#75: Strength and Resentment

Hello pundits,

It’s another week, and what a week it’s been. Full of twists, turns, and takedowns. And now, it also includes cartoons.

This week we see what goes on behind the scenes of an inheritance, and see what it takes to get a job in politics.

Making a mark,
Chris

Like what you see? Follow me on Instagram (@chrisshorten), or talk a friend into following me on Instagram. Or, buy some prints from my website.

Caption: “So it's settled. Annie gets the house and the silverware, and Carl gets the simmering, deep-seated fear and resentment.”

Writing a Will is a challenge.

And it triggers so many questions like: Who gets what? Will they be disappointed? And what exactly can you give away? The answers probably depend on your age and, likely, how deep your resentment for society goes.

Or it might just be the silverware.

A little artist’s note: Is this a pointed, well-aimed attack at Boomers? Or is it just an acknowledgement that the older we get, the more conservative we are likely to become and the more diligent we need to be to see other viewpoints? Perhaps it’s a bit from both columns.

Visually, this one is pretty simple as the two subjects of the cartoon are really all you need to focus on. Of course, you can also focus on the desk, or the two photos, or the delicately balanced shading in the background. But, likely, those two people are all you will really notice. The rest is just there to make it not look weird.

Caption: “My biggest weakness? My lack of follow through. Oh, wait... make that my biggest strength.”

Who here is excited about this interview question? Anyone? Anyone?

But politics is a different game with different rules. There are expectations of certain behaviours. And maybe a lack of follow through is exactly what the campaign or the public office needs. A promise to do something, and then a lack of action to do it.

What could be easier?

A little artist’s note: So this idea has been running around in my head for months now. As, in an interview, it’s one of the stupider questions you’ll hear. Because as if anyone is going to admit that their biggest weakness is in-fact, that they like to take long lunches and steal office supplies? Instead, the answer given is often something more mundane and useless. Like a soft weakness that, even if it was prevalent, wouldn’t impact your chances of employment.

But, the reason why this one has been a long time coming is primarily because I just didn’t know how to draw it. I mean, sure, the two people are easy, no problems there. But the only way the cartoon works is if the background tells the rest of the story. I initially thought of a government department, grim walls, boring desks, all of that. But then I realised that could be any workplace. So, then came the idea of some sort of campaign headquarters. It’s on the way to government, and as long as the viewer, that’s you, can see that it’s connected to politics, then they will cotton-on about the cliche around government’s lack of follow through.

Or, at least, that’s the intention.

Thanks for reading MiddleSquiggle!

Follow me on Instagram @chrisshorten for new cartoons every Tuesday and Friday. Or subscribe below for a weekly email every Thursday.