A Little Goncharov for Thanksgiving

I learned about Goncharov the way I learn about most memes and pop culture, from my teenagers. In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, we had a group chat spring up on Discord that included two family friends who were going to be joining us for the holiday from out of town. One of the topics of conversation turned to Goncharov, the imaginary film around which an active Tumblr fan community had sprung up, as if it had been a real, little-known cult classic from 1973 made by Martin Scorsese. 

It became a fun creative exercise—in the middle of the day, one of the kids would send a question about Goncharov: “What do you think about the relationship between Katya and Sofia?” or “What did you make of the clock tower imagery?” or “Goncharov… iphone or android guy?” To which someone else would playfully answer. 

This same kind of thing was happening on a massive scale on Tumblr, where artists created movie posters and promotional materials, composers posted songs and soundtracks, people posted deleted scenes and script fragments. There are reviews and academic papers, fictitious Wikipedia and IMDb listings, and A LOT of fan art.

Lynda Carter posted a photo on her Tumblr with Henry Winkler that she captioned, “Me and ‘The Fonz’ at the premiere of Goncharov (1973) at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.”

Discussions popped up about the characters and who would play them in the reboot. Posts were shared hundreds, then thousands of times. A Goncharov (1973) Lore Google Doc and Discord server were created to help keep the content organized.

Our family’s fan-favorite character was Ice-Pick Joe, so I wrote “Musings on Ice-Pick Joe” in between chopping veggies for stuffing and waiting for the sweet potatoes to roast, complete with some AI-generated art. That was four days ago, and the post has been liked and shared more than I anticipated, and I keep thinking about why that is.

Conversations around Goncharov have continued, and I find myself wondering what it is about this moment in time and this type of activity that continues to capture so many people’s imagination and engagement?

Tumblr is a hub for public fandom culture and community in a way that the other social media platforms are not. It’s where you can find discourse and fanfiction/fanart for almost anything.

Still, this is a little different and on a much larger scale. At a time when people are looking for Twitter alternatives, with the stress and joy of holidays approaching, what is drawing so many people in?

We talked about this over Thanksgiving: the way Goncharov allowed people low-stakes permission to create, to play to their particular strengths, to connect with other people, to escape reality for a moment, to build a new community. We talked about the shortcomings and challenges we saw: power dynamics, issues of race, etc.

It’s an evolving experiment, and as such, it has been shaped by the many variables involved and course-corrected each time someone notices a gap or opportunity: What would a musical look like? What if some of the actors had gone on Sesame Street or the Muppet Show? What if Gonzo played Goncharov and Miss Piggy played Katya? What would the remake look like set in 1980s NYC? What recipes might be created for the Goncharov cookbook? (I remember how much fun we had making the Forking Good cookbook.) There really is no end to what people can come up with. I’m waiting to see if Goncharov gets a Tom Gauld comic or a mention on Saturday Night Live. 

It seems relevant that role-playing games, both online and tabletop, have recently increased in popularity. Dungeons and Dragons was the cornerstone of Stranger Things, and 50,000 people attended Gen Con (tabletop game convention) in 2022. It’s not my world, although I’ve watched the joy my kids take in it. My energy goes into writing, but I can absolutely appreciate the fun of playing together. 

As a writer, I walk around with worlds in my head, but I don’t get to share them until they get published. Something like Goncharov, which was not an intellectual property “owned” by anyone, gives people permission to imagine and play.

I think it speaks to a need we have an human beings to experience connection, joy, wonder, and hope. We've always had those needs. People have been gathering around fires or tables, telling stories, for thousands of years.

Today, the hearth may be a computer or a phone, but the desire is not that different. My November began with the publication of Mother Christmas, my graphic novel, the secret origin of the Santa Claus story which is rooted in the ancient Muses, whose gifts inspire humanity. One of the questions my story attempts to answer is: Where does inspiration come from?

If we look at Goncharov we can see that inspiration comes from so many places. So much is possible when people given themselves permission to play, to shrug off the inner critics and outer trolls, and to imagine for a moment a different world that they have a part in creating. That is such a powerful and compelling idea.

Stories remind us that we are not alone, that we share struggles, and that we can overcome obstacles. There are so many challenges in the world right now.

Maybe Goncharov is a lens through which people are seeing themselves and each other, reminding us how much fun it is to make-believe and how powerful it can be to have a shared image of the world.

The first step in creation is imagining. Exercising that muscle, allowing ourselves to play and tell stories and make art is a worthwhile one, and I think it's one that we need to survive.  The Goncharov phenomenon gives me hope, because if we can have this many people put their energy into creating a whole world around Goncharov, just imagine what else is possible?

Gonzo Nation Rise Up 🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓

WABInktober Day 9: Muppet

Gonzo being an Icon and my favorite Muppet! <3

Also, Camilla with glasses cause she looks cute in em ok?

Sideways Street

Inspired by the baffling drawings by M.C. Escher; this street painting transformed into something absurd and delightful. Sideways Street by Mark Young

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Now that it’s out on aallll the platforms - the cover art I did for @goneawryband! My coworker/fellow weirdo @rafi_dre asked me to do a gross version of the blink-182 bunny, which of course, I was fucking stoked to oblige. Give them a listen and a follow because they’re gonna be fun to witness. #therockshow #blink182 #goneawryband #goneawry #illustration #ink #lowbrow #neon #punk #blink182bunny #grossart #skanking #poppunk #gonzoart https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm9qIuOOmTg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Tough Day, on the Rocks

You can only get so wet, y’all! This was so fun to render actually! I feel like I’m getting better at texture and lighting, and that’s really exciting!

I started with just the old copper tub. I kept sketching and I couldn’t decide who it was. Eventually I gave in to it. It was clearly yolked Gonzo. There was just no way around it.

If you wanna support me so I can continue to up the marionette puppets in-or-near water, I’ve got a Ko-Fi and you can support me there!

I’ll have a time lapse of this piece posted for supporters soon! (If you wanna see how the crime was committed)

Yoho, spacefolks.

Here is the Art for (+links to) something I (painstakingly) slapped together for a lil surprise Music Release.

This is a great example of my approach to Hip Hop, so if you know any Rappers looking for a Producer, @ them for me plz

=)

Reposting old art I did in the past

Wow! @themariawolf is putting out some cool, gonzo covers! #comics #marvel #marvelcomics #gonzoart #hulk #mariawolf #weirdart https://www.instagram.com/p/ChvC9BhPXeE/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

« Mais qui as parlé de te trancher la gorge ? Je veux juste te dessiner un petit " 🐽 " sur le front. » Et bon Week-End les p'tits Groins 😎 #filmculte #lasvegasparano #fearandloathinginlasvegas #johnnydepp #terrygilliam #beniciodeltorro #huntersthompson #fearandloathing #affiche #posters #illustrations #characterdesign #instaart #frenchillustrator #shopping #shop #boutiqueenligne #legroin #cochon #humourabsurde #parodie #gonzo #gonzoart https://www.instagram.com/p/CfMVABwod-G/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Happy birthday to Gonzo artist Ralph Steadman @steadmanart who turns 85 today. Here’s his poster art for Where the Buffalo Roam (1980). . #steadman #ralphsteadman #gonzo #gonzojournalism #gonzoart #wherethebuffaloroam #huntersthompson #billmurray https://www.instagram.com/p/CO50Cf8lmUJ/?igshid=7i42accyk9g7

*Swipe 1-10* Get a halo-oad of a real character: St. Quincy Of Stoneham, whose power to captivate crowds rivals that of Christ! Thrill to my latest #mixedmedia artwork, immortalizing our friend, legendary New England media personality/entertainer #QuincyBrisco, whom @timeout.boston calls “an irrepressible luminary of the underground cable access scene.” Get a charge out of what lengths the man goes with his home remedies to power ahead on so many media projects. Though strange to some, his ❤️ of gold always beats the odds! Living out loud, Brisco bellows Bee-hee-hee-ho-ho & more catchphrases! Adorning his trademark leopard-skin jacket, I tell of his shows: Quincy’s Perspective saw our true detective make a scene in confronting himself in monologue, surreal skits & wit n wisdom man-on-the-street bits. @LawrenceHollie73’s weirdo variety show Random Acts super-sized these efforts to Quinci-Max as QB confronted superstitions & octopuses taking over the world. Our #ExperimentallyILL arts podcast/film fest fed his bombastic voice & vigor to the indie ears of those hungry for alt-journalism. More mainstream fans of #WBCN’s @ToucherAndRichOfficial show will know Quincy as king of “#Quisp,” taking a sound-bite out of Boston afternoons with @FredToucher & Rich Shertenlieb. He rocks his would-be VIP badge proudly: #WeAreTheMusicMakersAndWeAreTheDreamersOfDreams QB continues to “burn you like a blowtorch:” refer to hot spots on After Hours with @TCRestani, as @WWE star @TheRealAlSnow’s allie at @BostonWrestlingCom & A’ing Q’s on Milk & Cashews, named after his classic snack. However, our pal was perhaps never more shot-out-of-a-cannon than as rock n roll MC of BATV’s #GoldenSoundsSeries, culminating in @FutureIslands speaking for us all: “Thank you, Quincy.” ❤️ Pen, acrylic, colored pencil, sharpie, gel pen, liquid watercolor from atomizer on paper. 9X12. #popsurrealism #lowbrowpopsurrealism #outsiderart #artbrut #illustration #artistsofinstagram #expressionism #acrylicpainting #punkart #streetart #toucherandrich #gonzoart #illustrationartists #charicature #cartoon #surrealism #pendrawing #fanart #locallegend #bostonlegend #tributeart #tcrestani #portraitart. https://www.instagram.com/p/CKGATrtFg6T/?igshid=6s4msbihp5ui

(First post!)

To start off my Tumblr art page, I present to you a cute Muppet couple (and my personal favorite couple): Gonzo and Camilla! 😊

(I do not know what dance Gonzo is doing, just assume it’s something weird to match his weird personality.)

Think I’m gonna go kick it with the @villainarts family this weekend in New Orleans!! I’ll be in the new @albroordie #antiteam booth. Who wants to come with us? #neworleans #neworleanstattoo #neworleansartist #villainarts #nolatattoo #tattoovoodoo #watercolor #gonzo #tattoo #ghostofneworleans #artslut #gonzotattooartist #gonzoart #watercolortattoo #albroordie #watercolortattoo #avantgarde #avantgardetattoo #abstractrealism #abstracttattoo #saniderm #allaprima #fusionink #heliostattoo #hustlebutterdeluxe #electrumstencilprimer #iamghost #evilgenius #evilgeniustattooclub (at FrenchQuarter NewOrleans) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp7hpfzgEdS/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=159gyjn98d7lk

Quirky Buildings

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