Dansels in Distress (explained) (Patreon)

For those reading this welcome to my Patreon page! I hope you consider pledging blahblahblah I know what you're thinking - what's this all about? This is the beginning of a new series that I hope will accomplish three things:

1) Let's start thinking critically about Damsels in Distress:

I grew up loving Fantasy Art. There were a number of art books about the house that had a collection of artists like Frazetta, Brian Froud, Alan Lee. They left a lot of impressions a chief among them was the sexualization of female bodies. In particular Frazetta (who I still love) the Damsel in Distress image was a common theme - but even as a kid I was more into the monsters than this blatant objectification. The Damsel, in my mind, was in the way.

Years later this theme is still alive and well. But what of the "Dansel in Distress?" why haven't we seem them?

My hope is that this series sheds light on a rather uninteresting narrative that - honestly - is ridiculous. If this image strikes you as sexist? know that it is.

For the record I completely agree with Anita Sarkeesian when she says

"The path to equality and liberation does not lie in equally reducing men and women to objectified parts."

But to those who cry foul? I'll just say the same thing women have been told for decades now:

"It's just fantasy! Don't be a prude! Stop trying to censor art!"

I'm hoping through this series I do a lot of learning and unlearning myself, which brings me to point number 2...

2) Warrior Women - Practice makes perfect.

Like many artists I grew up focused on what I wanted to be good at drawing, and men were #1 on my list. My subconscious inclination is to treat women differently - and thus when I began working on this very illustration I had to start over many times. I kept making her "pretty in the face" - despite the fact that I had not made similar efforts with any other type of warrior.

My goal with this new series to come out with 13 different images (which I will then sell as a calendar to those interested) that showcase all kinds of warriors. Diversity is the name of the game whether it's skin tone, body shape, or physical divergence/disability.

To some degree this will also help me with my treatment of Dansels, as this will all assist in my ability to create and carry out...

3) "Dragon Sword"

Those who know my work know that the bulk is non-fiction autobiography. I have been shying away from long fictional narratives since, well? 2010. Dragon Sword is a series first explored in Orcs vs Feminism and it is my intention to see it through.

It's the same story you've read/seen/heard before - but completely different.

It will begin as a free-to-read webcomic and then hopefully be printed. I dunno. I still consider this a "distant future" type project but once I start something I typically don't stop until it's finished.  We'll see what happens but - it's gonna be epic! ^_^

Thank you for reading this article. I'm happy to answer questions if you have any but please consider pledging!

Every dollar helps! not just financially but emotionally too!