All that Jaz ****************************************************************************************** * ****************************************************************************************** The author of Opráski sčeskí historje on how his irreverent comic strip caught fire in a t corner of the internet By Jan Velinger September 19, 2018 If you are one of the two thousand or so people who attended the První republika festival Charles University (and the First Faculty of Medicine) last weekend, you probably caught s of T.G. Masaryk, as drawn by Jaz. He is the anonymous author of Opráski sčeskí historje – comic strip that has achieved cult status through an unusual take on Czech history and the My first question to the author, who sometimes appears in public in a paper mask, was whet anything special planned for October 28. “The answer is yes: I always dedicate time and energy to come up with something special wh important anniversary and this one is one of the most important. So readers will definitel one strip but maybe a couple on the occasion, if time permits. But the upcoming 100th anni founding of Czechoslovakia will definitely see a special strip. “For me it is bigger than the recent 50th anniversary of [the Soviet-led invasion] of 1968 something which can actually be celebrated. This is a positive anniversary.” Opráski covers the history of the Czech lands and Moravia from the first Stone Age settlem arrival of the Slavs and later Christianity, the founding of the kingdom of Bohemia, all t times. The first comic dates back to 2012. Where did it first appear? “It began on the internet and by that I mean an obscure corner of it, a discussion board c Discussion boards of course belong to the late ‘90s and early 2000s, so really stone age t this is a very special place for me where special people, in all aspects of the word, gath Opráski originated there, for a very specific and small group of people.” What was the first strip? “I did three or four the first day but the first is the famous Zmikund and [15th century r reformer] Jan Hus burning at the stake and the second was Forefather Čech (Czech) coming t Říp.” And it caught on. “I was surprised how quickly it caught on. I didn’t expect anything like that, that such a could be of interest to more than six or seven people. But then it spread over the interne networks and I was really amazed that there were so many people who were interested. I did but you never do. You can never predict the full results of your actions.” In interviews, you often refer tongue-in-cheek to an institution that you call ústaf (a ph of the Czech word ústav, meaning institute). This institute is behind the comic but you ha that most of the production comes down to you alone. Is that the case? “Well it is certainly the case that what I call the historickí ústaf or historical institu understaffed and underfunded. So yes, most of the time things are just up to me: most of t there alone so have to draw and write everything.” When I was getting more into the comics, I was surprised to learn that Opráski came under you work with the Czech language as well as the drawing style. Some critics charged the st and you were also accused of bastardising the Czech language. The Czech language has its s taught very rigorously at schools and some evidently don’t like what you have done with it to your critics? “First of all, what I say to critics is what Zmikund would say: deal with it! By the way, the style is inartistic is spot on. The artistic style is exactly as it should be because based on internet memes. These, by definition, should be drawn poorly or seemingly poorly. compliment. “As for the language: the Czech language is very, very flexible and allows you to do a lot with the structure and meanings. It’s true that it is taken very seriously by a great many you have material that is so rich with opportunities, why not explore it? “Some people might be offended, but others discover something interesting in it. “As for the wave of criticism, it did not last long: in 2012 it was something that really people but I think that a lot of people just weren’t familiar with some of the things comm the internet. Once it became more public, in printed form, I think it lessened. And by the first published on okoun, it was only ever intended as very light humour. But for mainstre shocking.” On the flipside, you get good marks from historians for your treatment of the history itse satirical, but you are faithful to the history. “Yes and in a sense you’ve got to be. If you didn’t build the strip around a real basis it wouldn’t be funny. So you have to stick to the essence of the event and the story. The fun true – and then you can play with it.” You are pushing at the boundaries of past interpretations or accepted interpretations of g “This is what any historiography itself does: each event has unlimited potential and unlim view. If you look at an event such as a battle, you have winner and a loser and the event differently by the participants: the division is very sharp and it is actual history and m science, actually?! Why couldn’t my look at history be different?” As the author you have for years been the subject of speculation because you go under the Jaz but keep your true identity secret. You are anonymous and there has been plenty of spe you are an historian and someone at either the Czech Academy of Sciences or at one of the such as Charles University. I want to ask you about your anonymity in a moment, but first, (pronounced Yaz). It sounds like it is short for jazyk – which in Czech literally means to course also language. So coincidence – or not? “Um… I will probably not comment on this (laughs). Definitely it is an interesting angle.” You mentioned that language is something that is very flexible: it’s evolving and changing throughout history, the spoken word was more important than the written one: most people c write. Another aspect of the comic, seems to be that you are writing a little how people s way they can mess up the language: on one side of a hill they say it this way, by the time other side they have a different way of saying it. I wanted to ask if you were touching up well. “Definitely. The phonetics of a language and how you pronounce versus how the words are wr interesting and important. Another reason why Opráski are written as they are is because o of language on the internet. This is all combined in the comics and over the years I devel and a style which are not ad hoc. “I believe that readers can spot them and understand was well. One of the criticisms about that it was a bad influence on children. But that was a basic misunderstanding: just becau drawn in a comic strip does not mean that children are the intended audience. In Opráski, aren’t.” Which should be clear within the first few frames, based on some of the expressions used. my son, was drawn to the illustrations and glanced at it. Even though there are many which appropriate for him, I was kind of secretly proud that he got the joke. “Yeah and I don’t think it’s anything wrong. When I was 10 I read How I Won the War and fo although I didn’t get a lot of jokes especially regarding sex and other things which I onl read the book when I was 15 or 16. But I don’t think it left any lasting damage to my soul mostly properly.” Alright. Anonymity: is it just cover in your case, to protect your privacy? “Opráski doesn’t have to be mixed in with the rest of my life and what I am doing. That is to remain anonymous. It is also funny and it brings something special to the comic. It is way.” It’s more fun for you… “And for others, I think.” People love an Easter egg hunt. “Exactly.” If I want to follow Opráski for the latest content, where do I go? “The main way is still on my facebook page and I have a twitter account where I duplicate facebook is the easiest way.” The essence of the comic is that it is just four frames: have you considered a longer form “Four panels is the classic form of internet meme comics and I find it most suitable. It g space to say something but still make your point. Ninety-five percent or more of the comic with a few exceptions, such as a single panel. But four frames is the most suitable and th change.” To sum up, which period of history did you enjoy when you were studying, high school or ot “I always liked medieval history and modern history and obviously there is a pattern of th And when I say medieval and modern history I mean from the Czech perspective. Consequently hundreds of comics from those periods with Czech figures and only a handful, for example, the 17th century.”