Roy Edroso is a good man and alicublog is one of the best things about the Internet. Please do what you can to help. Thanks.
[Update 2011-01-06 14:42] I should at least thank Ed Bluestone for the original idea mucked with above. See Comments for details.
[Update 2011-01-16 22:58] Good news.
2 comments:
Cover idea by Ed Bluestone. Mention is made here that while Duchamp gave the Mona Lisa facial hair, and a hot ass, after a fashion, or whimsically contemplated using her as an ironing board (as a sort of Dadaist koan), the mere appropriation of the zenith of American humor, the Sistine Chapel of commercial Art, and the funniest dog picture ever, to boot, should be discouraged in the most unambiguous terms, however good the cause. We forgive you, because you're young. Go now and buy a copy of that issue--one of the best ever, including, if I'm not mistaken, Mr. Bluestone's "Twenty Things To Do At The Funeral Of A Person You Don't Like", which you may appropriate, if you wish--and The 199th Birthday Book as penance.
Thanks as always for the education.
Thanks also for calling me young!
But yes: when I first saw that cover, I was just old enough to understand that sort of humor, and as one consequence, I have since referred to it from time to time, precisely because I thought it was so good.
I do take your point about the risk of diminishing things of worth by excessive repetition. However, since I think this is the first time I have used that image on this blog, I am going to plead not guilty to that charge.
As to whether something that represents a zenith should ever be appropriated (especially by those of significantly lower creativity, like me), I am torn. What you say resonates to no small degree. On the other hand, if we never bring these zeniths up, don't we, as a society, risk forgetting about them?
As someone once lamented, "The old people have gone and have taken a lot of truth out of the world with them."
Well, okay, I suppose I could look this up …
Turns out it was Ronald Blythe, according to Ron Strickland or maybe William Kittredge. I'm pretty sure I've never even heard of that book, let alone read it, so I must have picked up the fine line from someone else, which is sort of -- not to sound too much like Sir Pantload of Dough -- central to my point.
Ah, but I think you are objecting not to my recall of Bluestone's gem, but to my having changed it.
If so, then I can only say … eh, mashup culture. All the kids are doing it.
But seriously, I will think some more on what you've said.
Meantime, for others, here is a page about that cover that you might enjoy.
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