Finding humor: Sareen Akarjalian at TEDxBeirut

Summary

In this engaging talk, the speaker shares her journey from aspiring cartoonist to viral success. Initially discouraged by her parents, she turned to humor about her programming job before expanding her comics to address personal, social, and political themes. From the absurdities of daily life in Lebanon to tackling global issues like the Arab Spring, her comics highlight the power of humor to cope with adversity. Ultimately, she emphasizes the importance of laughing at oneself, showing how humor can provide relief even in the most difficult times.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker initially wanted to be a cartoonist, despite her parents' skepticism about her sense of humor.
• 😀 The speaker's first attempt at cartooning focused on programming but eventually became boring as she no longer found the subject funny.
• 😀 The idea of 'drawing what you know' led the speaker to focus on the experience of being a woman, finding humor in everyday struggles and societal perceptions.
• 😀 The speaker explored topics such as weight perception, technology's effect on relationships, and women's self-esteem in her comics.
• 😀 A turning point came when the speaker created a comic about the Arab Spring, which went viral and gained 150,000 page views.
• 😀 The comic on the Arab Spring made the speaker realize the power of using cartoons to address global issues, and it sparked her interest in social and political topics.
• 😀 Although the speaker wasn't trying to be an activist, the comic gave her a platform to voice opinions and reflect on societal issues.
• 😀 Growing up in Lebanon, the speaker observed how people had become desensitized to everyday problems like power cuts, corruption, and social issues.
• 😀 The speaker's comics often reflected the absurdity and cartoonish nature of Lebanese daily life, such as corruption, strikes, and unsafe working conditions.
• 😀 Through her comics, the speaker highlighted the importance of laughing at oneself and finding humor even in difficult situations, such as personal struggles, gender, or nationality.
• 😀 The speaker acknowledges that her comics might not 'save the world,' but they offer people a moment of relief and laughter each week, which she values as a form of impact.

Q & A

Why did the speaker initially want to become a cartoonist?

The speaker initially wanted to be a cartoonist because of a passion for drawing and creating comics, despite their parents' skepticism.

What advice did the speaker's father give about cartooning?

The speaker’s father advised them to 'draw what you know,' suggesting they create cartoons about their experiences as a programmer.

What was the issue with drawing cartoons about programming?

After a while, the speaker found that the daily problems they faced as a programmer were no longer funny, leading them to shift focus to other topics.

How did the speaker's perspective shift when they started drawing about being a woman?

The speaker realized there were many humorous aspects of being a woman, such as societal perceptions of weight, self-esteem issues, and the impact of technology on relationships.

What comic became viral, and what was its significance?

The speaker's comic about the Arab Spring went viral, marking the first time their work gained widespread attention and pushing them to reflect on global political issues.

How did the viral comic impact the speaker's thoughts?

The comic opened the speaker’s mind to political and social issues around the world, forcing them to reflect on topics they hadn't previously considered.

What personal and societal issues did the speaker address through their comics?

The speaker addressed issues such as power cuts, societal expectations of mothers, racism on Lebanese beaches, and the corrupt political system in Lebanon.

What lesson did the speaker learn through creating comics about Lebanese society?

The speaker learned that humor can be a powerful tool for critiquing societal absurdities and that it’s important to be able to laugh at oneself, even in difficult situations.

What was the speaker's message about humor in tough situations?

The speaker's message was that it's okay to make fun of yourself and find humor in life’s challenges, whether those challenges are personal, cultural, or societal.

How does the speaker view the impact of their comics on others?

The speaker believes that, although their comics may not change the world, they provide moments of relief for readers, easing their problems, even if just for a little while.