And honestly, it’s something that really does energize me. It gives me hope. There’s a “Wholesome Humor” movement recently online that’s working to combat the stench of politics that’s taken over the left and right sides of Twitter. People are creating their own little corners of social media that provide hope and laughter to thousands who log in looking for more than the latest think-piece on healthcare.

One of my favorite Twitter accounts is @jonnysun, authored by Jonny Sun. He’s appeared in NPR, BuzzFeed, Playboy, GQ and McSweeney’s. He’s worn many different hats, working as an architect, designer, engineer, artist, playwright and comedy writer (duh, he’s funny on Twitter).  Currently, he’s a doctoral student at MIT and a Berkman Klein Fellow at Harvard—where he studies humor and online place. And almost most excitingly, his book, “Everyone’s A Aliebn When Ur A Aliebn Too” comes out this June. I’ve preordered it because I’m impulsive and I make great decisions on the regular.

So my guy Jonny has launched an Online Humor Conversation Series at MIT, bringing comedians from all over the internet together to chat with academics and researchers and discuss humor’s impact and influence on the internet, society and culture. It’s being funded by the MIT De Florez Fund for Humor, in association with the MIT Media Lab’s Center for Civic Media, and co-sponsored by the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University.

Each conversation is live-streamed just in case you can’t make it out there, and it’s strangely enlightening as they delve into what makes the internet so funny. Although they’ve started the series already (and they’re 3 or 4 sessions deep), I enjoyed the kick-off. @jomnysun was joined by @dog_rates, a guy named Matt Nelson who figured out the math behind success on the internet: dogs and jokes.

Focusing on funny captions in conjunction with adorable dog pictures, @dog_rates now has over 1.7 million followers on Twitter, a shop for t-shirts and hats, a new app (@GoodDogsGame) AND and a book headed our way in October. He studies Professional Golf Management (weird, right? Not what I expected.) when he’s not rating dogs.

Nelson and Jonny Sun sat down and discussed the process behind creating online content, the idea behind Twitter’s “Wholesome Humor” movement, the universal appeal of dogs (well, duh), the legitimacy of creative work on the internet, humor’s role in political discourse and ways for creators to counter negative speech online.

Wholesome Humor and Weird Twitter’s Jonny Sun

Internet culture is alive and real and moving and sometimes it scares me.

Internet culture is alive and real and moving and sometimes it scares me. But if I’m honest, I spend most of the time that I’m breathing on Twitter. I’ll never apologize. It’s part of me now. I sit down, fish my slightly-broken iPhone out of my pocket and get lost in the depths of Weird Twitter, basking in the never-ending bad memes that somehow leave a gross taste in my mouth and refresh me simultaneously.

Condensed

Locally based Brazilian graphic designer Renata Senna had a vision for our chalk wall as soon as we contacted her. Merging feminism with gorgeous illustrations and graphics, Senna envisioned a mighty image of Supergirl combined with a strong statement. Between us gals (And guys. And everyone.), this is one of our favorite Blank Slate pieces. Ever. It’s simple but packs a powerful message: The future is female.

Blank Slate — To Femininity And Beyond!

Locally based Brazilian graphic designer Renata Senna had a vision for our chalk wall as soon as we contacted her. Merging feminism with gorgeous illustrations and graphics, Senna envisioned a mighty image of Supergirl combined with a strong statement. Between us gals (And guys. And everyone.), this is one of our favorite Blank Slate pieces. Ever. It’s simple but packs a powerful message: The future is female. 

I never saw myself as one. I’ve been discovering about my artistic side for the last couple of years. But I can say that my work is fun and colorful.

2. Can you tell us a little bit about the work you created for The Black Sheep Agency office? Where did you get the idea, and what do you want viewers to learn from it?

When The Black Sheep Agency asked me to create a piece for Blank Slate focusing on a cause I was passionate about, I immediately thought about feminism. This has been my cause for almost 10 years and I wanted to create something colorful and inspired. The “Supergirl” illustration is about empowerment and spreading the respect and empathy that feminism can teach us all. 

Music, movies, pop culture and advertising. They’re a huge part of my life since I was a kid.

4. If you could be any artistic tool — pencil, crayons, oil pastels, computer, etc. — which one would you be?

I’d say matte paper. I always loved the soft touch of it.

5. What is the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?

I love to stare at this wonderful tree that’s in front of my dining room window while having a latte. I love to see the squirrels and the birds running around it while I reconnect to my creative side.

6. What is the first thing you do when you begin a new art project?

I try to get my idea mature enough before even sketch something. I really spend time with the ideas that I have. I love brainstorming.

7. Artists are notoriously weird. Prove it. (Or argue it.)

We’re not weird, we live out of other people’s comfort zones. And, inside our circle, we’re just ordinary folks trying to succeed at something.

8. Has anyone ever said to you, “I don’t get it?” If so, how do you respond to that?

If the person is open to discuss more about, I’ll do my very best to explain it better. Otherwise, a nice,”That’s life,” with a smile will do.

9. Fill in the blank. “I would die without ________.”  

10. What advice do you have to other creatives?

Practice as much as you can, in your own time. Don’t let anxiety overwhelm you. You’ll get there.

11. Where can people see more of your work?

You can find it at renatasenna.com,  instagram.com/resennastudio and society6.com/resenna.

Locally based Brazilian graphic designer Renata Senna had a vision for our chalk wall as soon as we contacted her.

To Femininity and Beyond!