A little apocalyptic humor
World Match — Humans versus the Environment
Riot for a small planet
“So, while we would like to think that people can’t really be so stupid as to wipe themselves out — with the means of survival right in front of them — they can, and they certainly do.” — David Byrne, Bicycle Diaries
A 2023 Lancet Planetary Health global survey of 16–25 year-olds found that more than half of the respondents said humanity is doomed. Judging from a lot of material offered on the streaming platforms, many people find depictions of a post-apocalyptic world entertaining.
I’ve recently read some essays that suggest the despairing belief we are doomed is not conducive to doing anything to improve the situation. Well, duh!
In 1968, Stewart Brand published the first Whole Earth Catalog. In 1969, Ron Cobb (the artist/cartoonist who drew the album cover for Jefferson Airplane’s After Bathing at Baxter’s ) created the closed e ecology symbol.
The first Earth Day was on April 22, 1970. Some of the cartoons I’ve posted here were originally drawn in the 1980s. This Whole Earth Catalog cartoon was drawn in 1990 with the date on the catalog for thirty years later. Things haven’t gotten that bad, yet.
All the cartoons in the world won’t reverse global climate change, but maybe, just maybe humor can contribute to helping us deal. Ogden Nash (who knew a thing or two about being funny) wrote, “Humor is hope’s companion in arms. Among other things, I think humor is a shield, a weapon, a survival kit”
Suggested listening and viewing: “the Drowned World” by Johan Johannson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXK7oUZ0Uuk
After Bathing at Baxter’s by Jefferson Airplane https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INUHhW_w-ws&t=18s
Earth Bill — Force of Nature -a film by Andrew Lyman-Clarke Earth Bill — Force of Nature (youtube.com)
