2013-04-15
Explanation
This comic depicts a philosophical debate about the driving forces of history, personified as two arguing figures. A golden crown labeled "Great People" declares "Im the most important driver of history!" while a brown pyramid labeled "The Masses" counters with the same claim. This represents the longstanding historiographical debate between the "Great Man" theory of history (which holds that history is shaped primarily by exceptional individuals like Napoleon, Caesar, or Einstein) and the materialist or populist view (which argues that broad social, economic, and demographic forces driven by ordinary people are what truly shape historical events).
As the panels progress, the two figures shrink into the distance while still arguing ("No! Me!" / "Me!"), and an enormous teal sphere rolls into view. A thought bubble from the sphere reads "I wonder what those two are fighting about," and the sphere is labeled "Random Shit." The punchline is that neither great individuals nor mass movements are the true driver of history; rather, it is random, unpredictable chance events that matter most. This aligns with perspectives in historiography that emphasize contingency and chaos over grand narratives.
The votey panel offers another comedic take on what drives history, showing the sphere with a large section labeled "Desire for More Sex" and a tiny circle beside it, suggesting that much of what we dignify as historical forces really boils down to basic biological urges.