Quick, stupid, how old are you?
CAREY: Hey, Jer, some math help: how old was I 14 years ago?
JER: Uh, 14.
CAREY: Okay. Thanks. Wait. 27 minus 14 isn't 14, is it?
JER: You're 28.
CAREY: I'm 27.
JER: No, you're the same age as me and I'm 28.
CAREY: Are you being serious? You're 27. We're both 27.
JER: No, I'm... wait, I was born in '76... uh...
CAREY: I can't believe you don't know how old you are.
JER: No no no, it's... ah, I guess that does make 27. Jeez, where did I get 28 from?
CAREY: You've forgotten your own age!!
JER: I guess I just... whuh.
CAREY: Ridiculous!
...
My wife is sporting a new look. I promised I'd upload a pic, so have a gander.
...
I've been enjoying an absolute wealth of great reading material lately. I'm sure at least a couple of these will make it onto the Recommended Reading on the homepage, when I get around to it. In the meantime...
Blankets - One of the finest graphic novels I've had the pleasure to read. Beware, though, it will challenge every notion you have about love, sex, faith, God, and art. And isn't that the point of great literature? 582 pages, and it was captivating enough to devour in less than 3 days.
The Portable Arthur Miller - Very possibly my all-time favorite playwright. Genius on the level of Death of a Salesman (arguably the 20th century's finest play) rarely repeats itself, but Miller also managed to produce The Crucible and other perennials. A collection of his best material.
The Acme Novelty Datebook - A 10-year sampling of sketchbook pages from the inimitable Chris Ware. More on that below.
It's a Good Life if You Don't Weaken - A bit slow-going in the story department, but the mood and pacing of this graphic novel is rarely accomplished in this medium. Not quite the caliber of Blankets, but, like Blankets, a lovingly rendered piece of autobiography.
...
I've been meaning to post this for several weeks, but... oops. Anyhow, as always, a new year, a new sketchbook. It's an awkward drawing, yes, but you don't always get to knock a homer for your first sketch of the year. (Not sure why I drew it, either... I'm having some sort of recent Christ fixation).
Anyhow, when I posted my first sketch of the year with my "Sketchbook Manifesto" a year ago, a few friends and family members made it a point to mention to me how much they appreciated it. One particular buddy even printed it out, bought a new sketchpad, and taped it to the first page, which made me very, very happy.
But, I've been realizing lately that I'm not very good at heeding my own advice. Chris Ware's Acme Novelty Datebook is the snapshot of how I'd like my sketchbooks to be: gut-wrenchingly honest. It's ugly, it's depraved, it's colorful, it's honest, it's mundane, it's gorgeous... just like my mind. Ware isn't afraid to draw a woman he saw on the subway next to his grocery list or an illustration of himself masturbating next to a comic strip showcasing God in a Superman outfit.
Ware draws without fear because he draws what's on his mind, frightening bits and all. Why can't I do that?
...
Finally, the Academy Award nominations are out. Those who know me know what a ridiculous freak I am for the Oscars. I can't help it, it's my Super Bowl.
It looks as if Return of the King is going to be this year's "Titanic" (and I don't mean that metaphorically), deservedly so. I hope it wins every category in which it was nominated (with the exception of Best Original Song... I'd love to see A Mighty Wind's "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" grab that one). Frankly, I don't think anyone else has a chance.
Snubs: thankfully, the Matrixes were ignored, but it's a shame that neither managed an Effects nomination. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind came way too early in the year for anyone to remember Sam Rockwell's brilliant performance and, durn it, if Kill Bill's cinematics weren't good enough for Oscar attention, I can't imagine what is.
REALLY hoping Bill Murray takes home Best Actor.
REALLY hoping Capturing the Friedmans takes Best Documentary.
REALLY glad the Academy didn't hand Nicole Kidman her obligatory nomination this year.
Anyhow, 2003 was the greatest movie year in recent memory, so this should be an interesting show.
JER: Uh, 14.
CAREY: Okay. Thanks. Wait. 27 minus 14 isn't 14, is it?
JER: You're 28.
CAREY: I'm 27.
JER: No, you're the same age as me and I'm 28.
CAREY: Are you being serious? You're 27. We're both 27.
JER: No, I'm... wait, I was born in '76... uh...
CAREY: I can't believe you don't know how old you are.
JER: No no no, it's... ah, I guess that does make 27. Jeez, where did I get 28 from?
CAREY: You've forgotten your own age!!
JER: I guess I just... whuh.
CAREY: Ridiculous!
...
My wife is sporting a new look. I promised I'd upload a pic, so have a gander.
...
I've been enjoying an absolute wealth of great reading material lately. I'm sure at least a couple of these will make it onto the Recommended Reading on the homepage, when I get around to it. In the meantime...
Blankets - One of the finest graphic novels I've had the pleasure to read. Beware, though, it will challenge every notion you have about love, sex, faith, God, and art. And isn't that the point of great literature? 582 pages, and it was captivating enough to devour in less than 3 days.
The Portable Arthur Miller - Very possibly my all-time favorite playwright. Genius on the level of Death of a Salesman (arguably the 20th century's finest play) rarely repeats itself, but Miller also managed to produce The Crucible and other perennials. A collection of his best material.
The Acme Novelty Datebook - A 10-year sampling of sketchbook pages from the inimitable Chris Ware. More on that below.
It's a Good Life if You Don't Weaken - A bit slow-going in the story department, but the mood and pacing of this graphic novel is rarely accomplished in this medium. Not quite the caliber of Blankets, but, like Blankets, a lovingly rendered piece of autobiography.
...
I've been meaning to post this for several weeks, but... oops. Anyhow, as always, a new year, a new sketchbook. It's an awkward drawing, yes, but you don't always get to knock a homer for your first sketch of the year. (Not sure why I drew it, either... I'm having some sort of recent Christ fixation).
Anyhow, when I posted my first sketch of the year with my "Sketchbook Manifesto" a year ago, a few friends and family members made it a point to mention to me how much they appreciated it. One particular buddy even printed it out, bought a new sketchpad, and taped it to the first page, which made me very, very happy.
But, I've been realizing lately that I'm not very good at heeding my own advice. Chris Ware's Acme Novelty Datebook is the snapshot of how I'd like my sketchbooks to be: gut-wrenchingly honest. It's ugly, it's depraved, it's colorful, it's honest, it's mundane, it's gorgeous... just like my mind. Ware isn't afraid to draw a woman he saw on the subway next to his grocery list or an illustration of himself masturbating next to a comic strip showcasing God in a Superman outfit.
Ware draws without fear because he draws what's on his mind, frightening bits and all. Why can't I do that?
...
Finally, the Academy Award nominations are out. Those who know me know what a ridiculous freak I am for the Oscars. I can't help it, it's my Super Bowl.
It looks as if Return of the King is going to be this year's "Titanic" (and I don't mean that metaphorically), deservedly so. I hope it wins every category in which it was nominated (with the exception of Best Original Song... I'd love to see A Mighty Wind's "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" grab that one). Frankly, I don't think anyone else has a chance.
Snubs: thankfully, the Matrixes were ignored, but it's a shame that neither managed an Effects nomination. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind came way too early in the year for anyone to remember Sam Rockwell's brilliant performance and, durn it, if Kill Bill's cinematics weren't good enough for Oscar attention, I can't imagine what is.
REALLY hoping Bill Murray takes home Best Actor.
REALLY hoping Capturing the Friedmans takes Best Documentary.
REALLY glad the Academy didn't hand Nicole Kidman her obligatory nomination this year.
Anyhow, 2003 was the greatest movie year in recent memory, so this should be an interesting show.
Labels: dialogue
posted by Jeremy Bear at
11:10 AM
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