Comments on: Episode #16: Where have all the good ideas gone?

By: Scott VanderPloeg

Scott VanderPloeg — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 13:14:57 +0000

Comics are a medium: words and pictures to tell a story. A framework from which to create, like any other medium.

A bookcase serves its purpose if it holds books. If I use cinder blocks and milk crates or plastic laminate or carved teak and ivory I’ve accomplished the basic task of holding books. Of these some are crap and some are beautiful works of art, but they’re all bookcases. Using your logic I’d say all bookcases as crap, fulfilling their primary purpose but having no other values than holding books.

We’re all saying the same thing to you Charlie: you can’t lump everything together. And I realize you come here to argue and no one is every going to sway you from your position.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:31:49 +0000

I’m sure you guys know of Philippe Starck… he designed these toothbrushes:

http://frogandprincess.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/1988toothbrush.jpeg

A lot of effort went into rethinking what a toothbrush is and turning a common product into an object of desire. But you know what… it’s still a tooth brush. As beautiful as it is, like comics, it’s a disposable product.

Likewise, I enjoy comics for what they are… but after re-reading the comments from the past few days, it occurs to me that some people are having trouble ACCEPTING comics… and yet I’m the paradox.

After a stressful day, sometimes I like to kick back with a can of pop, a large bag of chips and watch Transformers. I know I’m eating crap and watching crap but it helps take the edge off a tough day… Basically I’m looking to zone out. Salt, fat and robots with guns have their place. I don’t zone out every day but it’s a nice break when I can get it.

We already have movies, novels, educational material and high art. Comics have there place as well so I’m happy to celebrate what they are and not convince myself that they are something else.

Ed… Mr. T was not quite what I had in mind but I’m with you in spirit ^_^

By: Charlie

Charlie — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:59:37 +0000

Are you guys familiar with Italian designer Ettore Sottsass from the late ’70s, early ’80s. Back then high end materials were used to make high end stuff. Whenever cheap material was used, it was changed or disguised as to look like high end material… such as fake wood moldings.

Ettorre Sottsass made a funny looking bookcase using plastic laminate. This bookshelf is “key” in the world of industrial design because it was “honest”. Ettorre Sottsass basically said, let plastic BE plastic. Why must it be something else…?

http://blog.mam.org/2010/12/12/from-the-collection-ettore-sottsass-carlton-bookcase/

By: Charlie

Charlie — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:36:44 +0000

To say that the bulk of what's out there is crap is different than saying that it's all crap. Born Again and Watchmen are 2 out of many that still give me chills whenever I re-read them. I recognize that there are good stories still being produced. However, I'm dismissing all the rest… which, again is the vast majority.

By: Andrew Ardizzi

Andrew Ardizzi — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 02:50:30 +0000

I’m on the fence regarding your point on youth literacy. Obviously there is an infinitude amount of literature youth can be exposed to for the purposes of encouraging literacy, and comic books can hardly be the sole vehicle for that end. At the same time, it can function as a vehicle that contributes to that end.

As an example, late last year I helped publish a one-shot comic for Fort William First Nation located around Thunder Bay based on their “Sleeping Giant” legend. We did so with a number of objectives, the most important being to aid in the preservation of the band’s culture, but to also encourage literacy among the band’s youth. So it worked two-fold in chronicling a piece of history, while also encouraging a younger generation to read. And comics have that power as a medium, and it’s not limited to my example. There are comics that comment on world affairs, there are comics that elaborate on deeply personal stories which any one of six billion people can be touched by, just as there are inspiring superhero comics whose models we can aspire to. It’s great to read those stories in a medium that’s unbelievably accessible. All you need is the right story, and in the case of comics it works both as a written and visual form of communication.

By: Andrew Ardizzi

Andrew Ardizzi — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 02:26:35 +0000

Hmmm…the above comment was directed at Scott. I agree with Anthony though that it’s as important to be as vocal about good works as it is to be vocal lesser ones.

By: Andrew Ardizzi

Andrew Ardizzi — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 02:24:01 +0000

I disagree on your point about the quality of past stories. To accept that as fact is to consider stories such as “Born Again,” “Watchmen,” or any other classic story as of lesser quality than you appear ready to afford it. There have been great stories over the decades, and there are still really good stories out there being told today. An example that caught me by surprise over the last year was “The L’il Depressed Boy.” So to dismiss everything as moderately readable “popcorn,” I feel is incorrect.

By: Andrew Ardizzi

Andrew Ardizzi — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 02:12:25 +0000

And that’s a fair point, but I suppose what it comes down is the emotion attached to a given book after you’ve read. I typically go with what I feel strongest about, because the review write themselves. It doesn’t matter if I liked a book or I disliked it, I write about it regardless dependent on my thoughts.

By: Ed Campbell

Ed Campbell — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:35:04 +0000

Charlie – I believe in both points that you’ve made in this comment. Comics are important for youth literacy, and comics are the perfect medium to do anything. Check out my other column where I address that issue. http://www.comicbookdaily.com/columns/knowing-is-half-the-battle/why-comics-are-awesome-reason-27/

By: Charlie

Charlie — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:05:55 +0000

Now you have a sense of what my family goes through ^_^

The thing is, I don’t have an agenda. I’m not here to promote myself or to prove anything… so I’m more freed up than you guys. And I think one of the primarily purpose of dialogue and communication is to arrive at a “truth”.

I’m not saying comics have no merit… in fact they do. But considering their news stand origins and their monthly schedule… How quickly does the story need to be written so that it can be edited, drawn, inked, lettered, printed and delivered. Man… that’s a lot of work in a short period of time. On top of which, the Marvel and DC universe is over 50 years old. Yes… expect a good comic but also understand their limitations.

No one trusts the government or corporate bodies… because, despite what they say… we know it’s often spin. If you really wanna promote comics, I think authenticity will go much further.

Comics are fun because you can do things in this medium that you can’t do any where else. To me, this should be the central selling point. This is a territory that comics can own… Doesn’t that sound better than claiming that comics are “important to the literacy of our youth”?