Have you ever heard of Hugh MacLeod?
Maybe so, maybe not. He’s a self-consciously edgy cartoonist based in Alpine, Texas. Some of his individual pieces are brilliant, but the brash tone smacks a bit of the Social Media 1.0 years of the mid-2000s when MacLeod made his chops.
Nevertheless, he's well-connected in social media circles to the extent those circles are still relevant. He uses his influence to sell a brand of South African wine in the U.S.
I interviewed him several years ago and read him religiously for awhile, though not as often now. I have the feeling about his work, "I get it
already." But I link to him on this blog, because, I guess, I think other people will find MacLeod funny, as I have.
But to read his Facebook posts, you’d think he was Michelangelo—nay, Moses. In one afternoon last week on Facebook, MacLeod blathered:
I used to worry about my career. Now I just worry about the work.
Weird how [my] book keeps selling and selling, with minimal promotion on my part…
The best way to market your work is to believe in it. I see no contradiction there.
A base function of art is mapping out "The Inner Journey". But who is the map ultimately for? 😉
Most artists hate selling. That's because most artists haven't sold very much.
Marketing art is like making it i.e. There are very few big breakthrough moments. It's mostly just about turning up, every bloody day.
Oh, brother! Just who does he expect is in need of this navigation by longitudes and platitudes?
MacLeod’s posts bring to mind one of his better cartoons: “The price of being a sheep is BOREDOM. The price of being a wolf is LONELINESS. Choose one or the other with great care.”
Hugh, I'm sure you think of yourself as a wolf. But just because we read your cartoons doesn't mean we're sheep.
We know when we're being herded, and we don't like it.
I’ve found his page via your link and this sheep/wolf cartoon is one of my favourite, too. Even if it’s not completely true: wolves live in packs with a rigid hierarchy.
Speaking of sheep, I like this more: “Only sheep need a leader”
I disagree–I don’t think Hugh is calling you a sheep.
I think Hugh makes social objects, ideas and prints that we can share, that help start a conversation. If someone sees themselves in a cartoon, it can trigger a useful conversation, no?
So, there’s Hugh—>fan—>new person—>conversation.
And certainly there’s no spam, no in your face, no ‘you must read this’ from Hugh. In fact, he’s world class generous in the way he shares the work, but it’s to avoid if you want to.
I think the world needs more Hugh-types, not fewer.
I’m really only saying that Hugh ought to check his many Facebook pronouncements to make sure they’re more artful and less arch.
It’s a matter of taste, of course. But in art, taste matters.
Hugh, feel free to use that line for your next Facebook post …..
Nice bit of backpedaling after Seth’s comment on your part, I thought 😉
Hugh, just wait until I turn my critical gaze toward Seth. That’ll be the real bloodbath!
(Honestly, I’ve been following you closely over the years, and have developed that weird and complicated relationship that makes it fun to follow blogs, just as it used to be fun to follow some columnists, and try to figure out where they’re REALLY coming from. The only difference now is the happy chance to actually engage. Thanks for playing, however tersely.)