As Fast Company's CoCreate so aptly puts it, the Social Justice Kittens calendar brings together "the Internet's two favorites -- unearned outrage and cats." Created by designer and writer Sean Tejaratchi, the 12 month 2015 calendar finally brings to life what was originally a fake posted on his blog. The concept is to combine pictures of adorable kittens with "a monthly dosage of questionable outrage."
Social Justice Kittens contains oversensitive commentary like "Every day I face micro-aggressions and micro-invalidations from so-called allies." The calendar provides a tongue in cheek response to a group of articulate people active online who seem to relish being offended.
Tejaratchi is also known for his series of social media self-help books, Twitter presence and The Big Book of Online Unsolicited Bullshit.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Social Justice Kittens
- Using viral trends like cat videos and social justice activism are a unique way to bring attention to causes.
- Humorous Monthly Calendars
- Mixing humor and current events in a monthly calendar can create a niche market for a specific type of product.
- Satirical Commentary
- Using satire to draw attention to serious topics can be an effective way to start a conversation.
Where This Applies
- Calendar Industry
- There is an opportunity to create niche calendars for specific groups of people with a humorous or social justice themed product.
- Social Media Industry
- Social media can be utilized as a platform to raise awareness for social issues in a humorous and shareable way.
- Publishing Industry
- Satirical commentary and humor in books can appeal to a specific audience as a form of entertainment and a way to start conversations about current events and social issues.
