Jo Schramer

Rats live on no evil star

ABOVE: My friend actually modelled this for me based on a painting I did of my rat, Scherzo.

Rat Style

My project, Rat Dimension, partakes in “amateur” mediums of self-expression in order to promote accessibility and the organic development of non-privatized culture. It’s unhinged, underground, and uncultured, and anyone can take part.

UNDERGROUND

I’m most inspired by underground comix, counter culture zines from the 80s and 90s, self-coded geocities websites from the early internet, and early blog platforms where the average Jo could have fun carving out a space for themselves. I think spaces like this are important because they allow us to explore new technology and share our ideas unbound by contemporary convention. Over time these hot spots of creativity fade or become regulated by consumerism and elitism. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Rat Dimension is a rebellion against these bounds!

Who is this for...?

My marketing efforts have always leaned on this low-tech look that appeals to those in counter-culture movements. It signals to my audience that I’m like them, and I welcome them. We celebrate a space that isn’t bothered by corporate perfectionism. In the Rat Dimension, your difference is welcome. It’s folded into the space between particles and creates a rainbow effect. We make commentary on society here and hold eachother accountable. We always celebrate eachother and share weird memes.

But why.... the rat?

I’ve been making rat art for as long as I can remember. Perhaps what draws me to them is their ill reputations being opposite of my experience with them. Personally, I know rats to be very cute, intelligent and loving creatures, much like cats and dogs. Because of this juxtaposition, they have a sort of WEIRD factor which excites. They are very clean and social, while also being cunning, utterly ferocious, and absolutely odd. I celebrate all those aspects of their reputation. I choose rats to create with because I want people to be surprised. I want them to see this creature that is supposed to be repulsive, and also see that it is a bit cute. And it is also… still a bit repulsive! Maybe that’s a rebellion we as humans can relate to! It’s a paradoxical existence. Perhaps this is where the portal opens.

How about that Mr. Pizza Rat?

I chose the pizza rat meme naturally because it was a mainstream rat meme. Over time I realized it fit into the mood of Rat Dimension due to it’s place as a modern day legend or folk tale- an organic piece of culture. I know there’s always talk of people trying to claim Pizza Rat as their own property, but I believe pizza rat is a rat of the people!

In the comic itself, Pizza Rat is just a average rat, a bumbling single father who doesn’t understand the internet that well, and he gets into the pizza restaurant business after going viral. He does things really amateur-ly, and in contrast, there is this very polished and corporate “Classy Rat Inc” who initially funds him, but drops him once the news cycle forgets about his 5 minutes of fame. He does his best to carry on and build something with what he has, and he really questions how it all happened. Like all my stories, there’s some kind of critique there about society.

Read Pizza Rat

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