markmayerson
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markmayerson.bsky.social
markmayerson
@markmayerson.bsky.social
320 followers 400 following 91 posts
Graphic novelist, sculptor, former animation artist and teacher. https://mayersoncreative.com
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markmayerson.bsky.social
After the late Paul Conrad, editorial cartoonist for the Los Angeles Times.
February 5, 2025 at 2:49 PM
markmayerson.bsky.social
The paradox of the survival instinct concluded.
As the human population increases and the environment deteriorates, our existence is threatened. (A farmer looks at ruined crops. Another sits on the roof of a house amidst a flood.) The survival instinct will increase levels of selfishness and fear, which may just make things worse. (Armed guards stand in front of a gated mansion.) Our only hope is to recognize the role of selfishness and fear in our behavior. Otherwise, the survival instinct may be the thing that kills large numbers of us. A quote from the Dalai Lama: "We are self-centered and selfish but we need to be wisely selfish, not foolishly so. If we neglect others, we too lose. We have to support others. We can educate people to understand that the best way to fulfill their own interests is to be concerned about the welfare of other."
February 1, 2025 at 3:36 PM
markmayerson.bsky.social
The paradox of the survival instinct continued.
The fear makes it easy to demonize the oppressed, which results in more oppression. (A cop has three people spread eagled against a wall.) And if the dominant group can't benefit from the oppressed group or needs a scapegoat, there's always genocide. Politicians build their campaigns around selfishness and fear, regardless there they stand on the issues. (A politician addresses a crowd.) "Vote for us. We'll protect your interests and get you more of what you want. Our opponents will destroy everything that you value." Dominant groups seek to control government through campaign contributions and other chicanery. What does the dominant group want? Lower taxes. (A rich vacationer says, "Should we take our yacht or our jet?) Fewer government services. (A closed public library.) And fewer regulations. (A river poisoned with toxins.) In short, the ability to gain and keep more resources. (A man lies on huge bags of money.) Because nations are made of selfish people, nations at selfishly as well. War is just selfishness on a national scale. "Our need for land is greater than yours." (Horseman with weapons attack natives.) "Our need for resources is greater than yours." (Soldiers parachuting onto an oil field and firing at people.) "Our need for power, to protect what we have and to take what we want, is greater than yours." (A plane drops bombs.) Governments routinely use fear to justify war. (The shadow of a soldier covers a mother and child.) As Nazi Herman Goering said, "The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack and patriotism and exposing the country to anger. It works the same in any country." Of course, the survival instinct is somewhat blanced by altruism, the opposite of selfishness. (A man holds the door open for a man who uses a walker.) Parents sacrifice freedom, time and money for their children. (A man walks his baby to sleep in the middle of the night.) Friends help each other. (Two men carry a couch from a van.) People give to charity. (A man puts coins in a blind man's cup.) But thousands of years of civilization across the world have failed to eliminate poverty and war, so it appears that selfishness and fear are more powerful than altruism. (Two large superheroes representing selfishness and fear tower over a smaller figure representing altruism.) How can we restrain selfishness? Religion attempts to. (A man stands poised between heaven and hell.) So do laws. (a criminal in handcuffs in a police station.) Yet both can only claim partial success.
February 1, 2025 at 3:32 PM
markmayerson.bsky.social
The paradox of the survival instinct.
If you've ever tried to swat a fly, you've seen the survival instinct in action. It's so fundamental to life that we take it for granted. Nothing wants to die. But the survival instinct down't just operate when life is threatened. Creative creatires look for ways to enhance their survival every moment they're alive. Finding more food for instance. (A fly lands on an apple core.) The need to survive puts one's needs ahead of another's. It's the root of selfishness and greed. (A snarling dog guards some meat from two other snarling dogs that want to take it.) Put simply "My needs are more important than your needs." (A hungry man stares through a restaurant window at a man eating.) Compared to animals, people acquire a lot more resources to enhance survival. (A man barbecues burgers surrounded by a house, car, pool and sports equipment.) Knowing that other people want the same resources makes for fear. "They want to take what I have." (A man puts up signs that say "Private Property" and "Keep Out!") The paradox of the survival instinct is that it keeps us alive but is also a major source of conflict. It's the root of greed and fear. It doesn't just operate on an individual level. (Two babies fight over a teddy bear. When one takes it, the other cries.) Groups behave selfishly as well. If one group can dominate another, paying them nothing... (An overseer with a gun watches slaves picking cotton.) Or little. (A supervisor overlooks people in a call center.) The dominant group saves money and reduces competition for the best paying jobs. (Three men gloat over a graph showing rising profits.) If on of the oppressed group tries to join the dominant group, the dominant group may only allow for token acceptance. (One woman working in a crowd of men.) Or may respond more vigorously. (A cop chasing demonstrators holding a sign saying "Equality Now!") The dominant group rationizes their selfishness by blaming the oppressed group for their situation. (At a cocktail party, people say, "Not like us. They don't value life. They're ignorant. They're lazy. They're inferior.) If the domiant group prevents the oppressed from having education and job opportunities, often the oppressed group will turn to crime. Being human, they're driven by the same selfish survival instinct as the dominant group. (A man with a gun robbing another man.) The domanant group needs the oppressed group for their cheap labor... (A man relaxes in his yard while others mow the lawn and trim the bushes.) And fears the oppressed group at the same time. (A man with a briefcase clutched to his chest runs through a poor neighborhood.)
February 1, 2025 at 3:16 PM
markmayerson.bsky.social
Some people on ebay are crazy.
Two identical items offered on ebay. One for $14.77 and the other for $254.51.
December 17, 2024 at 1:44 PM
markmayerson.bsky.social
I've created a series of 4 graphic novels starting with Tripp to the Stars. The stories deal with colonialism, sacrifice, greed and slavery and can be read for free at mayersoncreative.com/comics.html. #kidlit #graphicnovels #middlegrade #kidlitart
A human-like dinosaur named Granjik pursues Harvey Tripp in the middle grade graphic novel Tripp to the Stars.
November 17, 2024 at 2:44 PM
markmayerson.bsky.social
I've been creating picture books and graphic novels for children. Puppy Seeds, The Soda Pop Kid, The Elves and 2 Shoemakers and The Land that Banned Books can all be read for free on my website. mayersoncreative.com/comics.html. #kidlit #graphicnovels #kidlitart #picturebooks #childrensbooks
The cover to a picture book called Puppy Seeds. A boy holds seeds in one hand and a spade in the other, expecting the seeds to grow dogs. From the picture book The Soda Pop Kid. A boy whose burping offends his parents learns to not burp. The gas from drinking soda pop stays inside him, blowing him up like a balloon and making him float away. The the middle grade graphic novel The Elves and 2 Shoemakers. Three elves are sent to a shoemaker to learn a lesson, but they don't understand what it is. The cover of the middle grade graphic novel The Land that Banned Books. A young girl clutches her books to her chest and flees from those who would take her books away.
November 17, 2024 at 2:35 PM
markmayerson.bsky.social
My latest picture book, The Soda Pop Kid, can be read for free at mayersoncreative.com/comics/soda_.... Still looking for an agent.
A boy who drank too much soda pop has inflated like a balloon and floated into the sky.
November 14, 2024 at 8:20 PM
markmayerson.bsky.social
The paradox of the survival instinct. Read the whole thing for free at mayersoncreative.com/comics/survi...
The survival instinct doesn't just operate when life is threatened. Creatures look for ways to enhance their survival every moment they're alive. Put simply, "my needs are more important than your needs." Knowing that other people want the same resources you have makes for fear. "They want to take what I have." The paradox of the survival instinct is that it keeps us alive but is also a major source of conflict. It's the root of greed and fear.
November 8, 2024 at 9:55 AM
markmayerson.bsky.social
The sculpting studio I've been a member of for 14 years is closing for good in August. This is my last completed piece, called "Jungle Uber." The one on the left is the original, made with Monster clay. The one on the right is a resin printed cast.
Two versions of a sculpture. The original on the left, the 3D printed cast on the right.
August 21, 2024 at 10:10 AM
markmayerson.bsky.social
A ball and chain with mouse ears. The leg clamp is now open since the first Mickey Mouse cartoon, Steamboat Willie, is now public domain.
January 1, 2024 at 12:41 PM
markmayerson.bsky.social
My first 3D printed sculpture. The original was done in clay and scanned. Pic 2 is the print in progress. Where there's a lattice, it's the sculpture. Where it's hollow, it's scaffolding the software creates to support areas higher up. It took more than 3 days to print the 14 inch high piece.
A clay sculpture of a mother and child. The child is on the mother's shoulders. A 3D print in progress. The areas with the lattice interior are part of the sculpture. The hollow areas are scaffolding to hold up higher areas that need support. The sculpture with the scaffolding still on. The sculpture with the scaffolding removed.
September 24, 2023 at 3:11 PM