Skip to content

Conformity

A topic in 9 comics.

It’s all about the team

Sep 8, 1997

JOHNNY: It's all about conformity, Ben. It's all about the TEAM. JOHNNY: Giving up yourself to a collective. Letting team opinion become your opinion. JOHNNY: Community thought begets ignorance and IGNORANCE is bliss. Tune out, turn off, fall in line. Take one for the team. BEN: What if the team loses? JOHNNY: Pick another team. It's about the team, and it's all about being a fair-weather fan.

Buzz bands

Feb 9, 1997

JOHNNY: Hey Ben, I got the CD of the latest MTV Buzz Band, wanna listen? BEN: Nah, I'll pass on the brainwashing. BEN: Maybe it's WRONG to joke Johnny about his hang-up on all things popular. I mean, am I any BETTER? He's controlled by pop culture, but am I not similarly controlled by a sort of ANTI-pop culture? Doesn't my quest to EVADE the clutches of trendiness equate his quest to EMBRACE them? NOTE: Big-ass contemplative panel BEN: Well, either way, I still hate Hootie.... JOHNNY: Still just two chords! Genius!

Ben leaves Social Elite Club meeting

Feb 6, 1997

BEN: This is INSANE, man. I gotta get outta here.... JOHNNY: I thought you encouraged involvement... BEN: But this is NUTS! You people are contributing to a brainwashed, buzz-binned, banal, Beavis and Butthead culture. I will not aid in the destruction of individualism! LABEL: Soapbox! SOCIAL ELITE CLUB MEMBER: What's the problem, guys? JOHNNY: Oh, he wants to quit the club, says we're too "conformist" or something.... SOCIAL ELITE CLUB MEMBER: I get it, the "anti establishment" thing, that's coming back, man, very hip.... BEN: AAAH!

Mind-numbed

Feb 5, 1997

JOHNNY: Over there's where you can pick up a schedule of "cool" T.V. shows, and there's where you learn which side to take on major issues... BEN: Don't you feel a bit MIND-NUMBED here? I mean, don't you all feel like SHEEP? JOHNNY: Well... uh... yeah. JOHNNY: I guess we just kinda like it. BEN: Well, you know, it's understandable. Hell, I love wool sweaters, I guess it's the same thing....

Social Elite Club meeting

Feb 4, 1997

BEN: I cannot BELIEVE you talked me into coming to this Social Elite Club meeting. JOHNNY: Hi, my friend here would like to join S.E.C. SOCIAL ELITE CLUB MEMBER: Great! We'll just run a quick test to see if he's eligible. SOCIAL ELITE CLUB MEMBER: How many flannels do you own? BEN: Oh, like 5. SOCIAL ELITE CLUB MEMBER: Have you watched "Friends" recently? BEN: Yeah. SOCIAL ELITE CLUB MEMBER: Are you happy with life? BEN: No. SOCIAL ELITE CLUB MEMBER: Do you own any corduroy pants? BEN: Yes. SOCIAL ELITE CLUB MEMBER: All right, everything checks out, here's your I.D., some "alien" sunglasses, and a "Pearl Jam" CD, welcome to S.E.C. BEN: This is surreal.... JOHNNY: Wait'll you learn the handshake....

The Social Elite Club

Feb 3, 1997

JOHNNY: You know, BEN, I don't see YOU frequenting too many ice cream socials, it's not like you're a big "clubber" yourself... JOHNNY: I, ON THE CONTRARY, am on my way to a meeting right now... BEN: Oh REALLY? What club? JOHNNY: The S.E.C. (Social Elite Club), anyone who's ANYONE is in the S.E.C. They decide what's "in" and "out".... BEN: And WHAT, pray tell, is on the agenda tonight? SOCIAL ELITE CLUB PRESIDENT: ...our guest speaker tonight will discuss the potential for an ANTI- anti-Hootie backlash, and we'll also hand out a sign-up sheet to volunteer at "The Gap" this weekend...

How to rush a frat

Jan 26, 1997

Hey Kids! Despite numerous requests for a longer introduction, we begin this week with our first Instructional Cartoon entitled: How To Rush a Frat! NARRATOR: Step 1: Strip yourself of all clothes, morals, personality, possessions, etc. JOHNNY: I am now, as they say, a tabula rassa. LABEL: Bucket filled with old morals & personality NOTE: The Chronicle would like to note that Mason's repeated use of nudity is for artistic reasons, so you're not allowed to be offended. NARRATOR: Step 2: Acquire NEW clothes, morals, personality, possesions, etc. from whichever frat you are rushing. JOHNNY: Sez here I now support illegal immigration and roller hockey. NOTE: Trivia Corner - When is the next Duke Roller Hockey event? February 1st NARRATOR: Step 3: Consume a great deal of alcohol to get rid of pesky self-respect. JOHNNY: Where's all the hot girls like in the commercials? LABEL: In drunken stupor! NOTE: We here at "Johnny" do not condone drinking at all, so don't do it. And don't do drugs. And always wear a condom. And no more than 10 items if you're in the express lane. Thanks you NARRATOR: Step 4: Rinse and repeat as necessary. BEN: Doesn't this seem remarkably like COMMUNISM? JOHNNY: Yes, but step three makes is as American as apple pie and Social Security!

New CD

May 15, 1994

The All NEW (Rolls on Clear with No Flaking) Adventures of John, the Senior with His Own Parking Spot JOHNNY: I just bought the new "Blue Midafternoon" CD! I bet I'm gonna LOVE it! JOHNNY: Since it's release, its songs have SATURATED countless radio and T.V. stations! Something this popular has GOT to be good! Johnny presses play and does a take. JOHNNY: I'm going to have to REALLY work hard to get like this... JAVON: I wouldn't sweat it. Took me three years with Nirvana...

Robots

Sep 1, 1993

The All NEW (sanitized for your protection) Adventures of Johnny, the Mediocre Sophomore JOHNNY: You know what I hate, having to dress in uniforms for P.E. JAVON: Yea. JOHNNY: It's like they want robots, they want everyone to look and act the same. JAVON: Yea. LUNCHLADY: What'll you boys have today? JOHNNY and JAVON: Chicken and fries. Both wear WRV t-shirts.

  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
© 2023, Porter Mason, All Rights Reserved.