SRY not Sorry by Michael Fikaris (Mini Kus! #113)

Fikaris’ work examines how so many things in life are perceived in relative terms. We exist on a spectrum, there will always be those with more, or less, money than us, those with more, or less, perceived success, and as he posits, those with more, or less, technology adoption in their lives. The text suggests that you can determine a person’s age or generational placement by how they use their phone. DM vs. FB? Text vs. Call? Etc. I’m fascinated by this notion, what I once heard termed as “tech immigrants” vs. “tech natives,” meaning did you grow up in a world without internet and smartphones and adopt them, or were you born fully steeped in the “advanced” technology? “Advanced” because 100 years from now, the cutting edge in our lives will seem quaint and old-fashioned by comparison as time marches on. “We have begun moving to a new consciousness together.” For me, this line is sort of the operating manifesto of SRY not Sorry, examining the concept that the degree to which we embrace the rapid pace of tech informs how we interact with others, and thus our existence. Fikaris weaves together plenty of these meditative open-ended ideas, how language organically evolves, and wondering what must be lost with acronyms and abbreviations, what’s left unspoken as language becomes more condensed with shorthand? As we share less, literally fewer characters, empathy is impacted, and we may be partially losing the ability to sense the emotions of others because we have fewer linguistic or textual clues to parse. Fikaris is careful to point out that this is happening at a time when people are more emotional than ever, and craving more connection than ever, which seems antithetical to optimal social conditions. SRY not Sorry reads ultimately as a subtle warning regarding the holistic impact to society as technology continues to advance. The affable art style uses mostly soft lines and contours, with plenty of variety – from full pages to intricate panel work, pops of color and more muted palettes at times, spare floating images and more fully rendered backgrounds. Fikaris is a creator to watch, posing interesting questions in a visually appealing way.