Ask the Author: Jessica Hagemann
[admin / March 25th, 2010 / Interviews ]Jessica Hagemann’s MySpace: Begin was a finalist in our 1,001 Awesome Words Contest and today talks about shapes, social networking and cartoon characters.
1. What is the power structure like in your life? Is it a hexagonal or a dodecahedron?
This is one I struggle with a lot. Because I like my power structure to be a triangle–with me at the top. Not in terms of wealth or power (that is, power over other people), but I get very uncomfortable, claustrophobic really, whenever I feel like my power over my own self is in jeopardy. I grew up an extremely “individual individual”–dependent on no one but myself for most things, and that’s how I’ve come to like it. I don’t like being bossed around, or for that matter bossing other people around. I take care of myself and help out others when I’m able, but otherwise I admire self-sufficiency in those around me. The problem with a triangular power structure is that it’s the shape I simultaneously associate with democracy: a large number of people at the bottom placing too much power in the hands of a few at the top, by allowing the top minority to unanimously influence the thoughts and opinions of an ignorant majority. It’s a conundrum.
2. What would your ideal social networking site look like?
Sorry, but I wouldn’t have a social networking site. I do have a facebook, but strictly to keep in contact with people I’ve met on journeys around the world. So I’m not on it more than once a week. I much prefer the personal, the face to face. I don’t even like phones. One thing I love about international traveling is the excuse to be out of reach by technology, not having a cell to check constantly. So, maybe a site that organized your contacts based on country and region, that had a Skype option directly built into it, where you could chat/voice/webcam directly with another through the site.
3. Were you once quadrilateral before you warped like a smile? Five point bonus if you know where this question comes from.
Bus to Beelzebub. I was never quadrilateral, but I do wonder whether I might enjoy a love rhombus.
4. Do you design charts such as “MySpace: So” for a living?
Not yet, but some day, when someone understands what I’m trying to do with my art, and wants to pay me for it. But oh, that the art may never become about the money.
5. What cartoon character do you most embody?
How about what cartoon character most embodies me? Because I hope I’m a little more three-dimensional than a cartoon, and I would rather be the inspiration behind the art rather than the other way around. That said, is a three-way tie permissible? Lisa Simpson, for her social conscience; the Ninja Turtles, who inspired me to get my black belt in martial arts; and any of the drawings for the Decemberists band art–their women are so sad, yet strange and exotic in a kind of realm of the female mystery.