Red Flagged: A Cautionary Tale.
The year was 1993, birds sang, Cheers ruled primetime and I was a young impressionable youth. A game known as Mortal Kombat was released on the top home consoles after a run in the Arcade, this game happened to be a favorite between my brother and myself, and anyone who was ANYONE back then could tell you why. It was the most violent shit you could play with without actually dying.
In my early years I was inspired by this game to make drawings that resembled the after-effects of the "Fatality" moves, including Sub-Zero's head-and-spine removal, and these drawings I did seemed to have gotten into a bit of trouble. Somewhere, a boardroom full of frightened teachers determined I was a potential risk to the future of the world because of my drawings and thus enrolled me in therapy sessions in and outside of school. I only recall bits and pieces of these sessions, a woman named Beth is in those memories... I went years and years afterwards not thinking about it, and eventually it came up. I suddenly felt an identity crisis forming. I was red flagged for serial killer behaviour when I was 10? Does that mean I'm to become one? Is it too late to turn back? Granted, maybe I was being a bit dramatic about it, but it still frightened me. I recall mentioning it before in this livejournal, but I guess this is the long version. After some encouraging words, I let it go. At least, as far as the public was concerned. Recently the conversation came up between my brother and I, he said he spoke with our mom about it, she had this to say.
"He drew some drawings that the teachers didnt like, and they wasted our time with their therapy. It was a waste of time."
that put a bit of a resolution to it, but sometimes I still wonder. I never grew out of my violent imagery phase. I can pick up a paper right now and draw someone getting shot in the face without even thinking about it. This still concerns me.
This still haunts me...
In my early years I was inspired by this game to make drawings that resembled the after-effects of the "Fatality" moves, including Sub-Zero's head-and-spine removal, and these drawings I did seemed to have gotten into a bit of trouble. Somewhere, a boardroom full of frightened teachers determined I was a potential risk to the future of the world because of my drawings and thus enrolled me in therapy sessions in and outside of school. I only recall bits and pieces of these sessions, a woman named Beth is in those memories... I went years and years afterwards not thinking about it, and eventually it came up. I suddenly felt an identity crisis forming. I was red flagged for serial killer behaviour when I was 10? Does that mean I'm to become one? Is it too late to turn back? Granted, maybe I was being a bit dramatic about it, but it still frightened me. I recall mentioning it before in this livejournal, but I guess this is the long version. After some encouraging words, I let it go. At least, as far as the public was concerned. Recently the conversation came up between my brother and I, he said he spoke with our mom about it, she had this to say.
"He drew some drawings that the teachers didnt like, and they wasted our time with their therapy. It was a waste of time."
that put a bit of a resolution to it, but sometimes I still wonder. I never grew out of my violent imagery phase. I can pick up a paper right now and draw someone getting shot in the face without even thinking about it. This still concerns me.
This still haunts me...