Caramblogage

This time, it's really all about lines ;) Below: Book of Faragh 4: of Lines (May 2020) Faragh/فراغ (Ar): emptiness, vacuum, a free space http://caramk.net/faragh/faragh.html

The May Issue is available at  Modern Graphics in Oranienstr., Berlin.  It's all about lines.  Below: The April Issue of the Book of Faragh.  The comic I chose for this month was "L'Arabe du Futur 2 (1984—1985)" by Riad Sattouf. If the first volume is anything to go by, the second one (in French this time) should continue to be a thought-provoking journey through a youth in Syria and France. 

One of the many reasons I have grown to appreciate interviews with Arundhati Roy over the last year of what I'm calling her book tour is that, in contrast with many speakers at conferences and interviewees, I never have the feeling she is trying to sell me something. She speaks in a calm, collected voice, full of knowledge, experience and occasional wisdom, without being desperately full of herself. One of my favourite sayings is, so far, goes something like "The most successful revolution was the secession of the rich onto a global planet, wherefrom they cannot see the poor. There is no more India, no more USA, no more Europe- there is planet Rich, then there is planet Poor, and both are global."* Carers at their limits- now more than ever. For €2400 and some chocolates?  A month or so into what may be a new normal, my life is still pleasant- with some adjustment, I am, so far, privileged in this absence of change and an ability to follow the crisis as I would fol...

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote this post, titled Dystopia , containing a dark version of the future, a look at the negative outcomes that might crawl out of the COVID-19 crisis. It has, by now been described as "9/11 in slow motion". Someone else broke a golden editorial rule to describe it as "2008  on crack". Media outlets, including Youtube, have warned of the long-term effects of this, on civil rights, labour and employment, surveillance and press freedom. And some, most notably Mr Orban of Hungary, have used this excellent opportunity to pass new, restrictive legislation that concentrates power in their hands. There have been calls for the elusive COVID cure not to be patented. And yet… And yet… It's easy to lose yourself in a media bubble, following the news and media 24/7, following, queuing in line to get into expensive shops, just walking into discount stores and the constant desire for many drinks (preferably with 10 friends or more, in a park...

This IGAF (Is Goodness a Fashion) series explores, from a non-expert point of view, the social, economic and narrative ramifications I see developing from the COVID-19 crisis, worries, but also hopes for a future that the current shock to the system may result in. via Raul Krauthausen  :) I don't know what to say about media in relation to COVID-19. A couple of reasons: I quit most social media a few years back, a move I regret and don't at the same time, and I don't watch TV- not even streamed evening news. So my perception of the way this crisis has been reported has been shaped by articles I chose to read in media I follow anyway, both in the mainstream and otherwhere, Youtube and, more recently, Twitter. This is a very unusual position for me to be in, as I usually try to gain as broad an overview on media practices in shaping the narrative in this kind of situation. But, even as I reload the various news feeds and blogs I'm following every minute, this is ...

A recent acquaintance inspired me to take up cartoon documentaries again, and so the "Book of Faragh" was born. Faragh means "emptiness", free space, free time. As it compiles a month of sketches (done in my free time) on a topic, I like the name for this personal little project. Hope you enjoy reading as much as I did making this, although this particular issue feels a bit too close to realities that are currently unfolding. It's been accompanying some of the stuff I've been writing here recently, but I thought it might be nice to have it collected in one place.

This IGAF (Is Goodness a Fashion) series explores, from a non-expert point of view, the social, economic and narrative ramifications I see developing from the COVID-19 crisis, worries, but also hopes for a future that the current shock to the system may result in. It's a pity that random things happen when random people interact. That a person might be exposed to unexpected, or unpleasant sights when they leave the house. That we might see trash, homeless people, the effects of gentrification, closed stores in polluted streets, trees withered by mercurial weather, people in environmental suits, afraid of the diseases lurking within the safe confines of those suits. The world divided into those who have to face the streets, the Outside, and those who are safe Inside. It's a pity that these still interact. Our measure as a species that claims moral, ethical and intellectual hegemony over this planet will be two-fold as we deal with the COVID-19 crisis: On the one hand, socie...

This IGAF (Is Goodness a Fashion) series explores, from a non-expert point of view, the social, economic and narrative ramifications I see developing from the COVID-19 crisis, worries, but also hopes for a future that the current shock to the system may result in. https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/oureconomy/following-coronavirus-money-trail/ The response to COVID19 demonstrates the role of publicly funded bodies in the resolution of public and economic moments of panic- the role of governments and geographic unions, of a global response to a pandemic, of a healthy and workable health care system that is universal and the ability to effect universal solutions to specific problems. There are some "temporary" measures that, no matter whom you ask, will be described as "human". Time to wonder and wander, to crystalise your path, to engage with friends and loved ones, to not work- to, for a while, not operate within the rules of the market. It is a short break befo...

This IGAF (Is Goodness a Fashion) series explores, from a non-expert point of view the social, economic and narrative ramifications I see developing from the COVID-19 crisis, worries, but also hopes for a future that the current shock to the system may result in. I very much doubt that the COVID-19 crisis will be the cathartic moment that enables a better future for this world as a whole. Take note that most of this writing is happening over the span of two months at this point, if I include the February Zine that preceded my temporary return to Caramblogage- a very short time. It feels like months have been compressed into days, once again. Two weeks of shock, of disaster and, finally the reemergence of capitalism. It bears repeating that I don't believe that this novel virus is any less dangerous than it is made to be, and that we should do everything to mitigate its effects on friends, loved ones and societies. We should be mindful that those of us in the urban global ...