Throwback Thursday 9/16 - Park Ranger

We got an oldie for you folks. Actually this was drawn like a year ago, its sort of scary the difference in my art from even a year ago. So this drawing cannot be removed from its context, and is in fact a direct response to said context. Last year we had the largest protest movement in the history of the entire fucking world in the form of the George Floyd protests. It was a protest movement against police brutality, systemic racism and America's god awful criminal justice system. Certainly an important topic and one that even brushes up against a niche fetish space like the gaining community. 

Within the gaining community a common fetish trope/kink is that of the fat cop. The fat cop who's lazy, sits in his car all day and stuffing back donuts instead of you know... actually doing this job. The trope hits on all the same beats that many people like in this fetish like the contrast between someone who's fat in a position where they should be fit (think a Jock getting for example). To be absolutely frank and honest, its a kink I enjoy. Fat cops are objectively hot.

However, objectivity really is not applicable in the world we live in. Not one where there is rampant racism and abuse by police daily that's particularly felt by black and brown communities. Black folks in this fetish space have always felt some type of way about the fat cop fetish but it only recently has gotten much notice. It's just so pervasive. Both Warren Davis and Garthdude, artists whom have inspired me deeply have featured fat cops in a considerable amount of their work. And I just want to take a moment to sort of sit on that? I'm a black artist who grew up admiring these artists who so much of their content has been dedicated to depicting fat cops while also growing up deeply aware of how cops are uhhh lets just say "yikes" to put it simply. 

So what does that have to do with a fat park ranger? Well its simple and I'm so glad you asked. Why do people like fat cops? Well like I mentioned above a huge part of the fetish IS the donut obsession connotation but also just someone who's ostensibly a public servant in an ostensibly physically demanding job whos being lazy and fat, also the uniform. It's definitely true uniforms are hot especially in this fetish where straining out of tight clothes is so hot. Given all of that, there are other jobs that are incredibly similar to cops that don't have nearly the same noxious reputation, history, and reality that cops have. Park rangers, security guards, post-men, firefighter, etc. all come to mind. 

I don't want to judge people who have a thing for fat cops. I certainly do myself, like I said its a very hot kink. This drawing is both a response to calls to dismantle our current criminal justice system and also an ask to this community to be receptive and open to broadening their desires to things that are less problematic. You can still have all of the same energy of a fat cop with their ex-jock esq manly bravado mixed with their obvious signs of age, gluttony and hedonism encroaching on their waistlines. 

There's certainly a worthy conversation to be had about the place that fat cop kink has in this community. I think there's some nuance there and don't want to impress that any show of the fat cop is inherently a problem. After all, if all cops were depicted how they are in gaining smut and art, there'd be significantly less problems of police brutality and over policing etc because they'd all be too concerned with stuffing their face with donuts. But that's a conversation for another day. but that conversation begins with acknowledging that the kink can be expanded to other areas and cops aren't the be all end all. 

A little more heavy of a topic I know but now take some time to appreciate the hulking swagger of an overweight park ranger. Didn't people read the signs that say not to feed the bears? He probably still people picnic baskets for himself. Or maybe its all the illegal food he has to confiscate while working, and of course he *has* to eat the food can't just let it go to waste. I just hope this park ranger realizes that he's already at the largest uniform that is manufactured! Anyway, I want to be on his hiking tour! Get full view of his ponderous size lumbering around the forest.