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SPECTRUM – A Cartoon (mostly) about Neurodivergence and Queerness

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Image: a one-panel cartoon. Above the panel, the header says, “ABOUT the ARTIST”. The word “about” is drawn in capital letters with thin black stripes on each letter. The word “artist” is drawn in capital letters which are colored in with rainbow colors. Within the panel there is a Venn diagram: Two large circles intersecting to create a smaller area within both circles simultaneously. The Venn diagram is set on an angle and the circle in the upper left corner is black and white with lines radiating out from the center like spokes on a bicycle wheel. The word, “NEURODIVERGENT” is written inside the circle in thick black letters, arranged to align with the curve of the circle’s rim. The Venn diagram circle in the bottom right of the panel has a spectrum of rainbow colors fanning out from the center of the black and white circle. The word, “QUEER” is written across the rainbow in thick black letters. The “spokes” from the black and white circle extend into the intersected space where they neatly fall exactly between the color rays from the rainbow circle. The lower left corner of the panel features the cartoon’s main character, Earl, who is a person of ambiguous gender presentation, wearing glasses, a black t-shirt, and sporting spiky dark hair. Earl is pointing with a long, slender arrow that taps in the striped and rainbow intersected area that is both neurodivergent and queer. In a word balloon, Earl is saying, “I AM HERE.”
guest post by Erin Fitzgerald (a.k.a. A Girl Named Earl)
I started drawing comics quite by accident. In 2016, I attended Lynda Barry’s Writing the Unthinkable workshop at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York. I did not go there to learn comics. That was not my intention or my goal. I went there to get out of my comfort zone, get some good creative energy, and work on some writing. And while all of those things did happen (especially the part about the comfort zone), they turned out to be only a small part of my experience there.
The most significant and surprising thing that happened during the workshop was that I learned about the power that lives within my own hands.
After the workshop, I began to draw every day. I did not set out to draw certain things, or to address specific topics. Instead, I just let my hand draw whatever wanted to emerge, and I followed its lead.
The first thing to emerge was a series of snapshots about day-to-day experiences and reflections. This ultimately morphed into a single-panel cartoon series called SPECTRUM, which (mostly) addresses themes of neurodivergence and queerness. As a queer, autistic, and otherwise neurodivergent person, this is a familiar intersection to me. I have been drawing SPECTRUM cartoons ever since. It has helped me to better understand and embrace my own identity and wiring, as well as to connect with other people around those same themes.
Image: a one-panel cartoon. Top title: “SPECTRUM” in large, striped letters, “by A Girl Named Earl” written sideways Panel: Against a light blue background, a therapist person holding a clipboard sits in an easy chair. There is a diploma on the wall behind them. The main character lays on a classic therapy couch. The therapist has a word balloon that says, “I recommend two things: 1. Practice self care. 2. DON’T shut yourself off from the world.” The main character responds in a word balloon that says, “Simultaneously?! I’m a cartoonist, doc – not a contortionist.” Bottom caption: Contradiction in Terms
The process of creating SPECTRUM cartoons has certainly been, in itself, an application of Graphic Medicine. Drawing the cartoons has helped me to better understand certain aspects of who I am. In addition, there has also been a great benefit in sharing the results.
Sharing the cartoons has helped me to connect with other people  – whether because of shared experience (other folks with similar identities and wiring), or as information sharing (for people who do not share the same identities or wiring, but wish to better understand them). In the process, I have been exposed to many other artists whose work offers a similar glimpse into their own minds and experiences, which has been a valuable perspective for me.
This also led me to eventually connect with the Sequential Artists Workshop (SAW), a vibrant community of comics creators from around the world. In short, this process has helped me – in so many ways – to find my people, and to not feel alone.
Image: a four-panel cartoon, arranged in a square. Top title: “SPECTRUM” in large, striped letters, “by A Girl Named Earl” written sideways Top left panel: The main character is wearing a hospital gown. They are pressing their hands to the sides of their head, their teeth are gritted, and their eyes are squeezed shut. Their head is surrounded by layers of jagged bright colors: yellow, red, orange. A word card at the top of the panel says, “Sometimes it takes a CRASH …” Top right panel: The main character is viewed from above, laying face down on the floor of a small room, still wearing the hospital gown. A word card at the top of the panel says, “... to find a LANDING …” Bottom left panel: The main character, still wearing a hospital gown, is making a tremendous effort to stand from half-kneeling – one knee on the floor, one foot on the floor, hands on the floor to push their body upward. A word card at the top of the panel says, “... find your FOOTING …” Bottom right panel: The main character is now dressed in black pants, dark grey shirt, black shoes. They are standing on a small black stage. Their arms are outstretched and the wall behind them is covered with a rainbow of stripes. The word card at the top of the panel says, “...find your PLACE.” Bottom caption: Preparing for Takeoff
Graphic Medicine can be life changing. The method may look different for each person who engages in it, but the potential outcomes of this format are limitless. The important thing is that we recognize the power and the possibility that already exists within our own hands.
Image: a one-panel cartoon. Top title: “SPECTRUM” in large, striped letters, “by A Girl Named Earl” written sideways Panel: The main character has gritted teeth and stress sweat as they face an interviewer who is only visible to the viewer as a hand holding a clipboard with a filled-out application on it. In a word balloon, the interviewer says, “So… can you tell me about your STRENGTHS?” In a trembling word balloon, the main character responds, “Well, I don’t mean to BRAG … but my AMYGDALA is HUGE.” Bottom caption: Strong Response
SPECTRUM cartoons can be found here:

Comments

  3. Liz York says

    Excellent! Preparing for takeoff resonates with me. There’s no blame or beating up, which often comes with a crash. You make it so clear that the crash is part of the process. You get reset, and then can take on the world again.Your work is helpful. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply

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