Interview with RedZine

RedZine is a progressive arts e-zine based in South Africa.

Stephanie McMillan interviewed by Devin Purvis, October, 2001.

We're proud to announce that the screamingly funny and extremely confrontational editorial strip "Minimum Security" by Stephanie McMillan will now be a weekly REDzine feature.

Stephanie's work is bitingly satirical and tackles some of the world's burning issues with finesse and a sense of humour that can't be beat.

Rendered in a refreshingly humanist style Minimum Security is social commentary at it's finest. Having appeared in everything from 'Z Magazine' to 'Impact Press' Min Security has even attracted the attention of Adbusters - earning an hounarable mention in their Creative Resistance Contest 2000.

In order for us all to get to know Stephanie a little better the RED came up with a few questions for her to chew over.

rz: With so much injustice in the world what keeps you going?

sm: With all the horrors in the world it's sometimes hard to see why anyone not in complete denial could be optimistic about the future. I don't know if we human beings will ever be able to organize our society in a way that is just, equitable and in harmony with the earth. Perhaps we've already fallen too far into the downward spiral to climb back out again. But what is there to live for but the hope that the future will be better, and the satisfaction of doing one's part to help it come into being? However improbable a positive future might be, the attempt is still worth one's energy and attention. To face the truth, even if it's upsetting, and still work for a positive vision is to be part of the stream of life.

To give up, to numb oneself, to wallow in willful ignorance, or to accept degradation without protest is to embrace death.

What gives me the most hope is to hear or read of others involved in the struggle for a better world. Many, many people do not give up, and witnessing this world-wide community of people with hope, vision and action sustains me. Also, I find feedback from readers very inspiring. Recently one wrote to me, "I just wanted to thank you for your comic this week. It expressed the feelings I had for this whole mess in a way I couldn't put to words myself." Another wrote, "Thanks for the voice of reason amid all the idiocy I seem to be surrounded by as of late." That sort of response makes me feel I've succeeded as an artist and commentator.

rz: How did you get started in activism?

sm: I began to get involved with social/political movements in 1982 after reading the book "Fate of the Earth" by Jonathan Schell, which is about the effects that nuclear war would have if it were launched. After my eyes were opened to that horror, I was forced to examine our political/economic system and confront the reality that it not only can't eliminate war and exploitation, but that it is based on those things.

rz: ...and more specifically how did you get involved in comic strip activism?

sm: I'd wanted to be a cartoonist ever since I was about ten years old. For a long time after my political awakening, I thought it was more urgent, more "worthwhile" to help organize protests and debate theory and so on rather than contribute to the struggle by drawing cartoons. Perhaps it was more important at the time, since the progressive movement in the US was a lot smaller and more fragile then. For the past few years, though, the international anti-global-capitalism movement has grown so much, and I've come to understand that it isn't irresponsible of me to pursue what I'd always wanted to do.

During the mid-1990s I drew single-panel editorial cartoons as part of a job I had at a newspaper. They usually wanted it to have a local angle or illustrate a news item, but in spite of those limitations it was great experience in terms of developing style and discipline. Now that I self-syndicate, I have complete freedom to express whatever I wish. I also learned so much while being an organizer/activist. Without that experience I would have a much more shallow understanding of various issues and ways of thinking.

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