The Soft Powers That Be

Sharing a Comic-Con Laugh with Liz!

I am having a friendly competition with the super-nice, super-talented Liz Mogollón regarding the Copa América Centenario football (soccer) tournament this month. I am rooting for Team USA, but Liz (who lives in Bogotá, Colombia) is supporting her country's side. Thankfully we both came away smiling after the first round: Colombia won the head-to-head match with the United States, but the Americans topped Group A as both teams advanced to the quarterfinals.

Team Colombia is currently ranked third in the world, blessed with many quality players (led by world-class midfielder James Rodríguez) and a free-flowing attacking style of play.  Team USA is ranked much lower (31st as of this writing), yet it enjoys ‘Soft Power’, much of this goodwill due to the US Department of Justice’s massive investigation into corruption at FIFA, football’s governing body.

The geopolitical view of soft power asserts that countries can influence others not with force or money, but through culture and values.   However, soft power can only succeed where there is a basis of legitimacy. US athletics are respected for their concept of 'fair play’, and other nations realize that America will hold its own sport programs and athletes accountable if they are suspected of corruption as well.

Soft power principals can also be used on a individual level. Neither Liz nor I have the organizational, financial or political resources to compete with big entertainment companies directly. We use a different, softer method that works both domestically and internationally (Liz in Tokyo and me in Paris later this year) to sell our artwork. 

Liz expresses her work as a print artist, her finished images ready for purchase.  I present my work as a storyteller, my images connecting to a larger purpose.  Even though our approach to art is different, we both utilize soft power techniques of vision, discipline and communication to sell our products.  I prefer the face-to-face sale, but we also have an online presence if needed.  One can watch Liz' instructional videos of her paintings while crowd-funding my latest submitted project! 



Working Cover for my Upcomig Comic

Obviously, I have a high opinion of Art. Good art does not discriminate; it uplifts. It is an inclusive club for anyone with the right passion and drive.   I never would have gained professional status at Comic-Con without the ability to produce quality art, and I never would have met Liz outside of Comic-Con.  In this manner I can relate to the US Men's Soccer team.  They may not be the best team in world, or even in Copa América, but at least they are part of the tournament.  Likewise, I may not be the best artist around, but I am grateful to be part of the fun!

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