Another Day, Another Freakin' Grant
Just when you thought things couldn't get sillier, a pair of psychologists at the University of Texas in Austin have released the results of a study in which, after presumably exhaustive research for which they were undoubtedly well paid, they concluded that there are precisely 237 reasons why people have sex. I haven't seen the list, but I feel sure that if you threw some of those bucks my way I could come up with a 238th reason.A mea culpa: I fear that some of these commentaries and the ensuing debates may have become like the tail wagging the dog. I enjoy the give and take, and welcome it, but my intention is for people to enjoy the cartoon first of all. That's what I'm doing this for. The accompanying words are only meant as a small window on the thought processes that are the soil from which the cartoon has bloomed. As far as I'm concerned the text is expendable. I'd hate for anyone to think that my primary interest is mouthing off, with the cartoon as illustration, or worse, like the forgettable little joke with which after dinner speakers inevitably begin their boring lectures.
posted by John M Crowther @ 7:35 AM
5 Comments:
Throw a few more of those bucks my way and I will come up with #239 to 245 if the money is right. (giggle)
John C., would be hard to ignore the cartoon, it could never be considered part of the boring after dinner speech but I think some of them get everyone's juices going and then in the heat of the moment forget to say anything about the cartoon. This one today had me giggling even before reading the text as this guy is everywhere. When I was younger, he was always just around the corner so I knew before the cartoon finished loading that this one was going to give me a right good laugh. Keep them coming, please and of course, your commentary was brilliant today.
You could, of course, look on the fact that people sometimes get so excited about the concept of the cartoon, wanting to get their opinion out there about the subject which in turn makes them forget about commenting on the cartoon completely, maybe take it as a compliment as well.(said with a grin)
I share your frustration in not having your artwork noticed John. On my blog... no-one even SEES it let alone feels the need to comment about it... (or the commentary for that matter!)
It's very discouraging.
And here you have people with hearts and minds fully engaged... giving you the "gift" of feedback!
It might not be the feedback you want... but at least you know someone's out there supporting your efforts!
I have always felt you to be too intelligent to be satisfied with mindless praise alone... (there are only so many times one can say "great cartoon" without it losing sincerity) which explains why I have directed my comments toward your commentary.
Please accept my apologies from the tail end of the dog...:-)
Lee and Jean, thanks for your comments and support, but please understand, I wasn't fishing for compliments. That's why I made it a mea culpa, ie. my fault. I fear that I get so heavy-handed sometimes that the blog becomes about the content of the commentary, when my intention is for it to be about the cartoon (as opposed to your blog, Jean, where the essence of it is your article, and the illustrations are delightful icing. I'm happy to have the verification that you guys are "with me," but I don't want you to get the idea that I was prodding you to say more about the cartoons.
John C., I am not giving you lip service. I did not find your 'fat cartoon' very funny and told you my reasons why. Some of your cartoons strike me as funnier than others, I have my favorites and when I think you have hit on one that is of New Yorker quality I say so. Some of your cartoons, in my humble opinions, are of first quality, some come near the mark but fall a bit short, still in my humble opinion. But I try to always be honest in my estimate of the work. I think dishonest praise is hurtful to an artist. When I ask for an opinion on my work, I want an honest, thoughtful answer not just meaningless praise. I try to do the same for other artists when asked my opinion. My point was that even the ones that do not get comments concerning the cartoon still can get the viewer excited about the concept of the cartoon and that is part of your job in my once more humble opinion. I think it is more the cartoon and less your commentary that gets some of us vocal. I like your commentaries, enjoy them but for me the cartoon has always been the primary importance. Some of them, ex: today's, makes me start laughing even before it is fully loaded. I have learned a lot about composition, etc. from watching you evolve with these cartoons so I was not trying to give you a compliment but instead trying to explain how important your cartoons are to me.
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