Comics, Culture, Controversy It will be an interesting time to visit Malaysia. As a cartoonist, I'm hoping to find some local comics and culture. As a blogger, I hope to at least get one night out for geekin', and take a snapshot of how things look to a visitor. The 'cartoon controversy' has been a subject of much debate on my comics email groups. Having some friends who follow Islam / come from Islamic cultures, my initial response is 'they just didn't get it'. The cartoonists and publishers didn't understand the culture they were critiquing well enough. Secondly, if I was a believer in Islam, my reaction would be pity. I'd want to educate these people. If that didn't work, I'd turn away from them, and warn others they were not open-minded. I'm sad to see such social unrest, and don't understand fully what's fueling it all. I would like to see these many protesters take up pens, not weapons. Still a lot to figure out. I'm getting my news through a very narrow filter so it will be good to read more in Kuala Lumpur. Justin Hall and I hope to meet up as well, it will all be so fast! Maybe we set up a Petaling Street Comicker/Blogger Noodle night? I arrive Sunday late and leave Wed Afternoon. Am gearing my talk more about project blogs/non-formal education. Big challenge in Cambodia: language issues. ==================================== Aspirations for Trip: 1. Present kickass paper and workshop. 2. Meet some bloggers (BlogsMalaysia? Petaling Street?[update - looks like tentative plan for Tues lunch, email me for details]) and find out what 'meng-orgy-kan' means. Lots of Global Voices links, that's a good sign. 3. Distribute some copies of Indonesian language QuickDraw. (I've been told repeatedly that Indonesian and Malaysian are COMPLETELY SEPARATE languages, but well, I have these extra copies....) 4. With Justin, go on a pilgrimage to Lat's house, bow down and say, 'We're not worthy, we're not worthy.' ...maybe fix his web site. 5. Well, I can't tell you this one. Maybe later. 6. Find animasi and orang komikus Malaysia. 7. Seek out Malaysian hip hop / punk tunes and shows. What I'll probably do: Spend most of my time obsessing over my paper/workshop presentations, doodle cartoons of academic grooming habits, buy a used copy of 'Orang Kota' at a book stall on my way back to the airport. =============================================================== Blogs that I've been referred to, or that have linked: http://www.petalingstreet.org (portal) http://www.blogsmalaysia.com (portal) http://educationmalaysia.blogspot.com/ (education related) http://educatedeviate.wordpress.com (education related) http://www.tabulas.com/~lainie/home.html http://www.skthew.com/ http://www.jeffooi.com/ http://www.aizuddindanian.com/voi http://lionel.weblogs.us/ http://theeternalwanderer.wordpress.com http://kamigoroshi.net http://geminianeyes.wordpress.com Tags: Cambodia,comics,Malaysia

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