preparing to lose
These images are from, Preparing to Lose: A History Book for the Antihero. The drawings reflect my wariness of competition and my belief that our contemporary culture places too much emphasis on “winning” and not enough on innovation, responsibility, contribution, and progress. While I believe that there is a place for healthy competition—on a soccer field or at the Academy Awards—I question its function (or dysfunction) in global issues that have direct or indirect consequences regarding the well-being of a larger population. When it comes to issues that are truly meaningful, I wonder if our incessant need to “win” has deteriorated our ability to question the game. Are we trying to “compete” at education by prioritizing standardized test scores over creative, engaging, history projects that may not be immediately scored? Are we trying to be the “wealthiest country in the world” without addressing the fact that we are, by far, the biggest polluters of it? In our deeply-engrained belief that “America is number one!” and in our passionate fight to keep it that way, are we overlooking opportunities to learn from other countries and share our best ideas openly? Rather than gloat in a “hero’s” triumph, this narrative favors humility—the stories that never led to triumph, the moments that prefaced retreat, and the valiant efforts that never led to a sparkling, albeit useless, trophy.
