gapingvoid is working for the military. No, really! :D

Jun 29, 2012

A US defense contractor (Mav 6) had their main project, the Blue Devil 2 airship cancelled by the Air Force, so they wanted to make a statement about that. They wanted to make a statement about how the nature of warfare is changing A LOT FASTER than the defense industry is. The Blue Devil 2 was designed to help fill the gap, but then it was cancelled by the usual suspects. Quite a sad story, really, especially for patriotic American taxpayers. So I think the job deserved something that went for the jugular.

[Here’s the link to the backstory.]

I am totally thrilled by this commission, frankly. Few things get you closer to the bleeding-edge future than military technology. Thanks to Mav 6 for allowing us the opportunity. Rock on.

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Sheila Foley

12 years ago

Ah, if only more of our defense contractors (or our military) made their statements through art….. This is inspiring!

Nicolas Martin

12 years ago

WTF Hugh!!
You really believe war is about better weapons (even if they don’t shoot)? Stop and meditate on what’s behind military warfare dynamics (specially in US’s past decades history), and what side do you want to stand up for on this. Sure there’s bright and inventive minds fostered in the US DoD (how could there not be!), but they’re mainly feeding a perverse system, and ultimately a perverse urge. However well justified, it always comes down to very basic and destructive urges, that can be channelled other ways, without bloodshed. Specially at this point in mankind.
I hugely respect your work, so couldn’t help to drop this line.
Do Rock On, be ruthless with mind and abilities, but hey,… peace. Do watch your means. Thumbs down.

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Hugh MacLeod

12 years ago

Reply to Nicolas Martin

Well, Nicolas, you are certainly entitled to your opinion, whatever, good people can (and often do) disagree. But the older I get, the more grateful I become for my country’s defense capability, and its overall contribution to humanity. I was happy to do my part, even in this tiny capacity.

Alex fletcher

12 years ago

Howdy Hugh, I’m with Mr. Martin on this one. Sorry if I’m flogging a dead horse but anything related to promoting the military or “defence” gets me thinking the worst in humanity. It’s not a knee-jerk reaction, I tend to try and work backwards from the misery & death to understand the motives behind conflict & war and rarely see anything other than greed at the root. Slightly off-topic but touchy subject: the public being able to buy guns … seems like investing in a nightmare. I know I’m in can-of-worms territory here so i’ll use one of your phrases : thus endeth the rant. And now for something completely different.
I dig gaping void and your insightfulness. I found it by accident a few years back while typing “blue” into google and found one of your cartoons.
Take it easy.

Editor

Hugh MacLeod

12 years ago

Reply to Alex fletcher

Alex, I agree with you, it’s a can of worms. But thanks for your feedback, regardless 🙂

“Blue”, huh? Nice connection. Blue is my favorite color 🙂

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