So, 9 came out a couple days ago. It's a movie I've been fairly excited about, for a few reasons--
1) I like sci-fi.
2) In addition liking sci-fi, I like the specific niches of dystopian and post-apocalypse sci-fi.
3) I'm a fan of (good) animation, and this certainly didn't look disappointing in that regard.
4) The character designs seemed interesting.
5) A really, really well-put-together trailer is usually a good sign.
So, I wasn't expecting anything earth-shaking--just a good, quality, for-a-slightly-older-audience piece of post-apocalyptic animation.
I'm going to be pretty frank and brief, because I haven't been keeping up on my movie reviews.
22.8.09
Sunday Comics: Calvin and Hobbes
I regret my recent inconsistencies with the “Sunday Comics” feature, which were for a long time the one consistent feature of this blog at all. I think what I need to do is inject a little change into it, as has been evident in all the recent sort of “special” Sunday Comicses that have occurred, to keep things interesting both for myself as the writer and for you as the readers. Henceforth, “Sunday Comics” on OverReactor will no longer simply be “spotlightings” of great examples of comicdom. It will be, more broadly, a weekly post on just about anything so long as it deals with comics. The “spotlightings” of the sort that have made up the last twenty-something entries will still provide the bulk of the content, I’m sure, but this way I can provide myself with more flexibility while still working in the same basic theme. For this particular one, I’d like to revisit the classic comic strip Calvin and Hobbes and yap about that a bit in a sort of impromptu, brief, meandering essay. 
Comic strips have long been a part of me, and were a large contributor to my eventual, present-day love of the comics form in general. They’ve been there for such a long time in my memory, and are still even to my adult mind one of the best things about newspapers. Historically, they are the direct parents of the comic book, at least in
But that lack of change also breeds familiarity, which breeds comfort and habit. I enthusiastically read the comics as a kid and though I no longer read them every morning, I still feel like some small extra bonus has been added to my morning routine when I do stop to explore these little four-panel adventures over my cereal. For a good stretch of time, roughly from fourth grade to about tenth, I thought I myself might want to eventually join the comic strip industry. That interest eventually morphed and blossomed into my present-day desire to do a few comic book/graphic novel-format projects. Whether they’re books or strips, I still love comics.
At the forefront of my initial love of comics as a kid was Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes. Even then I could just tell there was something different about it, something that made it special. The writing appealed to what had to then be the seed of the language-geek side of me, and I know I was using some of Calvin’s words before I actually knew what they all meant (don’t nobody tell you comics ain’t no good for the vocabulary). I’ve been rereading all my old collections of the strip lately, and looking back on it with a now-adult perspective, it’s even better than ever.
Now that I can fully comprehend the dialogue, its wit becomes that much more clear, and as I’ve recently begun at last to make a greater return to practicing my drawing skills, I’ve also taken note of Watterson’s craftsmanship in his illustration—his brush-and-pen linework had a unique style even then and would only stand out more as Photoshop becomes a prominent comics ingredient. Some of his backgrounds and scenery pieces, especially in outdoor scenes, are downright pretty, and are done with few lines to boot. His Sunday strips were all sure to take advantage of the larger size and number of panels with the art and/or story. If Bill Watterson made a return to comicking I think it’d be interesting to see him try a longer work in a non-serialized format. He also preferred the humor in the writing to be character-based rather than joke-based, something I’ve grown to have a great appreciation of, in large part due to this comic strip’s reliance on it. Character-driven humor is much harder to write than situational humor, but it’s almost always better for it. Even better, he managed to be distinctly satirical most of the time while avoiding specific politics or social issues, thus keeping it widely accessible and to an extent, timeless.
All the more tragic, then, when the strip ended at the peak of a successful ten-year run. I can only vaguely remember its cancellation. These days I can only look at the books and sort of note that this used to be in a newspaper, newspapers I read as a kid. But later, upon doing more reading about Mr. Watterson, I understood why he did it, though it was a reason odd to the comic strip industry in particular—ideas of artistic integrity. Though he recognized comic strips' commercial art origins (it’s clear from reading things he’s written that the man knows his comics history), he grew to view Calvin and Hobbes as more of an art project. The more his syndicate pressured him to license the strip due to its immense popularity, the less he liked the idea of it, and he fought a long, long fight against merchandising that he eventually figured he could not win. At this realization, he wrote a goodbye/thank-you letter to the folks in charge. Watterson felt merchandise, while potentially worth millions with the readership he had, would have compromised the “spirit” of his strip.
I must admit that Bill Watterson and I differ slightly on this point—I would not be against some minor merchandising of any of my own creations (it would be hard to resist designing a t-shirt or two), though I am still staunchly opposed to the overmerchandising suffered by many popular cartoons: the gross excesses of the likes of Garfield and Spongebob now make me faintly ill with the sights of their faces stamped on every product imaginable, and even Charles Schulz’s classic comics pillar Peanuts loses some of its heartwarming qualities when one is confronted by a wall of greeting cards. I think the subtlety here lies in the difference between products as a means of generating support for and awareness of its parent work, and works that become products themselves. It is knowing when to say no. However, I don’t admire Watterson’s own stance on marketing any less in the light of my own perspective. I fully respect his wishes to have Calvin and Hobbes remain just a comic strip, especially given that it in fact wasn’t “just a comic strip.”
Bill Watterson made legitimate art out of a form long maligned and treated with cynicism by even its own creators. Looking back at the strips now, as I have recently done, I can see that art so clearly. He carefully chose his colors and palettes, and the characters’ voices are all made to sound unique. In its absence, it has left many an echo on that brightly-coloured newspaper page—from the clearly-influenced art style and witticisms of Frazz to the joy of character interplay utilized in
Holden Out.
2.8.09
Sunday Comics: Safe Area Gorazde
Sunday Comics is a weekly feature where I spotlight awesome comics that you may want to check out.
Holden Out.
The Comic: Safe Area Gorazde: The War In Eastern Bosnia 1992-95
By: Joe Sacco
By: Joe Sacco
Type: Graphic novel
Content Rating: PG-13, for war violence and occasional language.
Plot: A work entirely of nonfiction, Safe Area Gorazde follows the author, Mr. Sacco, around in his four different trips to Bosnia during the Bosnian War. The narrative is a combination of Joe's own observations and anecdotes mingled with those of his friends and several interviewees, essentially making this a sort of graphic-novel-form War Journal. It tries to incorporate perspectives of all three fighting groups (the Bosnians, Serbians, and Croatians), but leans heavier towards Bosnian-Croatian, having less to say from the Serbian perspective. He includes some narrative that recounts prewar conditions, to give a better scope of the war as whole, and also includes a segment where he visits postwar Bosnia to comment on the changes brought about. Perhaps to make his self-as-narrator more iconic or to emphasize his "otherness" in the land, Sacco draws himself unflatteringly exaggerated and cartoony, sort of a caricature, while most other people are drawn more realistically.
Personal thoughts: This is one of those "probably never would have picked it up if it hadn't been assigned for a class" books, but I'm glad to have a copy. People who enjoy historical accounts should like this especially, people who dislike them may find it a bit dry in spots but nonetheless compelling. It was especially interesting to me given my age--this war took place while I was alive, but I have no recollection of hearing anything about it, possibly because I was too young to take notice while it did happen.
Holden Out.
26.7.09
Another very special Sunday Comics: The fall of Penny & Aggie
Sunday Comics is a weekly feature where I spotlight awesome comics that you may want to check out.
Some of you may remember way back in only my third-ever Sunday Comics when I spotlighted a little bit of awesomeness called Penny & Aggie. It was shiny goodness, a sort of modern-day, more-complex Archie, and I read it with joy and comfort, savoring especially the well-done characterization and layered character-building. This thing lived on how its characters were written.
Sadly, it has now been long enough that I think I can declare this wonderfullity no more.
It began fairly early this year--P&A wrapped up its longest, most serious, most story-impacting arc ever, called "The Popsicle War." It was well-staged, necessary to the large undercurrent plot, and changed the very nature of several key character relationships. Very soon after the "Popsicle War" arc had wrapped up (satisfyingly but still on some small "what now?" cliffhangers regarding characters who got the short end of the stick), it was announced that after five years, Giselle Lagace, their artist, was leaving the comic to work on some other comics/art projects. Though Giselle did good work, I wasn't initially too concerned--after all, the art was strong, but the comic's bigger strength had always been its writing. The new artist, whose name currently eludes me, actually draws fairly similarly to Giselle--the difference is there, but isn't jarring. So it seemed like things would continue more or less as normal.
I and a couple of friends who also read it quickly started to notice that the writing was feeling a bit off with the new artist. I shrugged it off--it's not like the comic was ever flawless, there was certainly the odd page here or there that fell a little flatter than others. Perhaps T. Campbell was simply having an off day, or as it were, off several days. Maybe Giselle was missed to an extent that it was briefly affecting the writing.
A few months later, I think I can say that whatever it is, Penny & Aggie has not been the same comic since that last arc finished, and the transition was sudden. The characters are caricatures of themselves, some, for no reason, even acting bluntly out of character. Characters revealing motivations and thinking has become clunky and as subtle as a train. Characters we should be checking up on have been ignored completely.
I do not write this to retract or rescind my spotlight--no no, at the time I did so it was a wonderful comic, and I will remember it for that. I write simply to ask what went wrong. To note. To, in a sense, warn.
I don't know what happened, but it's upsetting. Clearly, T. Campbell and G. Lagace had chemistry together...let's hope that they realize this as well...perhaps it's not silly to wonder if she might come back. Perhaps this is simply a bad new arc we find ourselves in for whatever reason. Or perhaps Penny & Aggie ended with The Popsicle War.
~Holden Out.
Some of you may remember way back in only my third-ever Sunday Comics when I spotlighted a little bit of awesomeness called Penny & Aggie. It was shiny goodness, a sort of modern-day, more-complex Archie, and I read it with joy and comfort, savoring especially the well-done characterization and layered character-building. This thing lived on how its characters were written.
Sadly, it has now been long enough that I think I can declare this wonderfullity no more.
It began fairly early this year--P&A wrapped up its longest, most serious, most story-impacting arc ever, called "The Popsicle War." It was well-staged, necessary to the large undercurrent plot, and changed the very nature of several key character relationships. Very soon after the "Popsicle War" arc had wrapped up (satisfyingly but still on some small "what now?" cliffhangers regarding characters who got the short end of the stick), it was announced that after five years, Giselle Lagace, their artist, was leaving the comic to work on some other comics/art projects. Though Giselle did good work, I wasn't initially too concerned--after all, the art was strong, but the comic's bigger strength had always been its writing. The new artist, whose name currently eludes me, actually draws fairly similarly to Giselle--the difference is there, but isn't jarring. So it seemed like things would continue more or less as normal.
I and a couple of friends who also read it quickly started to notice that the writing was feeling a bit off with the new artist. I shrugged it off--it's not like the comic was ever flawless, there was certainly the odd page here or there that fell a little flatter than others. Perhaps T. Campbell was simply having an off day, or as it were, off several days. Maybe Giselle was missed to an extent that it was briefly affecting the writing.
A few months later, I think I can say that whatever it is, Penny & Aggie has not been the same comic since that last arc finished, and the transition was sudden. The characters are caricatures of themselves, some, for no reason, even acting bluntly out of character. Characters revealing motivations and thinking has become clunky and as subtle as a train. Characters we should be checking up on have been ignored completely.
I do not write this to retract or rescind my spotlight--no no, at the time I did so it was a wonderful comic, and I will remember it for that. I write simply to ask what went wrong. To note. To, in a sense, warn.
I don't know what happened, but it's upsetting. Clearly, T. Campbell and G. Lagace had chemistry together...let's hope that they realize this as well...perhaps it's not silly to wonder if she might come back. Perhaps this is simply a bad new arc we find ourselves in for whatever reason. Or perhaps Penny & Aggie ended with The Popsicle War.
~Holden Out.
18.7.09
Series Review: 2003-2005 Prince of Persia Trilogy
Woo! Hello, all. I had meant to be doing this review a lot sooner but it's only just now that I managed to actually finish the series. And y'know? Overall, I'm happy with it.
Perhaps I should start a touch earlier, though.
A warning before you continue: this is long. You who know me know I often write at length. Beware!
Perhaps I should start a touch earlier, though.
A warning before you continue: this is long. You who know me know I often write at length. Beware!
6.7.09
Sunday Comics Indie Compilation Triple Play: VOID Pulpo: Citric ESP
Sunday Comics is a weekly feature where I spotlight awesome comics that you may want to check out.
Welcome to the third and final round of the Indie Comics Compilation Triple Play on what is actually yet again a Monday. Maybe I should just rename this feature, my Sundays lately seem to find me without a comfortable time to blog. Ha, I kid. We'll get back on track eventually. Anyway, today's compilation is similar to the first one I featured, Fat Chunk, in that it's rooted in a larger overall comics-related project. It differs, however, in that the compilation itself is not the primary project it stems from.
And that concludes the Indie Comics Compilation Triple Play, whee. I've got a game review planned fairly soon, so until then.
Holden Out.
Welcome to the third and final round of the Indie Comics Compilation Triple Play on what is actually yet again a Monday. Maybe I should just rename this feature, my Sundays lately seem to find me without a comfortable time to blog. Ha, I kid. We'll get back on track eventually. Anyway, today's compilation is similar to the first one I featured, Fat Chunk, in that it's rooted in a larger overall comics-related project. It differs, however, in that the compilation itself is not the primary project it stems from.
The Comic: VOID Pulpo Volume 2: Citric ESP (Sadly, I don't own any other volumes. I know there's at least three)
By: EnterVOID.com. Yes, the author is given as the website itself.
By: EnterVOID.com. Yes, the author is given as the website itself.
Type: Compilation
Content Rating: Though individual entries vary in content, overall it's an R, maybe just a strong PG-13, mostly for language.
Plot: VOID Pulpo is a magazine offshoot of a website called EnterVOID, something sort of vaguely akin to a DeviantArt specifically for comics artists. It's a little more complex than that, though--specifically, an artist there will invent and upload reference images and backstory for a character, then put that character in mock "battles" with other artists, in comics form. A more detailed rundown can be found on the site itself. Pulpo, on the other hand, involves artists from the site but has nothing to do with the "battles" normally found on it, instead showcasing various artists' work in a more general comics context. Unlike the other compilations spotlighted in this series, Pulpo does not have a central theme to work with, so there's even more variety in the entries, though they do veer more towards the sci-fi end of the spectrum.
Personal thoughts: There are definitely some notable entries, though I do think the quality varies more in this collection than in the other two I've covered. There's an entry about a space explorer on a quest to find some decent wonton soup that I actually really liked, felt like a small aside in a larger story, and Gabriel Bautista/Galvo makes a reappearance in a fun little wordless comic about the difference between one's at-home and at-work selves. There are a few, however, that I just...don't get. There's this one about a gladiator that I feel is supposed to have some sort of point to it but doesn't, and one that I think is about a robot fighting another robot for some reason but the art, trying to be "detailed," ends up more as a confusing maelstrom of lines, plus the panel layouts don't flow very well. Overall, this one isn't recommended as highly as the others, but still, I say, is worth a look at, and it remains good to see former unknowns getting their work out into the open. VOID is a nifty project for that.
And that concludes the Indie Comics Compilation Triple Play, whee. I've got a game review planned fairly soon, so until then.
Holden Out.
29.6.09
Sunday Comics Indie Compilation Triple Play: I Saw You
Sunday Comics is a weekly feature where I spotlight awesome comics that you may want to check out.
Welcome to the second round of the Sunday (today, technically Monday...I was gone most of yesterday) Comics Indie Compilation Triple Play. Today's Entry, I Saw You, is especially interesting given its creation process. Let's jump in.
Holden Out.
Welcome to the second round of the Sunday (today, technically Monday...I was gone most of yesterday) Comics Indie Compilation Triple Play. Today's Entry, I Saw You, is especially interesting given its creation process. Let's jump in.
The Comic: I Saw You: Comics Inspired By Real-Life Missed Connections
By: Edited by Julia Wertz, contains entries by her and several, several others.
By: Edited by Julia Wertz, contains entries by her and several, several others.
Type: Compilation
Content Rating: Though individual entries vary in content, overall it's definitely an R, mainly for language and sex.
Plot: I Saw You is born of an intriguing premise. All the comics in it are based off of "Missed Connection" personals ads from Craigslist. The resulting stories are often interpreted in fun ways, it's neat to see different artists' interpretations of things like what the posters looked like, and the emotional blend is rich too--humorous takes, sad ones, downright creepy ones, just plain odd ones. It's an entertaining slice of human strata. The artists are mostly up-and-coming or unknowns, though there are a few minor indie stars in the mix, such as Peter Bagge (best known for Buddy Does Seattle and his magazine Hate), Jeffery Brown (the graphic novel Unlikely) and Sam Henderson (freelance).
Personal thoughts: Like Fat Chunk, I Saw You isn't inexpensive and covers a nice broad range of topics and art styles, and with the way it was written is sociologically interesting as well. The anonymity of the internet from which this project was born yields some interesting behavior study possibilities. And it's good for a laugh, if not so much a "ha ha" laugh-out-loud laugh as an everyday, knowing, smirking sort of laugh.
Holden Out.
22.6.09
Some Doodles: Lexa and Natasha
So I didn't have nearly as much creation time over the past, oh, several months, as partially evidenced by my lack of said work appearing here on the internet. But as one of those "must create at least every once in a while or I will eventually explode" types, I resorted to the old classic of doodling, something I've done pretty much all through school. It's not uncommon for me to keep a chunk of my notes at the end of the school year, not for reference material, but because of margin doodles I particularly liked.
These last couple quarters, my doodles were more scarce, but I noticed a definite theme popping up--two certain characters of mine, both belonging to the same comics plotline (working title "Silicon Heart"). One makes sense, as she's the main character, the other was a bit of a surprise to find I was sketching her so frequently, as she's a very minor character (though perhaps it's the thrill of newness--she was thought up just this year).
So, anyway. Doodle showcase.
These last couple quarters, my doodles were more scarce, but I noticed a definite theme popping up--two certain characters of mine, both belonging to the same comics plotline (working title "Silicon Heart"). One makes sense, as she's the main character, the other was a bit of a surprise to find I was sketching her so frequently, as she's a very minor character (though perhaps it's the thrill of newness--she was thought up just this year).
So, anyway. Doodle showcase.
June's Magnetic Poem
His live costume above
Has only a green heart
Every lifetime
Please Relax.
No idea what this one means, but isn't that usually the case? 'sides, I like it.
Holden Out.
Has only a green heart
Every lifetime
Please Relax.
No idea what this one means, but isn't that usually the case? 'sides, I like it.
Holden Out.
21.6.09
Sunday Comics Indie Compilation Triple Play: Fat Chunk
Sunday Comics is a weekly feature where I spotlight awesome comics that you may want to check out.
Welcome to Sunday Comics' special Indie Compilation Triple Play, a three-Sunday event where I'll highlight a lovely trio of comic-bit sandwiches. I've noticed this sort of thing slowly popping up, maybe developing into a delightful trend--little volumes of mostly unknown comickers putting short works together in an effort to simply get their work out there. Today we'll take a look at Fat Chunk, a project of sorts dedicated to exactly this.
Holden Out.
Welcome to Sunday Comics' special Indie Compilation Triple Play, a three-Sunday event where I'll highlight a lovely trio of comic-bit sandwiches. I've noticed this sort of thing slowly popping up, maybe developing into a delightful trend--little volumes of mostly unknown comickers putting short works together in an effort to simply get their work out there. Today we'll take a look at Fat Chunk, a project of sorts dedicated to exactly this.
The Comic: Fat Chunk Vol. 1: Robot
By: Put together by British awesomeface Jamie Smart, but there's over 80 artists who put stuff into this first volume alone.
By: Put together by British awesomeface Jamie Smart, but there's over 80 artists who put stuff into this first volume alone.
Type: Compilation/Very thick magazine.
Content Rating: Though individual entries vary greatly in content, overall it's an R, mainly for language and violence.
Plot: Fat Chunk is pretty much a brilliant idea. Several people who love comics, from all backgrounds (but mostly unknowns) send in short works based around a central theme--for this volume, the theme was robots. The entries vary wildly in both visual style and writing, and the result is pretty spiffy--simple one-page pinups or scenes to three-or-four-page poignant little vignettes and everything in between. There are stories that are sad, that are silly, that make you think, that are just mindless fun, etc. etc. etc. As a particular highlight, it was neat to see an entry there by Gabriel Bautista, better known on the internet as Galvo. (Galvo helps run a similar online comics project called EnterVOID, a site I've considered joining on-and-off-again several times, and actually features twice in the three compilations I'll eventually cover.) Smart, of course, opens with a work of his own, featuring his recurring character Angry Little Robot, in which he beats up some children. (Angry Little Robot was previously a character in a short series of comic strips done by Smart.) I also appreciated the entries that played with the meaning of "robot" a little more--there was for example a fun entry at the end by a man named Dan Gaynor about a little boy with a mechanical head.
Personal thoughts: If you're looking for a good blend of comicky variety in a fun-size package, either because you want to check out some fresh material or just have a short attention span, Fat Chunk is cheap, awesome, and recommended. Think of it as a sampler platter of foods that are vaguely familiar to you but just different enough as to be an adventure.
The second volume, themed around Zombies, is slated to hit shelves at the end of this month.
The second volume, themed around Zombies, is slated to hit shelves at the end of this month.
Holden Out.
14.6.09
Sunday Comics: Homestuck
Sunday Comics is a weekly feature where I spotlight awesome comics that you may want to check out.
Holden Out.
The Comic: Homestuck
URL: www.mspaintadventures.com
By: Andrew Hussie
URL: www.mspaintadventures.com
By: Andrew Hussie
Type: Comic Strip, updates frequently but on no set schedule.
Content Rating: PG, for some very mild innuendo and very occasional mild language. (Note: At the time I originally wrote this. as the comic has gone on, it has teetered more steadily between PG-13 and R.)
Plot: Another awesome pseudo-game comic outing from Andrew Hussie, the mind behind Problem Sleuth (which as some readers may recall was the second-ever Sunday Comics). Rather than poking at conventions of RPGs and point-and-click adventures like PS did, however, Homestuck makes fun of The Sims primarily, though there are still lots of RPG and Point-and-click Adventure elements. It also appears to draw on some H.P. Lovecraft elements. The art style is different, but still definitely Hussie's, and his storytelling skill has only grown since Problem Sleuth. Like PS's "chapters," Homestuck is divided into "Acts," the first of which was recently completed and was stated by Hussie to be "more of a prologue, really." Pretty epic prologue. So now we're just a few pages into what's apparently the meat of the story. The main characters thus far introduced, John and Rose, are likable for sure. Homestuck is still funny, though its humor deals less in the moments of outright silliness sometimes seen in PS and usually is a bit more subtle or snarky. Hussie's penchant for long, unusual, and/or cleverly invented words still stands, a source of great comfort to this English major. There's also a lot more variety present than in PS, which would have the occasional animated gif panel but mostly be still images. Homestuck is still mostly still images, but Hussie has begun to add fan-contributed music where appropriate and has been steadily learning and utilizing flash animation to some panels, which is really nifty and immersive. Commands are still suggested by readers, and if anything, the fan-community input for this feels even stronger this time around. Andrew Hussie is creating something which may in fact be one of the futures of webcomics.
Personal thoughts: There wasn't much "plot" in the plot section this time around, mainly because I don't want to spoil things, but I recommend hopping into Homestuck, especially if you've read Problem Sleuth but even if you didn't. If nothing else it's an awesome comics experiment. Get on board while it's still relatively short--Hussie has planned this to be another year-long project, so it'll no doubt be way up there in pages by the time it's done.
Holden Out.
1.6.09
Sunday Comics: Special Comics Theory Edition!
Sunday Comics is a weekly feature where I spotlight awesome comics that you may want to check out.
Two Sundays in a row with different-than-usual Sunday Comics posts? Including one that is being written on what is technically no longer Sunday? And is written in a different format than usual?
Why yes.
A bit about today's entry, first. Yes, there really is such a thing as Comics Theory. While not frequently regarded as such (often, debatably, for very good reasons), comics are--or at least have the definite potential to be--a legit art form. It's a vehicle of expression that has certain properties unique to it. Nowhere else except in film is there such a seamless blend of the verbal and the visual, ideally both working to support the other (except in wordless comics, though those have language in their own right). And even then, despite the parallels, comics can be very much set apart from film with more of their own conventions--how they handle and manipulate time or the effects of panel shape, size, and placement, just to name a couple. There's a whole science, process, and language that can be diseccted from them. And there have been books written. Books that I myself have studied, and now hold up here as good examples. Okay, technically a couple of them aren't comics theory books, they're comics history books, but I figured I'd lump them in too. Off we go! (Trigger comics-esque "Woooosh!" noise)
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
Two Sundays in a row with different-than-usual Sunday Comics posts? Including one that is being written on what is technically no longer Sunday? And is written in a different format than usual?
Why yes.
A bit about today's entry, first. Yes, there really is such a thing as Comics Theory. While not frequently regarded as such (often, debatably, for very good reasons), comics are--or at least have the definite potential to be--a legit art form. It's a vehicle of expression that has certain properties unique to it. Nowhere else except in film is there such a seamless blend of the verbal and the visual, ideally both working to support the other (except in wordless comics, though those have language in their own right). And even then, despite the parallels, comics can be very much set apart from film with more of their own conventions--how they handle and manipulate time or the effects of panel shape, size, and placement, just to name a couple. There's a whole science, process, and language that can be diseccted from them. And there have been books written. Books that I myself have studied, and now hold up here as good examples. Okay, technically a couple of them aren't comics theory books, they're comics history books, but I figured I'd lump them in too. Off we go! (Trigger comics-esque "Woooosh!" noise)
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
30.5.09
Commercial Art! Of A Sort.
So, first off, sorry to friends' blogs that I'm usually good about visiting, I promise I'll get to those soon. Second off, I realize the Hundred Faces Blog hasn't updated in like a month. I've honestly been too busy, it'll start getting back on track in a couple weeks hopefully.
Anyway, I was recently involved in a group that was making a magazine (yes, a real one, though as it's still technically a school project there will only ever be the one issue we've made available for purchase/in existence). Though each member of the team contributed an equal amount of article content, we also had our specialties--I was our illustrator, as it were. I've decided to post my favourite images here, for display and kicks.
Anyway, I was recently involved in a group that was making a magazine (yes, a real one, though as it's still technically a school project there will only ever be the one issue we've made available for purchase/in existence). Though each member of the team contributed an equal amount of article content, we also had our specialties--I was our illustrator, as it were. I've decided to post my favourite images here, for display and kicks.
21.5.09
Holden's Mega Game Demo-Thon
YES.
So a couple nights ago, being that I am in the use of that wonderful game delivery service known as Steam, I decided to take advantage of a lot of the free demos floating around it. A lot of them. So many that, about halfway through checking them out, I thought, "hey! I could make a blog post out of this!" Why not, right? Here go. To make this entry even lengthier, I'll include check-outs of a few free demos I took a look at long before and a couple of totally free, complete games I've handled in the past few months. Let's go in alphabetical order, shall we?
So a couple nights ago, being that I am in the use of that wonderful game delivery service known as Steam, I decided to take advantage of a lot of the free demos floating around it. A lot of them. So many that, about halfway through checking them out, I thought, "hey! I could make a blog post out of this!" Why not, right? Here go. To make this entry even lengthier, I'll include check-outs of a few free demos I took a look at long before and a couple of totally free, complete games I've handled in the past few months. Let's go in alphabetical order, shall we?
10.5.09
Sunday Comics: Ghost World
Sunday Comics is a weekly feature where I spotlight awesome comics that you may want to check out.
Holden Out.
The Comic: Ghost World
By: Daniel Clowes
By: Daniel Clowes
Type: Former issue series ongoing feature now bound into a graphic novel.
Content Rating: PG-13, for language and sexual discussion
Plot: Follows the exploits of teenagers Enid and Rebecca (and occasionally their guy-friend Josh) as they wander suburbia and make snarky running commentary on the world around them. That's pretty much it for actual plot, but it's entertaining, Enid and Rebecca are both very well-developed as characters, and there's a lot of undercurrent regarding the transition from teenagerhood to adulthood and the blandness/fakery of stereotypical americana. After you finish it, you'll find yourself noticing a lot of the things they point out.
Personal thoughts: I hear Mr. Clowes wrote the screenplay for the film adaption himself. I'd like to see it, a lot of his work, Ghost World included, seems like it would translate very well to film. Since reading him, his style's definitely begun to influence my writing a bit.
Holden Out.
3.5.09
Sunday Comics: Concrete
Sunday Comics is a weekly feature where I spotlight awesome comics that you may want to check out.
Holden Out.
The Comic: Concrete (volumes 1-4, at least...I haven't gotten to later volumes, so assume this covers only those four)
By: Paul Chadwick
By: Paul Chadwick
Type: Former issue series now compiled into a graphic novel series of six volumes.
Content Rating: PG, for occasional violence. mild language, and light innuendo
Plot: As the result of a run-in with, of all things, aliens, speechwriter Ronald Lithgow has his brain transplanted into a large new stonelike body that gives him superhuman abilities, but a distinctly inhuman appearance and several other problems related to his new physical size and weight. Trying to be optimistic, Ron sees this as a writing opportunity, and decides to use his newfound powers to experience things he previously couldn't, and record them--events such as climbing Everest solo or taking an unstopped swim across the entire Atlantic Ocean. In order for him to go out in public and hide the extraterretrial origins of his abilities, he is billed by a group of PR managers as an experimental cyborg, and carefully advertised into becoming an instant celebrity. The stories that comprise the series explore Ron's new limits, musings, and frustrations stemming from both his fame and his new mode of being.
Personal thoughts: Though obviously inspired by classic superhero tales, Concrete is certainly more intelligently written than a standard cape-and-tights story, and offers a very believable perspective on the ups and downs of superpowers and all that comes with them. It's an impressive feat that, for a comic series whose protagonist is an 8-foot-tall half-ton rock monster, Concrete is possibly one of the most human-feeling fiction series I've read.
Holden Out.
My Cell Phone Lives A Couple Centuries Back.
Yeah, a lot of posts today. Product of a busy week and a pad to jot ideas on.
Noticed something interesting about my cell a couple days ago.
If you're not familiar with T9Word, it's a texting program that's fairly common on a lot of cell phones these days, or at least some variant of it, designed to make typing on a phone without a full keyboard a little bit easier. And it does do that, most of the time. It takes guesses at what you're typing as you type it so you don't have to make as many button presses.
But it also does this by having a sort of bank of common words, and when two different words occupy the exact same numeric space, it will guess the more common word.
I was asking someone about borrowing a plate of theirs, but T9 didn't recognize "plate."
It put in "slave."
...When has "slave" been a more commonly used word than "plate?" I realize slavery still exists, yes, but it's not exactly part of casual speech any more, and seems especially out-of-place in that regard for a program that accepts "dude" as a recognized word. I mean, think about it. There are really only three contexts "slave" is used in outside the taboo subject of real, present-day slavery, none of which seem like they'd be part of your average texting conversation:
1) in a historical context
2) in an S&M context
3) as a fairly uncommon verb meaning "to do something in a slavelike manner," i.e. "I've been slaving away all day on this."
Four uses, possibly, if you include Jimmy O'Teen's whining that having to trim the front yard hedges is slave treatment. But...more common than "plate?" Really?
Thanks for giving me that day's eyebrow-raise, T9Word.
Holden Out.
Noticed something interesting about my cell a couple days ago.
If you're not familiar with T9Word, it's a texting program that's fairly common on a lot of cell phones these days, or at least some variant of it, designed to make typing on a phone without a full keyboard a little bit easier. And it does do that, most of the time. It takes guesses at what you're typing as you type it so you don't have to make as many button presses.
But it also does this by having a sort of bank of common words, and when two different words occupy the exact same numeric space, it will guess the more common word.
I was asking someone about borrowing a plate of theirs, but T9 didn't recognize "plate."
It put in "slave."
...When has "slave" been a more commonly used word than "plate?" I realize slavery still exists, yes, but it's not exactly part of casual speech any more, and seems especially out-of-place in that regard for a program that accepts "dude" as a recognized word. I mean, think about it. There are really only three contexts "slave" is used in outside the taboo subject of real, present-day slavery, none of which seem like they'd be part of your average texting conversation:
1) in a historical context
2) in an S&M context
3) as a fairly uncommon verb meaning "to do something in a slavelike manner," i.e. "I've been slaving away all day on this."
Four uses, possibly, if you include Jimmy O'Teen's whining that having to trim the front yard hedges is slave treatment. But...more common than "plate?" Really?
Thanks for giving me that day's eyebrow-raise, T9Word.
Holden Out.
Happy Belated Free Comic Book Day.
This post was supposed to happen yesterday. It didn't. I'm doing it anyway, because raising awareness about obscure holidays blah blah blah. (In fact, maybe next year I'll feature an "obscure holiday of the day." That could be fun.)
So yesterday was Free Comic Book Day, which to my knowledge currently just exists in the US and the UK (someone please correct me if I'm wrong). On this day (the first Saturday in May), participating comic shops set aside a small portion of books as giveaways. Some publishers even produce special Free Comic Book Day books just for this occasion! So mark your calendars, panel-lovers.
Holden Out.
So yesterday was Free Comic Book Day, which to my knowledge currently just exists in the US and the UK (someone please correct me if I'm wrong). On this day (the first Saturday in May), participating comic shops set aside a small portion of books as giveaways. Some publishers even produce special Free Comic Book Day books just for this occasion! So mark your calendars, panel-lovers.
Holden Out.
Cricket Cola: Another Shameless Plug
DRINK IT.
I jest. But it is good stuff. As several people who know me out there in the real world know, I have a bit of a thing for crickets, so there was a delighted grin when I first discovered this soda. It sorta became my little personal official beverage for a while.
Then it promptly disappeared for a couple years.
Now, it appears to be back (though still is probably kind of hard-to-find...was even back in the day). Tres woot.
It's supposed to be a blend of green tea and cola, though the green tea is fairly subtle. It's more like a very, very lightly carbonated cola with some green tea-ish notes to it. It's also a good stay-awake drink, since the combined efforts of the cola and tea give it a massive kick of caffeine.
Go give it a try. It's only like a buck a bottle, so you don't have much to lose (except sleep).
Holden Out.
May's Magnetic Poem
This month's is silly.
And a haiku.
Sing, little waffle
Celebrate your birthday, too
Say what pleases you.
Holden Out.
And a haiku.
Sing, little waffle
Celebrate your birthday, too
Say what pleases you.
Holden Out.
Yogu-San is Awesome.
So, some of you may have picked up small twinges of anti-commercialism sentiment from me from time to time, either through this blog or through knowing me in real life. I totally think there's a time and a place for advertisements and understand why they exist and don't begrudge them for existing, I just think you should never pay a company for the privilege of doing its advertising for it, blah blah blah blah.
I don't think what I'm about to do violates any of this, because I'm not being paid or in any way coerced to do this. I'm just going to spotlight something I think rocks. I am going to give a place free advertising, which I think is the best advertising. Advertising generated by consumers for consumers because they honestly like a product. (This sort of entry is going to happen at least once more, so I've given it its own category, tongue-in-cheekedly labeled "Selling Out")
Long, rambling self-indulgent punkish-facade preamble now over, Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you...
Yogu-San.
Did you just hear a popping sound? That was the cuteness center of your brain exploding. This little dude is the mascot for which they are named. Squishy, swirly little Yogu-San himself. Or...itself. Whatever.
So what is Yogu-San? Yogu-San, dear friends, is a frozen yogurt place, in a similar vein as such places as PinkBerry and Red Mango...three flavour choices and a variety of toppings. And sweet Aunt Wendy's eyeballs, is it good. (My apologies to anyone who has an Aunt Wendy, I did not mean to desecrate her eyes.)
The available toppings range from the expected (crushed Oreos, chocolate chips, various types of fresh fruit) to the quirky and fun (Pocky, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Fruity Pebbles). The two "set" flavours are Original and Green Tea, with a third flavour that rotates/changes each month. As if Yogu-San himself wasn't cute enough, they also apply the "-san" honorific to their flavours, as though they're Yogu-San's relatives or something...Green Tea-San, Mango-San, etc. It's precious.
The yogurt itself I found to be awesomely delicious, though it might not be what you expect from frozen yogurt, necessarily--for one, it has a notably stronger "yogurty" flavour, rather than just being like soft-serve ice cream, and two, the texture is different from samesaid soft-serveish fro-yo, being sort of like snow. It breaks off in your mouth in chunks and quickly melts across your tongue.
Oh, and did I mention the workers have a genuine-feeling air of friendliness?
Yogu-San is located in the Bellis Fair Mall in Bellingham, Washington. If you ever find yourself there, seriously check it out.
Eesh, even the name is fun to say. Yogu-saaaaaaaaaaaaan.
Holden Out. (of yogurt)
I don't think what I'm about to do violates any of this, because I'm not being paid or in any way coerced to do this. I'm just going to spotlight something I think rocks. I am going to give a place free advertising, which I think is the best advertising. Advertising generated by consumers for consumers because they honestly like a product. (This sort of entry is going to happen at least once more, so I've given it its own category, tongue-in-cheekedly labeled "Selling Out")
Long, rambling self-indulgent punkish-facade preamble now over, Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you...
Yogu-San.
Did you just hear a popping sound? That was the cuteness center of your brain exploding. This little dude is the mascot for which they are named. Squishy, swirly little Yogu-San himself. Or...itself. Whatever.
So what is Yogu-San? Yogu-San, dear friends, is a frozen yogurt place, in a similar vein as such places as PinkBerry and Red Mango...three flavour choices and a variety of toppings. And sweet Aunt Wendy's eyeballs, is it good. (My apologies to anyone who has an Aunt Wendy, I did not mean to desecrate her eyes.)
The available toppings range from the expected (crushed Oreos, chocolate chips, various types of fresh fruit) to the quirky and fun (Pocky, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Fruity Pebbles). The two "set" flavours are Original and Green Tea, with a third flavour that rotates/changes each month. As if Yogu-San himself wasn't cute enough, they also apply the "-san" honorific to their flavours, as though they're Yogu-San's relatives or something...Green Tea-San, Mango-San, etc. It's precious.
The yogurt itself I found to be awesomely delicious, though it might not be what you expect from frozen yogurt, necessarily--for one, it has a notably stronger "yogurty" flavour, rather than just being like soft-serve ice cream, and two, the texture is different from samesaid soft-serveish fro-yo, being sort of like snow. It breaks off in your mouth in chunks and quickly melts across your tongue.
Oh, and did I mention the workers have a genuine-feeling air of friendliness?
Yogu-San is located in the Bellis Fair Mall in Bellingham, Washington. If you ever find yourself there, seriously check it out.
Eesh, even the name is fun to say. Yogu-saaaaaaaaaaaaan.
Holden Out. (of yogurt)
My Local Grocery Store Sucks.
I will prove it with numbers. Oh snap.
Near where I currently reside is a grocery store, part of a chain called Haggen. There's lots of whining about how steep their prices are, yet they are still bought from readily because of their ridiculously convenient location. Today, though, I found out just how much they're ripping me and other people that live near and with me off.
Let's compare grocery lists and prices, shall we?
First, the list from when I made what I now call "FailDogs" (Homemade corn dogs that looked hideous and were a pain to make but actually tasted pretty darn good). These I got at Haggen. It's mostly raw ingredients (which are by nature usually cheaper than premade mixtures/prepared stuff). It should also be noted that I went for small sizes on these since I didn't need a lot, and cheap brands.
- 1 box cornmeal
- 1 box sugar
- 1 ...thing...baking powder
- 1 pack sausages
- 1 pack skewers
- 1 cheap plastic bowl
- 1 box baking soda
- 1 mid-size bottle vegetable oil
- 1 tiny carton of buttermilk
- 1 box butter
Total price: FIFTY-FIVE DOLLARS.
I'm trying to convince myself there was more on that reciept, but no, that was seriously it. ...Why I still paid that, especially knowing full well I couldn't really afford it, is an even greater mystery.
Now, let's look at the grocery shopping I did today at the local Trader Joe's. It's more out of the way than Haggen, for sure, but...ai yai.
I would also like to thank Starlight, who proved herself to be the best shopping assistant ever. Kept me on-track, focused, thinking, moving efficiently, prioritizing and even was kind enough to provide a running price tally (I had a fifty-dollar gift card that was a Christmas present to work with).
The list from today's TJ's grocery adventure:
- 1 pack roast beef
- 1 pack pepperjack cheese
- 1 tub boursin
- 1 good-sized cucumber
- 1 pack salami
- 1 loaf oat/wheat bread
- 1 box squash soup
- 2 little things of yogurt
- half-gallon of milk
- 1 tub tapioca pudding
- 1 bag veggie chips
- 1 box granola bars
- 2 box crackers
- 1 bar good dark chocolate
- 2 box mochi
- 1 bag tortilla chips
- 1 jar salsa
- 1 bag snap pea crisps
Total Price: 48 dollars. Didn't even use all of the gift card, and the things bought can easily mix for and stretch across multiple meals and snacks, as opposed to eight corndogs.
What are you even thinking, Haggen.
Though there are plenty of individual items there that can be cried foul on too. They have a little lunch pack thing of six smallish chicken strips with a little tub of ranch. ...For eight dollars. Eight bloody dollars? I could go down to Dairy Queen and get the same thing with a drink, fries, and toast and it would still be less. Even the apples at Haggen are like a buck each, as opposed to a lot of other places (a lot, not all) hovering around fifty cents each.
Eff you, Haggen.
Holden Out.
Near where I currently reside is a grocery store, part of a chain called Haggen. There's lots of whining about how steep their prices are, yet they are still bought from readily because of their ridiculously convenient location. Today, though, I found out just how much they're ripping me and other people that live near and with me off.
Let's compare grocery lists and prices, shall we?
First, the list from when I made what I now call "FailDogs" (Homemade corn dogs that looked hideous and were a pain to make but actually tasted pretty darn good). These I got at Haggen. It's mostly raw ingredients (which are by nature usually cheaper than premade mixtures/prepared stuff). It should also be noted that I went for small sizes on these since I didn't need a lot, and cheap brands.
- 1 box cornmeal
- 1 box sugar
- 1 ...thing...baking powder
- 1 pack sausages
- 1 pack skewers
- 1 cheap plastic bowl
- 1 box baking soda
- 1 mid-size bottle vegetable oil
- 1 tiny carton of buttermilk
- 1 box butter
Total price: FIFTY-FIVE DOLLARS.
I'm trying to convince myself there was more on that reciept, but no, that was seriously it. ...Why I still paid that, especially knowing full well I couldn't really afford it, is an even greater mystery.
Now, let's look at the grocery shopping I did today at the local Trader Joe's. It's more out of the way than Haggen, for sure, but...ai yai.
I would also like to thank Starlight, who proved herself to be the best shopping assistant ever. Kept me on-track, focused, thinking, moving efficiently, prioritizing and even was kind enough to provide a running price tally (I had a fifty-dollar gift card that was a Christmas present to work with).
The list from today's TJ's grocery adventure:
- 1 pack roast beef
- 1 pack pepperjack cheese
- 1 tub boursin
- 1 good-sized cucumber
- 1 pack salami
- 1 loaf oat/wheat bread
- 1 box squash soup
- 2 little things of yogurt
- half-gallon of milk
- 1 tub tapioca pudding
- 1 bag veggie chips
- 1 box granola bars
- 2 box crackers
- 1 bar good dark chocolate
- 2 box mochi
- 1 bag tortilla chips
- 1 jar salsa
- 1 bag snap pea crisps
Total Price: 48 dollars. Didn't even use all of the gift card, and the things bought can easily mix for and stretch across multiple meals and snacks, as opposed to eight corndogs.
What are you even thinking, Haggen.
Though there are plenty of individual items there that can be cried foul on too. They have a little lunch pack thing of six smallish chicken strips with a little tub of ranch. ...For eight dollars. Eight bloody dollars? I could go down to Dairy Queen and get the same thing with a drink, fries, and toast and it would still be less. Even the apples at Haggen are like a buck each, as opposed to a lot of other places (a lot, not all) hovering around fifty cents each.
Eff you, Haggen.
Holden Out.
26.4.09
Sunday Comics: Pictures For Sad Children
Sunday Comics is a weekly feature where I spotlight awesome comics that you may want to check out.
Holden Out.
The Comic: Pictures for Sad Children
URL: www.picturesforsadchildren.com
By: John Campbell
URL: www.picturesforsadchildren.com
By: John Campbell
Type: Semi-Daily Comic Strip
Content Rating: PG-13, for occasional language, dark humor, and general irreverence
Plot: PFSC Follows the adventures of a ghost named Paul (usually referred to as "Paul Who Is A Ghost"), his (living) coworker, Gary, and some of the people in Gary's life. Lately, though, in lieu of this, it's been doing more non-sequiter one-takes.
Personal thoughts: PFSC's humor is very unique, and takes a little getting used to. It's rarely "ha ha" funny, instead relying more on the naturalistic humor that comes with awkward situations. Frequently two characters will be left simply staring at each other. It's rather refreshing in its weirdness.
Holden Out.
19.4.09
Sunday Comics: Black Jack
Sunday Comics is a weekly feature where I spotlight awesome comics that you may want to check out.
Holden Out.
The Comic: Black Jack (Volume One, anyway...I have yet to read later volumes)
By: Osamu Tezuka
By: Osamu Tezuka
Type: Collected vignette-style installments
Content Rating: PG-13, for surgical/medical procedure images.
Plot:Surgeons are human, and sometimes, despite their best intentions and skill level, there are procedures just beyond their capability. That's when you need someone above and beyond the capacity of most surgeons. That's when you need, dare I use such a cheesy term, a super-surgeon. That's when you need someone like Black Jack. Mysterious, heavily scarred, and working without a license, hiring the man known only as Black Jack for an operation is expensive and technically illegal but his sheer skill speaks for itself--he's indisputably, among the medical community who know of him, one of the best surgeons on the planet. The sorts of operations attracted to him are often strange, and many even have supernatural elements, such as a telepathic keratoid cystoma. As we go through various short stories depicting some of Black Jack's experiences, we also learn bits and pieces about who he is--and was, prior to the miraculous operation that saved his own life when he was younger.
Personal thoughts:Single-word summary: addictive. Once I had picked this up I had a difficult time putting it down. I understand Mr. Tezuka has a fair bit of medical background himself, which definitely shows through, in spite of the outlandishness of many of the operations (a brain transplant, for example). A dark, mysterious stranger with a heart of gold is far from original, but having that stranger be a surgeon certainly is, and I hadn't read any really quality manga in a while, so this was a welcome gear-shift. My only complaint was Pinoko, Black Jack's assistant and surrogate daughter. She's adorable, but I frankly hate the speech impediment they gave her in the translation. It's far more annoying than cute. As a final word, the cover is brilliantly designed--a very shallow relief that gives the impression the cover is being "peeled back" to be operated upon. Black Jack is not for the medically squeamish, but should provide good times otherwise, especially if you have some interest in medicine or surgery yourself.
Holden Out.
14.4.09
About to get all Religious Iconography up in yo grill.
A small article from an April 2009 "Church Around the World" pamphlet/newsletter:
"A large sculpture of Christ on the cross was removed from outside a church in West Sussex, England, after its vicar said it was 'scaring young children.' The Reverend Ewen Souter said the 10-foot crucifix, which was designed in the 1960s and made out of coal dust and resin, was 'a horrifying depiction of pain and suffering.' The sculpture, previously located on the side of St. John's Church in Broadbridge, has now been given to Horsham Museum. It will be replaced with a new stainless steel cross. In a survey carried out by the church, every comment about the sculpture was negative."
...Wow. Just...wow.
Really?
Really, now.
You took it down because it was scaring children and was a "horrifying depiction of pain and suffering?" That's funny, because I always thought the pain and suffering was, oh, I don't know, part of the point. And after keeping it up there for almost fifty years, no less. (cue a big fat sigh)
I realize that religious iconography is a tricky thing, because any symbol has potential to become just an image, and override its own meaning through that. I think it's sort of neat sometimes that some religions put strict limits on their iconography--Muslims, for example, forbidding visual depiction of Mohammad to avoid idolatry. Because a lot of times it seems like the cross, like here in this example, can become just a picture, just a symbol that stands for something generic, like a company logo, rather than a reminder of one of history's most brutal execution methods and the most recognized person who suffered under it, for a supernatural, selfless, and sacred purpose. The crucifixion was not a happy affair. There was screaming and death and blood and mutilation and all sorts of unpleasant things going on with pressure in wrist tendons because there's a railroad spike going through your wrist. My own wrists ache just typing it.
Stainless steel? If you're using that as a metaphor for the purity that comes with the aftermath of the crucifixion, then fine, but somehow I get that's not what the intent was here. Jesus' kindness and gentleness is well-documented, yes, but it seems like more and more places of worship are focusing just on that, just on the Bible's warm fuzzy moments and watering down moments like Christ's death because it's "too violent" or "frightening to kids." The Bible is not a warm, fuzzy bedtime story full of giggles and snuggles. Oh, of course there are happy moments, and peace, and hope and grace and all the wonderful things of that nature regularly celebrated about it, but when those are overemphasized, overall scope is lost and there's no longer anything to contrast those happy moments against (not that happy moments need contrast to exist--but it helps for comparison purposes). That's where we get what I call "White Jesus." You've all seen pictures of him--sitting there like a Renaissance portrait, sometimes holding a little lambkin, usually for some reason looking up and off to the left and very aloof, white as cottage cheese despite his Mediterranian origins (not that is race is actually that important to his identity, but I'm riding the stereotype train all the way to Example Station, so choo choo). This is the same guy who, when mounted up on a cross, only looks vaguely uncomfortable, if even that. A lot of this stems from the Rennaisance, since I mention it, and times where it would have been thought of as somehow sacriligious to portray Christ as anything but this stoic statue of a guy, to recognize his holiness. That's great and all, but to also ignore his humanity--the fact that he was fully capable of experiencing pain and suffering and did--detracts a lot from his overall significance within Christan doctrine.
So, St. John's Church of Broadbridge, I hope you're happy with your shiny metal logo-cross. Passerby will look up at it and go, "wow, that sure is a church." Perish forbid they discomfort people or stir up any trouble, goodness no.
Holden Out, and making a weird dissatisfied face
PS: Regarding categories...what even should constitute the difference between a piece labeled "Editorial" and an "Overreacting" piece? Should I just lump them together into one category?
"A large sculpture of Christ on the cross was removed from outside a church in West Sussex, England, after its vicar said it was 'scaring young children.' The Reverend Ewen Souter said the 10-foot crucifix, which was designed in the 1960s and made out of coal dust and resin, was 'a horrifying depiction of pain and suffering.' The sculpture, previously located on the side of St. John's Church in Broadbridge, has now been given to Horsham Museum. It will be replaced with a new stainless steel cross. In a survey carried out by the church, every comment about the sculpture was negative."
...Wow. Just...wow.
Really?
Really, now.
You took it down because it was scaring children and was a "horrifying depiction of pain and suffering?" That's funny, because I always thought the pain and suffering was, oh, I don't know, part of the point. And after keeping it up there for almost fifty years, no less. (cue a big fat sigh)
I realize that religious iconography is a tricky thing, because any symbol has potential to become just an image, and override its own meaning through that. I think it's sort of neat sometimes that some religions put strict limits on their iconography--Muslims, for example, forbidding visual depiction of Mohammad to avoid idolatry. Because a lot of times it seems like the cross, like here in this example, can become just a picture, just a symbol that stands for something generic, like a company logo, rather than a reminder of one of history's most brutal execution methods and the most recognized person who suffered under it, for a supernatural, selfless, and sacred purpose. The crucifixion was not a happy affair. There was screaming and death and blood and mutilation and all sorts of unpleasant things going on with pressure in wrist tendons because there's a railroad spike going through your wrist. My own wrists ache just typing it.
Stainless steel? If you're using that as a metaphor for the purity that comes with the aftermath of the crucifixion, then fine, but somehow I get that's not what the intent was here. Jesus' kindness and gentleness is well-documented, yes, but it seems like more and more places of worship are focusing just on that, just on the Bible's warm fuzzy moments and watering down moments like Christ's death because it's "too violent" or "frightening to kids." The Bible is not a warm, fuzzy bedtime story full of giggles and snuggles. Oh, of course there are happy moments, and peace, and hope and grace and all the wonderful things of that nature regularly celebrated about it, but when those are overemphasized, overall scope is lost and there's no longer anything to contrast those happy moments against (not that happy moments need contrast to exist--but it helps for comparison purposes). That's where we get what I call "White Jesus." You've all seen pictures of him--sitting there like a Renaissance portrait, sometimes holding a little lambkin, usually for some reason looking up and off to the left and very aloof, white as cottage cheese despite his Mediterranian origins (not that is race is actually that important to his identity, but I'm riding the stereotype train all the way to Example Station, so choo choo). This is the same guy who, when mounted up on a cross, only looks vaguely uncomfortable, if even that. A lot of this stems from the Rennaisance, since I mention it, and times where it would have been thought of as somehow sacriligious to portray Christ as anything but this stoic statue of a guy, to recognize his holiness. That's great and all, but to also ignore his humanity--the fact that he was fully capable of experiencing pain and suffering and did--detracts a lot from his overall significance within Christan doctrine.
So, St. John's Church of Broadbridge, I hope you're happy with your shiny metal logo-cross. Passerby will look up at it and go, "wow, that sure is a church." Perish forbid they discomfort people or stir up any trouble, goodness no.
Holden Out, and making a weird dissatisfied face
PS: Regarding categories...what even should constitute the difference between a piece labeled "Editorial" and an "Overreacting" piece? Should I just lump them together into one category?
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