Rick and Morty, MJ Culture, and the Adult Swim Festival in Downtown Los Angeles
Chances are, you’ve already heard of the animated series “Rick and Morty,” the flagship show of Adult Swim, boasting over 10 million fans worldwide. Beyond its massive fandom, the show is also known for attracting a large audience of MJ enthusiasts. The project, which has made a name for itself among young viewers, is an unusual and ironic parody of the science fiction genre, featuring a wild animation style and numerous celebrity cameos (including comedian Stephen Colbert, director Werner Herzog, and actress Susan Sarandon).
During the Adult Swim Festival, held in downtown Los Angeles from October 5 to 7, the show and its main characters were not only the stars of the entertainment program but also lent their signature aesthetic to the entire event.
Rick Grinder! Just one example of the many official and unofficial MJ accessories adorned with the faces of the show’s characters.
The highlight of the festival was the music program, with several stages hosting over 40 well-known artists from various popular music genres. Notable acts included metal band Mastodon, rap duo Run The Jewels (who first gained widespread recognition through their collaboration with Adult Swim), and comedians Hannibal Buress and Mike Eagle, who performed between musical sets. It’s worth noting that all the celebrities invited to the festival are known for their positive attitudes toward MJ legalization and use, suggesting that MJ culture was a recurring theme in the performances.
In addition to music, the festival featured a spacious area with attractions and a food court, where guests could test their skills in the “Touch My Dingle” game, relax in the “4-D Meatwad Space” chill-out zone, try out a new VR project based on the Dream Corp LLC series (released by Adult Swim about a year ago), and play a round of mini-golf designed in the “Rick and Morty” aesthetic.
Finally, to close out the festivities, starting at 9 p.m. on October 7, the show’s composer, Ryan Elder, performed 37 musical pieces from the series with the Los Angeles Orchestra (the organizers dubbed the festival’s finale the “Musical Rick-sperience Rhapsody”).
Rick and Morty’s Connection to MJ Culture
As mentioned earlier, both the show’s fan community and its creators acknowledge that “Rick and Morty” definitely appeals to people who enjoy MJ and other psychoactive substances. But why has this rather cynical and darkly humorous story about the fantastic misadventures of a mad scientist and his hapless grandson attracted so much attention from MJ enthusiasts?
Many pop culture critics and commentators have tried to answer this question, but perhaps the most succinct explanation comes from Will Schroeder, who dedicated a short video essay to the show. “Nobody exists on purpose. Nobody belongs anywhere. Everybody’s gonna die. Come watch TV,” says Morty in one episode, providing a glimpse into the show’s often bleak ideas and moral dilemmas. Perhaps it’s this unusual combination of vibrant, trippy animation with deep subtext and pop culture references that draws thoughtful, MJ-using viewers to the series.
“Throughout human history, different people, nations, and civilizations have tried to invent reasons and purposes for existence to explain the very ‘essence’ of being and how the universe works,” Schroeder says in his video essay. Many people prefer to search for such meaning through psychoactive substances, which affect the natural processes of understanding and perceiving the world. Often, when using MJ, the brain arrives at a simple explanation for everything: “What matters most is the here and now, the experience and enjoyment of life, rather than chasing some unattainable ideals.” The show itself takes on a similar existentialist tone, emphasizing the importance of enjoying life and the company of loved ones, despite all possible hardships, dangers, and failures.
Of course, there’s also a simpler explanation: “Rick and Morty” is brilliantly animated and packed with hilarious jokes for every taste! Anyone who’s followed the show will remember the third episode of season three, where Rick turns himself into the now-legendary Pickle Rick! “Despite its often rich philosophical subtext, the series also likes to remind us to just smile and find joy in simple things, rather than searching for ‘deep meaning,’” Schroeder concludes.
It’s worth noting that the author of the Pickle Rick episode, Jessica Gao, won an Emmy for “Best Animated TV Program Episode” in 2017. According to the judges, “besides the insanely funny adventure of a genius turned pickle, the episode also contains a very unexpected and deep commentary on people who rely too much on their intellect and rationalization in life.”
Fandom and Szechuan Sauce
The show’s undeniable popularity around the world is proof of its influence on pop culture: with thousands of real-world Easter eggs and references in other programs, “Rick and Morty” boasts a truly large and devoted fan community. Not only has fan support helped extend the show for another five years, but some references from the series have even influenced major companies, like McDonald’s, which brought back Szechuan sauce to its restaurants under pressure from the show’s viewers.
To explain this, let’s look at the first episode of season three, “The Rickshank Rickdemption,” which aired in April 2017. In the episode, Rick launches into a typical monologue about the lack of objective meaning in existence, leading him to search for a personal, subjective purpose in life—namely, finding the “legendary” spicy Asian Szechuan teriyaki sauce that McDonald’s once served as a promotion for the animated film “Mulan” in 1998.
“The sauce was delicious, but then they got rid of it! Now it only exists in my memory!” Rick says in the episode. “That’s my goal, Morty. That’s what drives me right now!”
In October 2017, McDonald’s tried to revive the sauce recipe on the wave of free publicity, but the company clearly underestimated the show’s popularity and the number of fans who flocked to restaurants to try the Rick-recommended condiment. As a result, the corporation faced a shortage of sauce, leading to a massive backlash from millions of fans both online and in real life.
Under public pressure, McDonald’s agreed to add the sauce to the permanent menu at all its restaurants in the US and Europe.
Rick and Morty and Fan Creations
It’s obvious that the “Rick and Morty” fan community is now a huge generator of all kinds of crafts and creations featuring its main and side characters. Once again confirming the show’s connection to MJ enthusiasts, it’s worth highlighting a recent creation by the well-known “joint sculptor” Tony Greenhand, who rolled joints in the shape of the main characters, as well as two other fan favorites, Mr. Meeseeks and Mr. Poopybutthole. You can watch a video of the joint-making process on Greenhand’s own page.
In addition, there’s a dedicated page for fan crafts from the show on Etsy. Some fans have even put together a “smoker’s guide,” listing different MJ strains they believe pair best with specific episodes of the show.
Rick and Morty and Memes
Although the show has become a rich source of meme-worthy images and phrases, the most notable is last year’s meme post suggesting that fans of the show “have, on average, a higher intelligence than viewers of other TV shows.” In response, the show’s creator, Dan Harmon, commented: “Guys, a silly TV show doesn’t make you a genius. Don’t ruin the fun for others with negativity—light up, chill out, and just enjoy the show.”
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