bobby2889

November 23, 2011 5:37 pm Sorry, I wrote an essay. the topic was close to home.

November 23, 2011 5:37 pm This is truly a fascinating topic for me. I'm currently an English student third year undergrad. We covered the issue of the Author in our first semester. It is not a comics only issue but something literary theorists have hundreds of points about. The Death of the Author is worth a read if this is really interesting to anyone. For me I like to base my judgement of a work on how it moves me. Generally if I don't know of an author it doesn't affect my reading. But quickly most people will find if you like an author you read more by them and often you will find themes outside of style and you will find voice and opinion that links their work and perhaps points to the writer. Potentially. If you have been plagued by the curse of an analytical approach being forced on you by a certain kind of education, like I have been, then you may further seek the creator to simply plum new depths of the work and find more things for yourself. This I think is where people split. For me I can find someone's opinion abhorrent but still seek out what the work tells us. Frank Miller is a good example. The man quite simply does not reflect my opinions. But knowing what I know of him has enhanced my understanding of the work. It may not be enjoyment but it adds to my appreciation and interesting in the work; it tells me something about the climate of society in a post 9/11 world. It may not be the most common reaction but sadly it does tell us a lot about the world, despite the fact the author's intent was different. Authorial intent is something that comes up a lot in literary study. Is what the writer was trying to say the be all and end all. If a writer comes out and says 'I was trying to say this' does that make how you read it initially wrong? To me this is a really weird division. I accept a creator created it. I take them into account as for me it adds to the layers. Sometimes its nice to step back and consider how it affects you as a work in itself, its language its art, without considering its politics or opinion. Other times it is nice to test and challenge yourself in comparison with another person. But ultimately I think works take on a life of their own. If you form an opinion of something that opinion is real. Like all stories comics have no meaning. They tell us nothing. At all. The only meaning they have is what is created and placed on them through interpretation. This includes the author's interpretation of their own work. The beauty of being individuals is we all look through different lenses and to me, while it can be fascinating to learn about a creator, it is important to let yourself remain entirely aware of the power of readership and personal interpretation. We all bring baggage to reading and that's good. Its where discussion comes from. If you don't like an author's politics then that's okay. But see if the craft of the work reveals any secrets. See if you can view it in a new light and remember his opinion, even if strongly shown, doesn't mean its the only way it can be read. Something, Holy Terror, can still be viewed satirically even if it wasn't meant to be. Sometimes by analysing you can defeat the author at his own game and point out how what he has actually done is undermined his own opinions through poor craftsmanship. Its all about taking everything and nothing on board and deciding to play around with the affects of the work. And then decide for yourself if you care what the author has to say and whether it really, really does matter. And if it does then make sure you know why.

November 16, 2011 1:25 pm I think any medium is hampered when it is solely consumed by one tone or genre. I mean its an issue that most comics are superhero comics. The fact most superhero comics are dark and 'grim n gritty' cuts out even more possibilities. It is an issue that people scrabble to tell 'edgy' stories but its worse that (not just that they are done badly often) but more that its one style taking up a large portion. If they were all sunny or all comedy that would also be a problem. Which is why, as you said 86, was a breath of fresh air.

November 16, 2011 1:10 pm I really like Greg Land's art

November 16, 2011 9:24 am Btw the way I'm not saying this is an intentional choice to lay them off. That's a pretty major conspiracy theory just saying it is a bit sad to lack a wider range of creative voice as was said above. Hopefully gender shouldn't make to much difference to talent but its always nice to have new eyes in an industry of creativity.

November 16, 2011 9:22 am It'll go fairly unnoticed sadly. The DC debate came in wake of mass PR shake up and was a criticism of a line wide rejiggling. Here Marvel are not likely to announce how many books they've been forced to can so few will bother paying attention. Its not an interesting debate to many.

November 14, 2011 12:28 pm Kind still feels Kirbyish with the use of clear shapes and such (I described that rubbishly-also a word). I just generally have Darkseid/Apokolips fatigue now. In the comics alot recently and that detracts from the threat- overuse kills a good villain: see Joker. And then Smallville shoehorned him in. I love Young Justice and you could tell they were headed there for a long time but that was my last vestige of hope and now they are going all out it seems. I just want another enemy to talk about

November 13, 2011 9:49 am I had a lot of fun playing 'Where's O'grady'. It works in issues a lot of the time too.

November 11, 2011 9:22 pm Umm yeah what was my point? Ah thats right, I like your article that reminds us about the trial and error, practice makes halfwaydecent, practical human side of the artistic process.

November 11, 2011 9:17 pm writing is a talent. It can be forcefully created through cunning but it takes a certain initial spark. That spark does not automatically let you get away with a lack of cultivation. If you start of crap that doesn't mean you don't have talent it simply means you don't yet have experience, technique and know-how. I think artistic forms these days are presented in a slightly unrealistic light where the idea of hard work is removed and replaced by the idea that the 'artist' has a superhuman drive that means he channels this other worldly force to create his art and though it is a struggle his gifts are a life-blood that drive him. We are often not told about the amount of time people have to drag their asses to the desk/drawing board because, goddamit, sometimes getting your thoughts out of your system is the bloody boring bit of the whole process and takes a lot of effort that can be better spent watching TV.