Ali has written a great review of the graphic novel As the World Burns, a book which I thoroughly enjoyed, even as it made me despair a bit as I read it. It’s really nice to be in a space where we are exploring ecoearnestness, post-incremental light bulb change and also ecovangelism, in a book that is available in big chain book stores. I agree with you Ali that they did a great job of having a go at almost everyone, but in a way that highlights the ridiculous in our behaviour and personal motivations, rather than just for cheap gags.
I guess the premise of the book is pretty clear – what the fuck are we doing toadying up to big business and mediocre government officials with strong vested interest in the status quo, what are we doing thinking that the tiny household gestures are making deep, significant cultural change from crass/mass consumerism – and why on earth do we think it is nearly enough or nearly fast enough? It portrays the voice of animals, and the tress, and climate – very ‘Council of all Beings’ style for those familiar with some of the Deep Ecology group processes – and to my mind a conspicuously absent viewpoint in all our collective posturings about environmental ‘issues’. I loved having animals as characters in this book. I love the dynamic between the idealistic and earnest dark haired character who tries hard to engage with popular rhetoric about the ‘household actions’ and do her bit; and her friend, the more radical, ‘throw down the system coz it’s intrinsically skewed towards environmental disaster’, but patient, friend. The rabbits from outer space come to suck down on the earth’s resources was a nice device to add a touch of useful exaggeration, sci fi style cultural realism once removed. The graphics were good – clear and engaging – cute even at times. Actually quite touching even in the panels without text. Despite being bleak in parts like any good satire it remains hopeful, utopian dreamy even. This would be a great book club book (for all you folk in face to face book clubs), or great coffee table/ lend to a bunch of friends book. Recommended.
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I've been reading another book (about AlQuaeda and modernity) which spends some time on the Positivists of the 19th century, who generated the idea that utopia can only arise from a great destructive act; and how this flows through most western systems of thought, from marxism, fascism, and also neo-cons and radical islam. As the World Burns is also picking up that idea in the big battle at the end.
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