After publishing two of my comic stripes, the Daily Cardinal, a
student-run newspaper, made a sudden decision that they could not
publish Molecules I Have Known and Loved. The release of MIHKAL
ended without receiving reader complaints or objection. Several people
expressed their disappointment or anger after hearing my apology that
MIHKAL was banned.
The Daily Cardinal staff said they were very
concerned about depicting dangerous drugs, such as Speed, as cartoon
characters. I was very excited to see my works published, but I
understand that not all people can tolerate drug-related topics. My
comical depiction can be easily interpreted by some people as advocacy
for drugs. Here I'm saying again that the intention of my comic is
neither promoting nor against recreational drugs. I'm more frustrated
with the editors' inconsistency - granting me the opportunity then
taking it away within a month.
Professor W. noted that there is
always phobia of drugs in the society. He saw the outcome as
discouraging but understandable. My lab professor did not see a good
potential in MIHKAL as a comic series, but said it surprised him that
the Daily Cardinal, well-known on campus for their liberal and
undaunting attitude, turned it away.
Other people deemed the
newspaper editors' decision as narrow-minded. They understood that
MIHKAL is meant to be a humorous take-on of the subject. My current
classmate S. K. thought newspapers should publish controversial materials
to promote the diversity and freedom of expression. A post doc
in philosophy and a physics faculty said it was "ridiculous", because
Speed whom was blamed is just a comic character. People who do drugs
would have done them anyways, regardless if they read my comic. The
faculty said with disbelief that the Daily Cardinal, which publishes
offensive and controversial things all the time, including articles that
teach people how to have sex, would reject such funny and artistic
work.
Some faculties felt sorry for losing an opportunity to
educate the public. C. D., a research fellow specialized in
sedative-hypnotics, wrote in a message that "they clearly did not get
the scope of [the] comic" and that people just can't make rational
judgement on certain topics. The physics faculty imagined MIHKAL would
be very informative, which could potentially help reduce drug-related
problems in the society. "The problem is we don't talk about it," she
said.
A few people thought the newspaper should never publish
such material. Perhaps with some misunderstanding, Professor G. said,
not unhappily, "[The comic] suggests that you [the author] took and
enjoyed those drugs. I was surprised that the newspaper agreed to
publish it."
Despite people's divergent opinions, they agreed
that the quality of my art is good. I've got a feeling that this is not
the end of this incident. The Daily Cardinal staff said they still hoped
my art to be a part of their paper and wanted to discuss with me,
though with hesitation and possibly denial. Two of my friends eagerly
wanted to see MIHKAL published on paper and volunteered to show my
online samples to the city-based newspaper office.
So far I'm
happy with just doing a web-based comic series and sharing it with my
dear friends and professors. It should be a work enjoyed by people who
do drugs as well as people who don't. In fact, I've received positive
responses from both kinds of people. I'm also getting prepared to be
notorious if I'm determined to deal with this subject in long-term. This
is definitely not the end of MIHKAL. It just got started.
