In 1998 and in 2000, conservative transgender activist Brianna Wu (nƩe Brianna Flynt) sporadically contributed articles and comics to the Millsaps College student newspaper, The Purple & White.
Wu’s contributions, particularly the comic strip Socially Unconscious, bookend the founding and failure of Wu’s animation studio Socially Unconscious Productions, which sought to develop a film based on the comic’s masculine self-insert, initially titled The Cracker.
Socially Unconscious comics contain several themes:
- On women: “Lie, lie, and lie. Lie until it hurts.”
- Campus Greek life, especially “hot sorority girls” who are “boozy, cutthroat socialites”
- Manipulative attractive women
- Plagiarism
- Sensitivity to criticism
- Student journalists
- Politics
The comic was criticized by Millsaps students and faculty for its disparaging depictions of academia, women, and sorority life.
By 2000, Wu had developed new characters and a new art style for Socially Unconscious that switched from a masculine self-insert to feminine characters. The revamped strip also introduces two of the four main characters that appear in later work: “busty journalist” Lani Cameron and and “boozy spaced-out sorrority girl [sic]” Allison Holiday.
These artistic efforts represent Wu’s early attempts to express a transfeminine identity, which Wu finally acted on in 2006, starting a medical transition at age 28. Wu eventually took the name Brianna and cultivated a look similar to the Socially Unconscious character Brea Anatamata.
Holiday and other revamped Socially Unconscious characters would be the eventual basis of the 2014 videogame Revolution 60.
Background
In 1996 and 1997 Wu was enrolled at the University of Mississippi Oxford campus. After reportedly having disputes with the staff and faculty advisors at the school’s student newspaper, The Daily Mississippian, Wu then transferred in 1998 to Millsaps College, a private liberal arts college in Jackson, Mississippi.
The Socially Unconscious comic debuted in The Purple & White on January 22, 1998 as a masculine self-insert with Wu’s deadname.
Around this time, Wu discovered the trans erotica site FictionMania and became an avid reader for the next eight years. Wu also became a moderator on Susan’s Place, an early web forum and chat room for trans and gender diverse people, primarily older community members.
After publishing two Socially Unconscious comics in Spring semester 1998, Wu contributed five more during Fall semester. Wu then left Millsaps to form Socially Unconscious Productions in early 1999, which failed about a year later in March 2000. Flynt burned both parents for about $170,000 in business loans, none of which was repaid.
In 2000, Wu returned to Millsaps as a student. During Fall semester, Wu published three more Socially Unconscious strips in a new style featuring thinner, sexier women.
The strip was not well-received and was discontinued after three installments. Wu dropped out again without a degree after the Fall 2000 semester, published an unorthodox online resume, and moved to Washington, DC to work in politics for Republicans.
For the next several years, Wu continued to write materials connected to the Socially Unconscious universe, including a new work called Election Eve. That iteration continued to reflect Wu’s fixations with calculating āhot sorority girlā archetypes found in the Socially Unconscious strip.
Timeline (comics only)
Spring semester 1998
Wu published three comics, two of which were titled Socially Unconscious. The Purple & White inexplicably published no issues between January 22 and April 20.
- January 22: Socially Unconscious 01: the benefits of lying
- April 20: single-panel comic about professors who give hard tests right after student evaluations
- April 24: Socially Unconscious 02: criticism of the āMathmaticsā Dept.
Fall semester 1998
- September 11: Socially Unconscious 03: on how to plagiarize
- September 18: Socially Unconscious 04: snarky replies to reader feedback
- September 25: Socially Unconscious 05: tips for Greek pledge week and meeting “hot sorority girls”
- October 9: Socially Unconscious 06: Wu’s masculine self-insert gets rejected by a calculating sorority type
- October 14: Socially Unconscious 07: “The Male Guide to Selecting an Outfit” flowchart
Fall semester 2000
In 1999, Wu left Millsaps and founded Socially Unconscious Productions, which failed about a year later. Wu returned to Millsaps in 2000, publishing three strips that Fall drawn in a new art style developed for the failed animation project.
- September 28: Socially Unconscious 08: introduces Allison Holiday and the “boozy, cutthroat socialites” of sorority Beta House
- October 5: Socially Unconscious 09: introduces jaded student journalist Lani Cameron at school paper The Bishop Beacon
- October 19: Socially Unconscious 10: features Beta House members “taking advantage” of a submissive male student
January 22, 1998 (Socially Unconscious 01)
The debut strip introduces the self-insert character, who stresses the importance of lying to women “until it hurts.”
Introducing new cartoonist [deadname redacted]
- Panel 1: [Socially Unconscious logo]
- Panel 2: [Masculine self-insert:] Sure, girls may say they want you to be honest, but in reality, this is a clever chick trick!
- Panel 3: If you really care, and want a close relationship, remember the golden rule: Lie, Lie, and Lie. Lie until it hurts.
- Panel 4: [Masculine self-insert:] Lie about other girls
[Woman:] Tell me the truth. Is she prettier than I am, Richard?
[Man:] No! Of course not! - Panel 4: [Masculine self-insert:] Lie about where you go
[Man (to woman):] Umā¦ We just hung out and watched TV last night. - Panel 5: [Masculine self-insert:] Lie about watching sports
[Man (to woman):] Let me see the first quarter and then weāll watch figure skating. - Panel 6: [Masculine self-insert:] Lie about your fear of commitment
[Woman:] Weāll be together when we graduate, right?
[Man:] Um.. Yeah!
April 20, 1998
This is the only comic not branded Socially Unconscious. It reflects Wu’s disdain for college and schools, as well as Wu’s poor academic performance, taking classes over ten years and 12 or 13 semesters without earning a degree.
Cartoon by [deadname redacted]
- [Professor (to students):] Welcome to the two hour, fully comprehensiveā¦ TEST FROM HELL!!!
- [Title:] The day after professor evaluations
April 24, 1998 (Socially Unconscious 02)
This strip reflects Wu’s obsession with the latest and greatest digital consumer goods. It also prompted a math professor to send a snarky letter to the editor, taking issue with the assertions and mocking the misspelling of “Mathmatics” in the punchline.
Socially Unconscious by [deadname redacted]
- Panel 1: Person at computer: [deadname redacted], Iāve got good news and bad news. The good news is I can open this really old file. The bad news is I need a Commodore 64 to do it.
- Panel 2: [Masculine self-insert] Where am I gonna find a computer that was obsolete a decade ago?
- Panel 3: Building labeled āUniversity Mathmatics [sic] Dept.ā
September 11, 1998 (Socially Unconscious 03)
This strip about plagiarism is interesting, given Wu’s later reputation among comic nerds as an “art tracer.”
Socially Unconscious by [deadname redacted]
- Panel 1: [Masculine self-insert in library]: So, youāve had a boozy weekend and youāve got that big paper due. Thereās a right and a wrong way to slap together a top notch paper without the hassle of actually understanding the material.
- Panel 2: [Woman in the library]
[Male self-insert:] Wrong! Go to the library and steal a writerās idea straight from their book. This is plagiarism. Itās a very, very bad idea. - Panel 3: [Woman in the library]
[Male self-insert:] Right! Go to library and steal lots of writersā ideas straight from their books. Itās called āresearch.ā Itās completely legal! - Panel 4: [Masculine self-insert:] Just use big words and poor reasoning, and youāll be ready for academia faster than you can say āGraduate Thesis!ā
September 18, 1998 (Socially Unconscious 04)
This strip reflects Wu’s fixation with Greek life. Wu later claimed to have been a “houseboy” for a sorority.
Socially Unconscious by [deadname redacted]
- Panel 1: [Masculine self-insert:] Are you getting ready to pledge a fraternity or sorority? Here are a few tips. You can trust me because I’ve pledged three times.
- Panel 2: [Masculine self-insert:] If you are in a sorority, I cannot emphasize how important it is to your future that you not wear white pants after labor day.
[Woman:] I wonder what they’re all laughing at? - Panel 3: [Masculine self-insert:] The bathroom is an excellent place to learn your pledge material.
[Person in bathroom:] I believe in a noble Kappa. A Kappa of Love.
[sound effect:] *FLUSH!* - Panel 4: [Masculine self-insert:] Don’t believe anything you hear about a goat.
[Member (to pledge):] Hey, don’t tell anyone I told you this, but… - Panel 5: [Masculine self-insert:] BO NOT let your girlfriend outdrink you on bid night. You will hear about it for the rest of your life.
[Man with alcohol (to girlfriend):] Ugh… I feel sick…
[Girlfriend:] You wuss! I’LL finish it for you! - Panel 6: [Masculine self-insert:] A word of warning, EVERY fraternity has an alcoholic ******* that will haze you severely. Other than that, be ready for great parties, hot sorority girls, and forgetting the best five years of your life!
September 25, 1998 (Socially Unconscious 05)
This strip reflects Wu’s reaction to criticism and feedback. Critics are “morons” with “inept opinions.”
Socially Unconscious by [deadname redacted]
- Panel 1: [Masculine self-insert]: Iāve got a treat for you this week. Iām going to print and answer some letters from actual readers of the strip!
- Panel 2: [āS.C.ā letter] Dear [deadname redacted], what attracted you to cartooning in the first place? S.C.
[Masculine self-insert]: Thatās a question I get a lot, actually. I think It was mostly the glamour. Plus, working at a newspaper means making an obscene amount of money. - Panel 3: [āE.R.ā letter] Dear [deadname redacted], how did you learn to draw? Itās obvious youāve never taken an art class. E.R.
[Masculine self-insert]: Thatās true. Actually, Iāve been doodling through all my classes since 2nd grade. Itās that hard work that makes my, uh, special style possible. - Panel 4: [āJ.S.ā letter] Dear [deadname redacted], whatās the worst thing about cartooning? J.S.
[Masculine self-insert]: I get a lot of angry letters from people that have inept opinions. These morons think every joke is a bout them. Some of you might think THIS joke is about you. - Panel 5: [“R.A.” letter] Dear [deadname redacted], whatās with the poor spelling? R.A.
[Masculine self-insert]: As I mentioned above, I spent most of elementary school doodling. This trend continues in college. Donāt ask me anything about economics or management. - Panel 6: [“D.E” letter] Dear [deadname redacted], what happens when you canāt think of anything funny, and you have a deadline? D.E.
[Masculine self-insert]: I usually slap something like this together, or rerun some older strip. Most people never notice.
October 9, 1998 (Socially Unconscious 06)
In this strip, the calculating attractive woman makes another appearance. It’s notable that the man says, “I need to be subsidized,” given that Wu was heavily subsidized by both parents through Wu’s ten years of sporadically attending college for 12 or 13 semesters without a degree. Wu’s parents also subsidized Socially Unconscious Productions the following year, losing $170,000 in unpaid loans.
Socially Unconscious by [deadname redacted]
- Panel 1: [Man]: So…Can I, uh, call you sometime?
[Woman]: Well….I don’t think that’s such a good idea. - Panel 2: [Man]: Idea? It’s not like a scientific theory. It’s a phone call.
[Woman]: It’s simple. The law of Supply and demand. - Panel 3: [Woman]: We’re at a pool hall on a Wednesday night. There are guys everywhere. You all look the same, dress the same, and act the same.
- Panel 4: [Woman]: But there are mayv=be five other reasonably attractive girls here. That means I’m in high demand.
- Panel 5: [Woman]: And as one of those girls, I DEMAND that I not spend my free time talking to “Where’s Waldo.”
- Panel 6: [Man]: I need to be subsidized.
[Woman]: Yeah.
October 14, 1998 (Socially Unconscious 07)
This flowchart reflects the gender schematic shift between the masculine self-insert’s POV and the depiction of “feminine” dynamics reflected in the revamped strip.
Socially Unconscious by [deadname redacted]
- The Male Guide to Selecting an Outfit
- Start: Arrange clothes in Random piles on the floor. Are there ANY clean clothes?
Yes: Wear absolutely ANYTHING you have that’s clean. - No: Pick something off the floor. Perform smell test.
ugh!!!: Spray with Deodorant.
ehh…: [continue] - Are there lots of visible holes in it?
Yes: Start over.
No: [continue] - Does it match?
No: Start over.
Kinda: [continue] - Seek advice of a female friend
Yes: End: Throw on a baseball cap, you are ready to go!
No: [continue] - Do you really care?
No: End: Throw on a baseball cap, you are ready to go!
Yes: [continue] - Is it going to be dark outside?
No: Start over.
Yes: End: Throw on a baseball cap, you are ready to go!
September 28, 2000 (Socially Unconscious 08)
This comic introduces the new art style and marks the first appearance of Allison Holiday, who ultimately became the character Holiday in the 2014 videogame Revolution 60.
Socially Unconcious [sic] by [deadname redacted]
- Panel 1: Rush week at the Beta House
[Woman 1 (to sorority sisters):] The thing that makes us different is friendship.
[Allison Holiday:] Absolutely! We’re all friends here. - Panel 2: [Allison Holiday:] People say we Betas are just boozy, cutthroat socialites. I say we’re the future leaders of America.
- Panel 3: [Allison Holiday:] In fact, since the campus is 80% Greek, you have to pledge unless you want to spend your Friday nights in coffee shops with the guys that perform in ‘Oklahoma!’
- Panel 4: [Woman 3:] Did I mention our commitment to family values?
[Allison Holiday:] Oops! Better sober up for church!
October 5, 2000 (Socially Unconscious 09)
This strip introduces the character Lani Cameron, described elsewhere as “a busty journalist.”
Socially Unconcious [sic] by [deadname redacted]
- Panel 1: [Lani flipping through TV channels]
Title: Even as a schoolgirl, Lani Cameron had dreams of becoming a journalist. - Panel 2: [Lani at dinner with parents]
Title: The hard part was breaking the news to her parents.
[Lani:] Mom…Dad…I’ve been living for the last year…as a journalism major.
[Dad:] What!
[Mom:] Not my baby! - Panel 3: [Bishop Beacon staff doing ambush journalism]
[Lani:] My God, I love the process!
[Camera operator:] There he is! Over there! Get him! - Panel 4: [At Bishop Beacon student newspaper]
Title: Of course, there was no chance she’d do any of that.
[Reporter:] I’m having trouble writing this article.
[Lani (at desk with liquor bottle):] Just lower your IQ by 50 and start typing.
October 19, 2000 (Socially Unconscious 10)
This final strip reflects Wu’s fascination with attractive women who enjoy “taking advantage” of submissive male students. It also reveals Wu’s views on politics.
Socially Unconscious by [deadname redacted]
- Panel 1: [Woman 1:] I just realized why people our age are apathetic about politics. We like to be told what to do.
- Panel 2: [Woman 1:] We expect government to be our nanny, but we look down on people that participate in it! Unscrupulous forces could start taking advantage of things.
- Panel 3: [Woman 1: (to man)] Hey there! Wallow in that mud puddle for your big bad princess! Do it! Do it now!
- Panel 4: [Man splashes in mud out of frame]
[Woman 2:] Somehow, this feels like it’s wrong.
[Woman 1:] Put a little more “padow” into it!
Responses
Responses to the comic published in the Purple & White were negative.
Professor Darren Wick
On September 25, 1998, math professor Darren D. Wick wrote a snarky letter to the editors, criticizing the April 24 comic mocking the math department’s computers.
To the Editors of The Purple and White:
Two comments regarding [Brianna Wu’s] cartoon in the April 24 1998 issue of the P&W:
1) I’m relieved that [Brianna] wasn’t commenting on OUR department (we’re not a University).
2) I’m confused as to whom [Brianna’s] cartoon was directed, since I know of no “University Mathmatics Dept.” (sic) anywhere.
Darren D. Wick
Department of Mathematics
974-1374PS. When typing this letter, the word processor kept correcting my misspelling of Mathematics. It took me four tries to get it wrong. It probably would have been easier had I used a Commodore 64. Does anyone know where I can find one?
The editors included the previous semester’s comic for reference with a note:
Here is the above mentioned cartoon that appeared in the April 24 1998 issue of the P&W. This cartoon previously appeared in other college and university newspapers in sydication [sic].
Wu claimed elsewhere that the comic was syndicated to “11 newspapers,” but critics have found no evidence supporting this claim.
Student Treuty Dominick
On October 5, 2000, the Purple & White published a letter by sorority member Treuty Dominick, objecting to the September 28 Socially Unconscious comic.
Student takes issue with depiction of sororities in recent comic
Dear Editor,
I was deeply offended by the crass and misleading cartoon placed in the A & E section last week. Its depiction of sorority women is not only offensive but also inaccurate. We are not the hypocritical, inebriated fools portrayed in your illustration, and the decision to run the cartoon during rush was potentially hurtful for the well-being of all the sorority women on Millsaps campus.
As your article above the cartoon illustrates, Greek women do a lot more than party. Yes, we have fun together. Yes, one goal of Greek life is to forge life-long friendships. Yes, we have several parties a year. However, we also earn more money for charity than most organizations. Delta Delta Delta earned over $4,000 for the children’s cancer clinic. Chi Omega’s Walk-A-Thon grossed over $5,000 for breast cancer research. Kappa Delta earned $700 for their charity in a single evening. Phi Mu earned $3,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network with their raffle. Over the course of three days, Millsaps sororities earned $12,700 for charity.
In addition, the week of Rush is one of the most important of the year for sororities and for freshmen women. It is also a time when the freshmen women going through Formal Recruitment have to make many difficult decisions. Having misleading portrayals of sororities in no way facilitates their making a good choice.
Sororities are one of the largest institutions on Millsaps campus-and also among the most enduring. They should be treated with a respect reflecting their importance in students’ lives at Millsaps.
Sincerely,
Treuty Dominick
The Purple & White ran one more Socially Unconscious comic after this letter. Wu was removed from the paper’s masthead in November, and Wu dropped out of Millsaps again soon after.
References
note: unlinked urls contain deadname
[Wu, Brianna] (January 22, 1998). Socially Unconscious 01 [on benefits of lying] Millsaps Purple & White, Volume 63, Number 16, page 10 (p. 206 in url) https://archive.org/details/millsapscollegepurpleandwhite19971998/page/n205/mode/2up?view=theater
[Wu, Brianna] (April 20, 1998). [single-panel on professors who give hard tests right after student evaluations.] Millsaps Purple & White, Volume 63, Number 17, page 2 (p. 210 in url) https://archive.org/details/millsapscollegepurpleandwhite19971998/page/n209/mode/2up?view=theater
[Wu, Brianna] (April 24, 1998). Socially Unconscious 02 [on āMathmaticsā Dept. computers] Millsaps Purple & White, Volume 63 Number 18, page 5 (p. 221 in url) https://archive.org/details/millsapscollegepurpleandwhite19971998/page/n219/mode/2up?view=theater
[Wu, Brianna] (September 11, 1998). Socially Unconscious 03 [on plagiarism] Millsaps Purple & White, Volume 64, Number 3, page 11 (p. 21 in url) https://archive.org/details/millsapscollegepurpleandwhite19981999/page/n29/mode/2up?view=theater
[Wu, Brianna] (September 18, 1998). Socially Unconscious 04 [tips for Greek pledge week and meeting “hot sorority girls”] Millsaps Purple & White, Volume 64, Number 4, page 7 (p. 39 in url)
https://archive.org/details/millsapscollegepurpleandwhite19981999/page/n37/mode/2up?view=theater
[Wu, Brianna] (September 25, 1998). Socially Unconscious 05 [reader feedback] Millsaps Purple & White, Volume 64, Number 4, page 7 (p. 47 in url)
https://archive.org/details/millsapscollegepurpleandwhite19981999/page/n45/mode/2up?view=theater
[Wu, Brianna] (October 9, 1998). Socially Unconscious 06 [Self-insert rejected by cutthroat socialite] Millsaps Purple & White, Volume 64 Volume 7, page 6 (p. 66 in url)
https://archive.org/details/millsapscollegepurpleandwhite19981999/page/n65/mode/2up?view=theater
[Wu, Brianna] (October 14, 1998). Socially Unconscious 07 [āThe Male Guide to Selecting an Outfitā] Millsaps Purple & White, Volume 64, Number 8, page 7 (p, 75 in url)
https://archive.org/details/millsapscollegepurpleandwhite19981999/page/n73/mode/2up?view=theater
[Wu, Brianna] (September 28, 2000). Socially Unconscious 08 (new style) [Beta House “boozy, cutthroat socialites”] Millsaps Purple & White, Volume 66, Number 5, page 7 (p. 39 in url)
https://archive.org/details/millsapscollegepurpleandwhite20002001/page/n37/mode/2up
[Wu, Brianna] (October 5, 2000). Socially Unconscious 08 (new style) [Lani Cameron, Bishop Beacon editor] Millsaps Purple & White, Volume 66, Number 6, page 9 (p. 49 in url)
https://archive.org/details/millsapscollegepurpleandwhite20002001/page/n47/mode/2up
[Wu, Brianna] (October 19, 2000). Socially Unconscious 10 (new style) [Alison Holiday prototype tells submissive guy to wallow in mud] Millsaps Purple & White, Volume 66, Volume 8, page 7 (p. 71 in url)
https://archive.org/details/millsapscollegepurpleandwhite20002001/page/n69/mode/2up