2. HELEN KELLER: On friendship
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2. HELEN KELLER: On friendship

January 31st, 2012

You know that hypothetical question people sometimes ask? Would you rather be deaf or blind? Well imagine being deaf AND blind. Helen Keller (1880-1968) was the first deaf and blind person to earn a bachelor of arts degree, as well as being a social activist, author and all-around overachiever. I can’t even fathom how difficult it must have been to overcome being dealt such a shitty hand in life. She couldn’t have done it, however, without the friendship of her constant companion, Anne Sullivan, who at 20 years-old, was hired to teach the 7-year-old Keller how to communicate. They would stay together for the next 49 years.

Hellboy creator, Mike Mignola, is one of my favourite artists and I totally ripped off his style (poorly) for this pic. He uses a ton of black and shadows and I thought it would be appropriate for a quote about darkness.

Discussion (11) ¬

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  1. Neat
    Neat
    February 2, 2012 at 3:06 pm | # | Reply

    Beautiful Gav :)

  2. Emanekaf
    Emanekaf
    March 21, 2012 at 1:06 pm | # | Reply

    I would rather walk alone. Period.

  3. Marc
    Marc
    May 5, 2012 at 2:15 am | # | Reply

    That’s kind of wrong. If your friend does something wrong, you would prefer folowing him then finding you own path? even if it mean being alone? It think it take real strenght to walk in the light alone then into darkness with friend.

    sorry for the fault, im french :P

    • KGR
      KGR
      May 18, 2012 at 1:31 am | # | Reply

      I think darkness in this context is more about difficult times (poverty, oppression etc) than making bad choices. You would rather go through adversity with caring and loving company, than have an easy life with no friend to love. In Helen Keller’s case, she would rather have lived her life in her situation with the love of Anne than have full sight and hearing but no real friend in her life.

      But that’s just my take on it :)

      • Gav
        Gav
        May 18, 2012 at 9:25 am | # | Reply

        Totally agree KGR

  4. Chris
    Chris
    May 15, 2012 at 6:44 am | # | Reply

    I think if your friend is following a bad path whether or not that person is your friend anymore gets thrown into question. Someone starts acting strangely? Doing things they normally wouldn’t? I’d question start to reevaluate my friendship with him or her, you know?

    My response to Marc’s comment.

  5. Hannah
    Hannah
    July 30, 2012 at 6:18 pm | # | Reply

    Anne Sullivan also went blind. She had trachoma as a child which caused the inside surface of her eyelids to roughen, almost like coarse sand-paper, destroying her sight. She had some vision (very little) when she began working with Keller but was completely blind (absolutely no sight at all), by the year before her death. I always attributed her success with Keller to her understanding of the frustration the little girl must have experienced.

    I’ve been interested in Sullivan since I did a report on her for school. She is almost more interesting than Helen Keller.

  6. ADNAN
    ADNAN
    October 30, 2012 at 10:52 pm | # | Reply

    Ohh, I think you did Mike Mignola (fans) proud. I immediately saw the likeness in styles and I truly enjoy your work.

    Keep having fun and I will be looking out for your next work.

    Cheers.

  7. Charlie
    Charlie
    December 17, 2012 at 10:12 am | # | Reply

    Don’t hate me, but Helen Keller always walks in the dark.

  8. Diego Alonso
    Diego Alonso
    January 6, 2013 at 10:57 am | # | Reply

    Prefiero caminar con un amigo en la oscuridad, que sólo a la luz

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