Creativity thinking - A cartoon side OR a child(ish) side?
An acquaintance had asked, how come there are cartoons (drawn by me) nowadays in my blog? Though he did not comment on the quality of the cartoons (mind you, I'm not a pro!), he did say some of them tickled him.
Well, as they say, there are two sides in every human being - the good side and the bad side. It's up to you how you interprate what's good and what's bad. But logically, donating to earthquake victims is a good deed, while attacking other countries on baseless reasons other than to fulfill one's vendetta and greed, is way way, a bad deed(s).
As for me, I'm glad to say that, there is another side of me. A cartoon side. I don't think I am feeding my childish side though, since liking cartoons (whether reading or watching or drawing them) doesn't have anything to do with our level of maturity. Look at those famous cartoons out there, in prints or in screens. They are created by adults and liked/loved by people of all ages.
How you interprate what cartoon is, is also up to you. A cartoonised version of a human being may have one arm bigger than another, eyes looking like they are about to pop out or a hair style so retro, the tip of the hairs may reach the ceiling.
But on the other hand, a cartoonised version of a human being can also be so detailed and true to nature. The fine lines on the forehead are visibly drawn, brownish body hairs on parts not covered by clothes or eyes so glassy, we are almost fooled into thinking that we are looking into a mirror.
The way the cartoons are drawn and the punch lines they utter can tickle our funny bones (depending on how many bones of that type you have or whether you have any funny bones at all haha).
The (hidden) message behind a cartoon strip may make us ponder (unless the message is so well hidden, we don't get what it means).
Cartoons can also make us understand certain instructions or guidelines better, since they 'say' straight to the point (like a cartoon flyer that explains the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle).
A well thought-of idea of a novel-length story can be delivered to readers via cartoons. Unlike authors, a cartoonist can clearly describe a poorly lit and dampy alley with some stray dogs digging through a large dustbin at one corner and a homeless man lying motionless at another, in a two-by-four-inch box, compared to maybe more than a page of a book that an author needs.
Cartoon animations (2D's or 3D's), especially those which are realistically portrayed, can make us, children and adults alike, eagerly wait in line for cinema tickets and stay glued to the screens.
Whatever the reasons may be, we can all agree on one thing - that cartoons affects us emotionally. They make us laugh, feel sad or simply feeling awed.
I remember when I was in my pre-teens, I had 'published' this one monthly magazine of my own, called Ragam A. Nizar (A. Nizar's Antics). By published, I mean every month, I would use a new exercise book (plain pages or with lines) and would draw and write any ideas that came to mind. There were even columns like Letters From Readers, comics series, advertisements and contests, in addition to the many one-page cartoon strips. The only difference was that, all drawings and writings were contributed by me. As I can vaguely recall, they were not that bad and quite funny too.
Each month, the mag covers carried different themes. I remember the cover I had for one December month. It showed a Santa Claus slumped on a chair in his flooded house with all the presents floating around him. Fyi, towards end of the year, particularly in December, Malaysia is a wet season with flood in certain areas, thus the reason behind that particular cover.
The covers even came complete with price tag, circulation no, name of month, etc... just like how usual publications would look like. I published them without fail for about a year or a year plus, mainly for my safe keeping and with friends occasionally reading them. Just think of it as my version of Gila-Gila (a local publication) and Mad magazines....
For more than 10 years, I had somehow lost touch with my cartoon side. Not only that, I had even completely forgotten about my 'magazine.' When I became a guest speaker for Cedko'sCartoonist Conference a year ago on a non-cartoon related subject, I somehow had this deja vu feeling, that I used to like to draw before. Talk about having amnesia huh?
The memory snapped back at me after my wife relayed the conversation she had with my mum one day. She said that mum regretted the fact that she had thrown away all my Ragam A. Nizar magazines. Otherwise my wife would have gotten the chance to read them. No wonder I had suppressed memories on cartooning. Only since then, had I remember how artistic, creative and perhaps, entrepreneurial I was. And since then also, I've started to stay in touch with my cartoon side.
For me, creativity breaks ourselves from the norms of life, from all those typical stuffs we encounter with daily. For example, a factory worker may need to do soldering work as his routine. But his creativity, or rather, imagination, can spice it up by imagining those transistors, capacitors and resistors come to life.
I also value creativity greatly, something that is outside the box and out of ordinary. For example, don't you just hate it when another typical car advertisement is just showing you the clutch, the seats and the headlights? But an advert about a father fixing the seatbelt of his bubbly and talkative daughter from the outside of a car, and the father then runs a little bit to get to the driver's seat, not wanting to miss what the daughter is saying as she still keeps on talking, gives you a refreshing look on the car AND father-child relationship.
Another close example that we may all relate to - compare a dull power point presentation with all long-worded texts to complement a monotonous speaker, with the one that comes with animations and sound effects (as long as not overly-done).
Creativity also lets ideas flow and helps form solutions to problems. For example, I've read from many sources before, that for an aspiring author to succeed in his writing endeavour, he/she should just keep on writing when ideas pour in. Don't stop and think too much, for the ideas might stop or the stories lose creativity. Screw the grammar, screw the sentence structures. Those can be dealth with/edit later.
As our cute and slightly overweight member of the family, Mr. Sky (photo above) had said the other day, when he quoted the words of Edward Albee and Gerald G. Jampolsky, "Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow........" which meant, "The thing that makes a creative person is to be creative and that is all there is to it," and "A truly creative person rids him or herself of all self-imposed limitations." What a wise middle-aged 'man', Mr. Sky is. :-o
P/S: If drawing own magazine was something that I openly let other people see me doing when I was younger, how about imagining having own TV cartoon series while taking a shower (well, for most of the times)? Each episodes would revolve around the characters that I created, with dialogues that I scripted. They even came with sound effects (yep! this mouth can produce such effects haha), with hand movements and all, to represent the flow of the stories.
Guess, now you know I was (or am) such an introvert huh, and perhaps, the reason why I still take quite a long time in the shower (though no longer talking to myself in the room laaa...:-p)
I would like to refer to the XY column in your paper dated 19 January 2007, as written by Miss J. Though some of the points that she voiced out resonated well with what I had in mind, I have to say that I disagree with her other points and would like to comment them here.
Despite not being an ulama' or an alim person to actually object on her views, I still feel compelled to do so. I am free to say something as a fellow citizen and her fellow Muslim. Also please note that by sending you this feedback, I'm not trying to be the defender or a champion of Islam or Muslims or even Malays here. Therefore, pardon me IF I sound blunt and if this letter may (or may not) hurt her feelings in any way.
The tone of this letter is now directed to her as the column writer, instead of the paper's editor.
First of all, let me share you my opinions on the actions of some Muslim leaders of our religious bodies. Citing the case of Aryappan for example, I think it was a clear-cut case that the man was no longer a Muslim at the time of his death. He had all his families (and friends?) to back this story up, but not a single Muslim turned up to say he uttered the syahadah before he exhaled his final breath. Therefore, the whole fiasco of dragging the matter up to the point where his families were suing the religious body and the government to court, could have been avoided if the Muslim leaders played a little logic in their heads.
Also, I am somewhat disagree with the actions of some religious officers who use force or lack mannerism when dealing with 'sinners'. These are human beings who still have good in them. Regardless of ages, if moulded the right way, they can still be steered back to the right path.
However what I disagree with (among other things) is your method of expressing your disgruntled feelings. Instead of relaying your messages/opinions directly to the right bodies/people, you choose to bare it all out through newspapers. Instead of politely discussing the matters with them (which I'm sure you have the means to do that), you prefer the whole nation to read your cynical views and criticms on our religious leaders. Are popularity and attention what you really are seeking for, sister?
In one paragraph, you mentioned that some Muslims seem content to accept the words of any ustaz/ustazah, without questioning their sources of knowledge or opinion. You also shared about some poor inquisitive soul in your previous school who was given the line "to question too much is to flirt with apostasy and/or insanity" as the answer to him/her question.
To me, these are unfair and prejudiced statements. First of all, let me say this, there is a huge difference between asking questions and (constantly) questioning (the sources of) religious teachings. So, which type are you? Honestly, I don't need to know -only you can answer that.
Let's take an example shall we? Say, you read science articles that claim babies begin to dream by the 28th week of pregnancy or the time taken to send the pain signal from our hand to our brain, is a few miliseconds or micro seconds. Chances are, we just absorb these facts without much questioning. If we still want to dig into how reliable these facts are, we ask from the experts in the fields. If, however, these experts cannot substantiate the theories, don't just stop there. Dig further, either from own experiments or from other science journals/experts. Mind you, please maintain our manners and respect other people, in the process of asking around. Just because you have a hard time in believing something, don't expect others to share the same boat.
With regard to the good old days when our questions on Islam left unanswered, well, I just want to say - suck it up! I mean as adults, we all should realise by now that, not everything we want, we can get and this includes the answers to our questions on The Almighty and His great Religion. There are things that should be left unexplained, where we have to accept them just that! Full Stop! Only Allah knows why...
I too had the experience of not getting the answer to satisfy my curiosity. You know what, sister, I already found the answer to my question only a few weeks ago. From where? From own reading. Though I only found it after so many years, I never hold any 'grudge' on my ustaz or lost respect on him. His inability to answer at that time, proved that he was only a human being.
On flirting with apostasy and/or insanity, I think before we pop out those (sometimes ridiculous) questions to ustaz or ulama', what we should be asking ourselves first is, do we really need to know this or our question is actually just a mere excuse to justify our disbeliefs in something?
For example, say, if someone questions the rationality of Allah in forbidding liquor (and its equivalent), it does sound like he/she is flirting with apostasy, as this can be achieved whether verbally, by action or by intention.
Further, imagine if in a frantic search of The Almighty, one goes high and low wanting so much to physically meet Him (despite signs of Him are everywhere and easy to find), to the extent that he loses sleep, eat, etc. Now, anyone can imagine what will be the end of him. If he keeps doing what he is doing, he may end up in the institution soon.
You also said you would really like your religious leader to be well-versed in many areas with good communication skills, a pleasant diposition etc etc. Do you know that our new generation of ustaz/ustazah and ulama', most of them (if not all) possess such credentials and skills? They are fun to listen to, with much enthusiasm and passion in what they do, with fluency in English and all. Even for our 'older' groups of religious leaders, I still have much respect for them, despite their mistakes and what not. After all, their knowledge is beyond comparison to my own knowledge.
Sis, if you seek, you may receive. So the question is, have you been seeking from the right places and the right sources, or have you been seeking at all? Only you can answer this question.
When you say that it would be good if our leaders also study other religions with sincerity, and not with the sole purpose of finding points of condemnation. Again, this is an unfair statement. Are you really speaking on behalf of ALL Muslims (and not just the leaders) who study these matters with much sincerity, humility and for the sole purpose of seeking the truths? Please don't simply and easily categorise people based on your false impressions. Come on sis! Anyone can learn Islam and other religions. Why should we burden them all on the shoulders of our leaders?
The current trend sees that non-Muslims (and perhaps some Muslims too?) interpreting religious Books (including our Al Qur'an) the way they see fit, without giving much thought on the accuracies and relevance. Please highlight to me a single case where a fellow Muslim goes on an attacking rampage towards another religion. Chances are, you can't. But, it's common for things to happen the other way round, thus, we cannot help from getting into a situation where we find ourselves finding points of condemnation.
Do you know that there are so many websites out there that condemn Islam, Muslims, Prophet Muhammad and Al Qur'an. If I pass to you these links, I wonder what would you do? Would you be able to answer them all, OR you would be overcome by emotion and over-reacted (thus that tired old line come out from your mouth, and I quote, "Don't question Islam!") OR you would go and find your religious leaders, seeking explanation from them on what you've read OR you would do nothing?
For example, I've seen websites that say we worship the devil and Al Qur'an is a satanic book due to 6666. These websites are run by people who claim to be the expert in religions and a staunch believer of a certain religion. I know these groups of people are shallow in a lot of things but I never thought they are also a bunch of idiots in Maths.
Mind you, I don't hate any particular religion or people of other races. Heck! at this point of life, I have more non-Muslims and non-Malay friends than ever before. All I want to say is that there are groups out there whose sole purpose are to cause chaos and disunity among people in the world, and at the same time, harbour Islamophobia. It is these people that we should worry about, not our religious leaders!
Do you know what was the biggest mistake (if not more than one biggest mistakes) that IFC/Article 11 Groups did before embarking on their road shows? They have turned their back on us. They never asked our opinions on how we feel over the whole thing first.
For example, there is this group where all the religions are in it, except Islam. May I know why is that? So they say that Muslims also support them, but do these Muslims represent all other Muslims? Hey! even companies/corporations are willing to spend some money and time doing research or distributing questionaires to consumers before a certain product is launched. Why couldn't they do the same especially on something as serious/sensitive as discussing about religions?
In a particular remark, you expressed that you'd really love to have someone who's not going to judge you based on what you wear. I somehow can't shake this thought off me, that your whole article actually boils down to you seeking approval of others about what you wear (or not wear).
I don't normally judge people (in particular women) who don't cover their hair. I've known ladies without 'tudung' who are full of hearts and kind, just as kind as (if not kinder than) those with 'tudung'.
I'm not sure how people have judged you. Honestly, I don't quite care. It's between you and your Creator. After all, isn't human right, one of the things that so many of us are fighting for nowadays? But be careful when it comes to upholding your right to commit sins (whatever they may be), for we all know that, God's wrath doesn't discriminate and can affect both sinners and non-sinners alike. This is just a general advise to you. Whether you want to take it or not, it's up to you.
In your footnote, you mentioned you are constantly amazed at how a turban and beard can do wonders for someone's religious credentials. Now, please don't be a hypocrite sister. You hate it when people judge you based on your appearances, so please don't throw the same judgement towards those with a turban and beard.
In an obvious analogy, say someone with a turban and beard, who frequents the mosque and having enough credentials in his portfolio and approaches me to teach about Islam, and another who just walks out a disco, with a half empty bottle of beer in his hand, and suddenly talks about Islam to me on the street, who would I listen to? It's the first man for sure, no questions asked.
As a final point, I just want to say that, if you really find it hard in your heart to respect our religious leaders, can you please at least respect them as elderlies (as most of them are) or people of knowledge. Thank you.
P/S: Regarding the analogy, I don't necessarily refer 'the man who drinks' as another Muslim, but also non-Muslims who dare to ridicule Islam, and sometimes in doing so, they disregard the feelings of Muslims who are in the room (or outside the room, whatever..) Totally crossing the line and being rude if you ask me!
I always believe in walking the talk (well, at least nowadays I do). If someone wants to give even the slightest opinions on my religion (whether destructive/inaccurate ones or not), and he/she is not quite the kind of person who walks the talks, these people won't earn my respect for sure. For examples, a man who can quote verses and verses of Al Qurán and Hadith but at the same time having multiple sex partners other than his wife, or a woman who dares to comment about Islamic syariah when she herself doesn't really have a clue about her own religion. Haha, how silly! These people are jokers!!
N.B.: As a reminder to myself and perhaps others, this entry is available in "I read these, I surf them" column (see right). Thank you.
Bismillaahirrahmaanirrahiim....
Surah FUSSILAT (verses 53)
"Soon will We show them our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth), and in their own souls, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the Truth. Is it not enough that thy Lord doth witness all things?"
Description of the photo showing the palm of our hands: The main lines in the palm of our hands reveal Arabic numbers. IV and ^I = 18 and 81. The total of the two number, 18+81 = 99, which refers to the 99 names and attributes of Allah as stated in the Qur'an.
I posted a New Year 2007 message on this blog on 04 January 2007. Coincidentally, I am also posting a New Year 1428 Hijrah message on 04 Muharram 1428.
To my fellow Muslims (especially), let this year be the starting year, where our knowledge in Islam deepens and our will to learn more about Islam comes with humility and sincerity. Also, may your new resolutions come to fruition. Wassalam...
Cyber World Part 1 - Ghost in the machine? (updated)
The night started like most other nights. Apart from my brother in law and his friend visiting over, other activities were quite norm. My wife and I reached home quite early that evening, due to us wanting to be home when our guests arrived.
Brother and his friend arrived later than we anticipated. After having some refreshments and chit chatting with them for a while, I then excused myself to use the PC. My wife was in the kitchen, washing the dishes, while brother and his friend watching the TV.
Microsof Word was the first programme I opened. It was a blank new document. I was staring 'blankly'to the screen, not sure of what to write about or how to start. The black cursor, blinking in its timely manner against the programme's empty white background, as though waiting for me to type something, or perhaps, it was actually blinking back at me.
Then I logged into the Internet. I entered the Google's web page, with the intention of searching for something. My mind was still wandering about, somehow still not quite focused with the task at hand.
I heard their guffaw broke from the living room and my wife closing the door of the refrigerator. One leg was slightly shorter than the others, making the fridge rather unstable and wobbled everytime the door was opened and closed.
My attention immediately went back to my PC when suddenly a 'wooing' sound came out from the speakers. The sound was subtle at first but grew louder as it progressed. No doubt it was a howling of a wolf. As my ears caught the eerie sound of the 'wolf', my eyes glanced to the screen. The active windows were still a blank empty document of Word and the front page of Google, with no search term having been entered or typed.
Where did the sound come from? In my mind, a virus must be the culprit, but when I asked the tech expert at the office the next day, he doubted so and claimed of not knowing any computer viruses capable of producing such sounds.
Could it be some supernatural being trying to communicate with me from the underworld (a good job at that huh?) Or it was a gimmick by Google to scare the crap out of their visitors despite it was not a Halloween?
When I shared the experience during our trip back to hometown together, my brother in law believed it was a virus, while my wife thought I was imagining stuffs.
What I heard was true and real, real enough to give me goose bumps. If only it had repeated, I would have asked all others in the house at that time to listen to it.It was not a short 'wooolf'or 'wooolf wooolf' sound. If that was the case, my mind must be playing tricks on me.
But it was a long 'awoooooo awooooooo awoooooooooooo ooooooooo ooooooooo oooooo....' Just like in one of those horror movies, where from deep in the woods or from the top of some mountains, with a bright, yellow full moon to lighten up the night, a wolf or a pack of wolves gave you the chill with their distant cries.
The question remains - is there a Ghost in my machine? I shudder to think..
It is He Who brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when ye knew nothing; and He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and affections: that ye may give thanks (to Allah).
Your fetus weighs more than 1.3 pounds/ 600 grams. Though s/he still has little body fat and his/her skin is thin and fragile, s/he's now well-proportioned. His/her brain is growing rapidly, and s/he is starting to fill the space in your uterus.
If people are telling you that you look smaller or bigger than you should at this point, remember that all women and their babies grow at different rates. What's important is that you see continuous growth and change, not how fast or slow it is.
Your baby is also responsive to touch now. You can have fun with him/her by trying to tickle his/her foot when s/he kicks you or by lying on your back and rolling from side to side, to see how s/he reacts. His/her eyelids open around now and his/her heart is beating so strongly, it may be heard with a stethoscope.
The second trimester contains both highs and lows. A surge in hormones may make you feel sexier, but your growing baby can squash your stomach and trigger heartburn. You may suffer from constipation, too!
These complaints are common features of this stage in pregnancy. Progesterone slows down the emptying of food from your stomach, which is becoming constricted by your growing baby, so digestive acid is pushed upwards. To reduce the effects of heartburn, eat small meals. This gives your body time to digest small amounts of food. Also avoid spicy and fatty foods and fizzy drinks. Not lying down after a meal and wearing loose clothes can also help to alleviate heartburn and indigestion.
Your baby's eyes begin to open around now. Response to sound grows more consistent toward the end of the seventh month, when the network of nerves to the ear is complete. S/he also continues to take small breaths and although s/he's only breathing in water and not air, it's still good practice for when s/he's born. Since your baby is now growing so fast, and brain development is so intense at this stage, your nutrition is very important.
His/her eyes open and close, s/he sleeps and wakes at regular intervals and s/he may suck a finger or thumb. Sweet dreams, little baby! Some experts believe that babies begin to dream by the 28th week. What do they dream about? No one knows for certain but the brain is active this week as well. The characteristic grooves on the brain's surface start to appear and more brain tissue develops.
By this week (28), your baby can open his/her eyes and turn his/her head in utero if s/he notices a continuous, bright light shining from the outside. His/her fat layers are forming and his/her fingernails appear.
Get ready for the third trimester which typically starts at week 29 and lasts until week 40 and sometimes even beyond. (Don't worry -- 42 weeks is the maximum! After that, a woman usually is induced to give birth.) Most women gain an average of 11 pounds/ 5 kilograms during this trimester.
You're probably vacillating between feeling as if you've been pregnant forever and being nervous about labour and birth. Checking off things on your to-do list can help. Start selecting possible baby names and begin thinking about your life and the child's life after birth as well.
Meantime, on a personal note, I feel extremely delighted everytime I read our baby a bedtime story. We can feel our baby moves and responds to our voices and massages. Sometimes, we can even feel parts of the baby's body as the baby moves or stays in a rather awkward position.
Beginning with a salam, I tell each story with much enthusiasm, to be enjoyed by all three of us - be it an English fairy tale, or a Malay folklore or a lesson on The 20 Attributes Of The Self Of Allah (the attributes of Allah that are obligatory to believe in are confirmed to Him). Soon, I will try singing him lullabies and nursery rhymes, reading some Qur'an verses and 'teaching' our baby the 99 names and attributes of Allah (Asma'ul Husna), Insha' Allah....
We're already on the 4th day of 2007. How time flies..... Well, what can I say... Best of luck in your future undertakings for this year and many years ahead. Just remember to soar above the rest, like Aladdin on his carpet ride... To my fellow Muslims, the new year 1428 Hijrah is just around the corner. It falls on 20 January 2007 to be exact. Maybe you can reserve your new year resolutions till that time arrives. If not us who celebrate our new years, who will, right?
The Oxford Dictionary says "boulevard" means wide city street, often with trees on each side. As for me, "boulevard" is the path that I thread my way through in life. At times, the trees give me protection from the hot sun above. While at other times, no amount of trees can comfort me when it pours. Come rain or shine, the road continues to provide me with the journey of life until it reaches its destination.
People say I'm sweet, kind, a gentleman, caring, romantic and observant (let's just concentrate on the good attributes). I love those who matter to me, and care about things that count. I'm a Malay Muslim and proud to be one. I DON'T think Islam should be judged by those nasty followers. Islam should be judged by the religion itself; its teachings and the purpose behind them. I mean, humans will still behave like humans right? Usually, regardless of religions that they embrace. It is also in my nature to please, since I believe that TO PLEASE EVERYONE IS AN IMPOSSIBLE FEAT, BUT NOT TRYING TO PLEASE ANYONE OTHER THAN ONESELF IS A POSSIBLE DEFEAT (own quote). Apart from sharing the things I read, watch and listen to, I'd also share my thoughts and feelings, and express my views on certain issues. Last by no means least, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM EVERYONE OF YOU OUT THERE ABOUT ANYTHING! If we knew each other 'in the previous life' and had lost contact, or we hardly contact each other nowadays, do email me or comment on my entries. Feel free to explore my blog & website (http://members.fortunecity.com/abdunmy/). Cheerio & Wassalam.
Sometimes, to boldly go (where no one has gone before) at warp speed may cause you unnecessary troubles.
Own quote, based on Star Trek
Lesson from the quote: Rushing to reach your destinations or goals may get you there fast, but may not always be the smartest thing to do!
"Note The Quote (Malay translation)"
Kadang kala, perjalanan (ke tempat yang tidak pernah ditujui) pada kelajuan maksimum boleh menyebabkan kesusahan pada diri sendiri.
Rekaan sendiri, berdasarkan dari Star Trek
Pengajaran: Terburu-buru untuk sampai ke destinasi atau matlamat hidup mungkin boleh membawa kita ke sana dengan cepat, tetapi langkah itu tidak semestinya yang terbaik!
You have to find something that you love enough to be able to take risks, jump over the hurdles and break through the brick walls that are always going to be placed in front of you. If you don't have that kind of feeling for what it is you are doing, you'll stop at the first giant hurdle.
George Lucas (Film Director and Producer)
"Favourite Note The Quote 2"
A sign in a mosque on the need to switch off handphones:
P/S: Email me if you wish to receive a "Weekly Note The Quote" newsletter, a compilation of quotations that appear here in this column or in any of my blog entries within a particular week. Please put Note The Quote in your email subject. TQ.
If you have a specific field/term to search on Islam, you can also enter your search item(s) at Islamic Web Directory, available at the bottom of an entry entitled Proofs. For your convenience in accessing the Directory, Proofs is available in "Other own (cool) stuffs" column. Thank you.
Penguin Rush
