I want to wish DeviantART a happy 10th anniversary this upcoming Saturday.  As this website prepares to roll out DAv10 on August 7th, I’m sure many of the new features are stirring some controversy and others are being welcomed with open arms.  Some deviants are likely protesting the website’s increasing corporate nature, the lack of quality submissions, and over some of the administration actions.  It’s funny, because five years ago we were arguing over the same topics – some might say quite futilely.

It is 2010, so you probably don’t know what happened five years ago.  In fact, chances are that you probably don’t even know who $jark is.  Or $matteo.  Or any of the original people who worked so hard to establish and make this website blossom.  I say this, because at the time of writing this in 2005, I barely knew who they were, like many members of yesterday.

I submitted this not to regurgitate past events, but to pay tribute to one of the co-founders of this website, Scott Jarkoff, a.k.a. $jark. It would be a false claim to state that I was personally affected when $jark was unceremoniously forced from this website’s administration against his will.  But to many, Scott symbolized the last vestige of those who stood against increased corporation and for quality community and art.  Of course, this wasn’t necessarily true as these incessant battles likely rage on five years later.

Thousands of deviants sided with Scott, flooding the DA with protests and dedications, while another group of people sided with the powers-that-be.  A large percentage of the administration resigned and many members simply left the website.  Others immediately greeted the news with silence or indifference, weary and wary from fighting for something better here.  I remained part of the latter constituent, until I realized that I was thinking about Scott’s dismissal more than I thought I would.  After a brief internal debate, I realized that even though the direction of DeviantART did not affect me, that $jark himself had indirectly affected my life and the lives of hundreds of thousands of people here.  I believe it’s why I was bothered by the whole thing.

During a recent business trip, I took some time on the airplane to jot down a questionnaire:

Did DeviantART encourage you to be creative in some form?

Did DeviantART allow you to interact with people you would have never interacted with before?

Did you make a friend on DeviantART?

Did you meet any of your DA friends?

Have you ever dated and/or entered a relationship with someone you’ve met on this site?

Did DeviantART enable you to associate with people of similar interests as you?  Did those people encourage you to become better at what you do?

Is DeviantART the reason you became an writer, artist, or designer?

Did DA encourage you to step out into the brick and mortar world, seeking venues and exposure outside of this website?

Do you have another deviant’s print hanging up on your wall?  Is your own DA print hanging from your wall?

Did you have any fun at all here?  Any good memories to speak about?  Good people to talk about?  Good people to talk to?

If you answered ‘yes’ to only one of these questions, then you owe it to Scott’s vision and indefatigable persistence that began over ten years ago.  That is not to say that people didn't come for the art, for I'd like to think most of us have - it's just that things happen when you interact with others.  Speaking for myself, I realized there was a small close-knit group of friends and comrades that I never would have known otherwise if it weren’t for $jark.  I developed the confidence to write editorials and become published again within my circles.  DA’s membership encouraged me to become a successful photographer.  The good thing is that I didn’t have to look forward five years, because for me, the future had already arrived.  And other people’s futures are sure to follow suit.

Half a decade ago, we became satisfied being a loose collection of varied and secluded groups instead of creating bridges for each other.  Members and administrators alike sniped at each other.  We misunderstood each other and vehemently argued amongst ourselves, ironically, because we all had the same goal.  Because of our fragile egos, it became ‘us’ vs. ‘them’, when it didn’t have to be that way.  Instead of sticking around, many of us became frustrated with the so-called ‘community’ and left.  Other ventures similar to DeviantART popped up, but they would never be the same.  

Life is grossly unsympathetic and unfair.  Five years after its inception, we, as members, totally failed any vision of community.  I found this quite shameful because of the intent for this website.  Perhaps if we were more adamant about working together to create a quality community, none of this would have ever happened.  I do sincerely hope that five years later, DeviantART is in a better state than the way my ‘generation’ of deviants left it.  Maybe you’d like to tell me how it turned out.

Scott Jarkoff allied himself with the emphasis of community over corporation.  He was interested in promoting artists and the artists who banded together instead of promoting how DA could make an extra buck.  The cartoon character of a yellow alien and green probe became a symbol of the community and synonymous with DeviantART.  Five years ago, that identity became history.  I don't know $jark, nor if he would do the same for me if roles were reversed, but I'd like to think so.

Enjoy your tenth-year anniversary celebration on August 7th, DeviantART.  By now, most deviants joined this website after 2005 and $jark is little more than a faded memory.  He may have an exclamation point adjacent to his username.   Maybe you should stop by his userpage and say hello.  People on the internet have a short-term memory.  Thank Scott for what he’s done for you.  Stop by $matteo’s page and do the same thing.  They both deserve at least that much.

Thanks, guys.