner about your efforts. 

  Your blog is impressive. I learned a lot about how the net has evolved exploring it. I sent the magazine view to a former Asahi Magazine Journalist that has written several books about Toroku, and a KamiShibai story about the place too. Now he's working on a story about a rural village in Bangladesh where people suffered from arsenic poisoning from other causes but share the same pattern of poverty and powerlessness. I'm helping him with the English translation of the nice woman's personal history watching her fellow villagers fall to mysterious diseases while everyone thought they were cursed. It's a lot like Toroku, or the villages shown in the documentary, Crude, where victim hygiene or ignorance is blamed so that corporations and governments can avoid costs... The stories are another set of motivations for Parecon, decision-making according to the degree you are affected, better accounting of social costs...

Magazine View of Sean's Blog

Sean's Blogspot blog post with the 4 links to other writings about Pareconomic 

Robot6 Article

AxiomMagazine Article

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