Of Gary Larson and the Introverted Creator
A letter to whom-it-may-concern from Gary Larson, the creator of the Far Side comic series
And a reply from a reader:
"His cartoons are his children, huh? He always likes to know where his children are, right? [Gary Larson compared his work to his children.] That's sweet. I sure don't evny [typo of reader] the bill he must have for private investigators and the like charged with tracking down every 'toon - pinned up on some professors office door, on the floor of some college kid's bathroom, tossed out in the garbage when the owner decides it's time for a spring clean. I don't mind that he does it for money, but at least be honest about it."
I used to be pretty bewildered by why-ever people need to earn salaries that are above 2000 (SGD) a month. (Actually.. I still don't get it but it's ok. I'm anti-progress. But I'm a scientist at the same time. Is that possible?) Assuming ignorance of Gary Larson's lifestyle, I'm still for him not being a terribly extravagant person. While it's gotta be true that Gary Larson would've for at least once thought of "Gosh, I could've earned a whole lot more if there's respect for IP in this modern world." - there's something about money that feeds the obssessive nature of people and so draws even the non-mercenaries - I think G. L. sounds like a guy who's too honest to "do it for money". I understand his sentiments which somewhat unclouded for me the issue of introversion vs talent for introverted artists. Getting scared by own creation, disgust for showiness and vanity, guilt for exhibiting showiness and vanity, revolt and rebellion against own honesty, fear for judgement, are all factors that contribute to the dilemma of to show or not to show. On top of that, being funny/acting the clown is way more taxing than creating a serious piece of work.
The two virtues G.L. named are pretty effective though. However, that'd come down to surmounting another paralyzing difficulty - that of having the confidence to face the audience first, before ever going on to respect them, and that of having the confidence to face self, before facing the audience. Confidence doesn't have to be loud and showy, and is, on the other hand, able to vanquish the shyness, guilt, revolt and fear produced from facing things loud and showy.
So to show or not to show? That's a fine line. But not the one walked by G.L. I think he's referring to a line of controlled showing and all-over-the-place showing. It's related to the artist's (as in Artist with a capital A, not G.L. in particular.) delicate confidence, which needs good control and balancing. G.L.'s complaining exactly about the internet, the digitized media. It's a place that promotes anonymity and showiness at the same time, and so easy to get out of control. How can we blame the introverted artist then?
So could anyone help me see the point of blogging please?
I'm walking a fine line here.
On the one hand, I confess to finding it quite flattering that some of my fans have created web sites displaying and / or distributing my work on the Internet. And, on the other, I'm struggling to find the words that convincingly but sensitively persuade these Far Side enthusiasts to "cease and desist" before they have to read these words from some lawyer.
What impact this unauthorized use has had (and is having) in tangible terms is, naturally, of great concern to my publishers and therefore to me -- but it's not the focus of this letter. My effort here is to try and speak to the intangible impact, the emotional cost to me, personally, of seeing my work collected, digitized, and offered up in cyberspace beyond my control.
Years ago I was having lunch one day with the cartoonist Richard Guindon, and the subject came up how neither one of us ever solicited or accepted ideas from others. But, until Richard summed it up quite neatly, I never really understood my own aversions to doing this: ''It's like having someone else write in your diary," he said. And how true that statement rang with me. In effect, we drew cartoons that we hoped would be entertaining or, at the very least, not boring; but regardless, they would always come from an intensely personal, and therefore original perspective.
To attempt to be "funny" is a very scary, risk-laden proposition. (Ask any stand-up comic who has ever "bombed" on stage.) But if there was ever an axiom to follow in this business, it would be this: be honest to yourself and -- most important -- respect your audience.
So, in a nutshell (probably an unfortunate choice of words for me), I only ask that this respect be returned, and the way for anyone to do that is to please, please refrain from putting The Far Side out on the Internet. These cartoons are my "children," of sorts, and like a parent, I'm concerned about where they go at night without telling me. And, seeing them at someone's web site is like getting the call at 2:00 a.m. that goes, "Uh, Dad, you're not going to like this much, but guess where I am."
I hope my explanation helps you to understand the importance this has for me, personally, and why I'm making this request.
Please send my "kids" home. I'll be eternally grateful.
Most respectfully,
Gary Larson
On the one hand, I confess to finding it quite flattering that some of my fans have created web sites displaying and / or distributing my work on the Internet. And, on the other, I'm struggling to find the words that convincingly but sensitively persuade these Far Side enthusiasts to "cease and desist" before they have to read these words from some lawyer.
What impact this unauthorized use has had (and is having) in tangible terms is, naturally, of great concern to my publishers and therefore to me -- but it's not the focus of this letter. My effort here is to try and speak to the intangible impact, the emotional cost to me, personally, of seeing my work collected, digitized, and offered up in cyberspace beyond my control.
Years ago I was having lunch one day with the cartoonist Richard Guindon, and the subject came up how neither one of us ever solicited or accepted ideas from others. But, until Richard summed it up quite neatly, I never really understood my own aversions to doing this: ''It's like having someone else write in your diary," he said. And how true that statement rang with me. In effect, we drew cartoons that we hoped would be entertaining or, at the very least, not boring; but regardless, they would always come from an intensely personal, and therefore original perspective.
To attempt to be "funny" is a very scary, risk-laden proposition. (Ask any stand-up comic who has ever "bombed" on stage.) But if there was ever an axiom to follow in this business, it would be this: be honest to yourself and -- most important -- respect your audience.
So, in a nutshell (probably an unfortunate choice of words for me), I only ask that this respect be returned, and the way for anyone to do that is to please, please refrain from putting The Far Side out on the Internet. These cartoons are my "children," of sorts, and like a parent, I'm concerned about where they go at night without telling me. And, seeing them at someone's web site is like getting the call at 2:00 a.m. that goes, "Uh, Dad, you're not going to like this much, but guess where I am."
I hope my explanation helps you to understand the importance this has for me, personally, and why I'm making this request.
Please send my "kids" home. I'll be eternally grateful.
Most respectfully,
Gary Larson
And a reply from a reader:
"His cartoons are his children, huh? He always likes to know where his children are, right? [Gary Larson compared his work to his children.] That's sweet. I sure don't evny [typo of reader] the bill he must have for private investigators and the like charged with tracking down every 'toon - pinned up on some professors office door, on the floor of some college kid's bathroom, tossed out in the garbage when the owner decides it's time for a spring clean. I don't mind that he does it for money, but at least be honest about it."
I used to be pretty bewildered by why-ever people need to earn salaries that are above 2000 (SGD) a month. (Actually.. I still don't get it but it's ok. I'm anti-progress. But I'm a scientist at the same time. Is that possible?) Assuming ignorance of Gary Larson's lifestyle, I'm still for him not being a terribly extravagant person. While it's gotta be true that Gary Larson would've for at least once thought of "Gosh, I could've earned a whole lot more if there's respect for IP in this modern world." - there's something about money that feeds the obssessive nature of people and so draws even the non-mercenaries - I think G. L. sounds like a guy who's too honest to "do it for money". I understand his sentiments which somewhat unclouded for me the issue of introversion vs talent for introverted artists. Getting scared by own creation, disgust for showiness and vanity, guilt for exhibiting showiness and vanity, revolt and rebellion against own honesty, fear for judgement, are all factors that contribute to the dilemma of to show or not to show. On top of that, being funny/acting the clown is way more taxing than creating a serious piece of work.
The two virtues G.L. named are pretty effective though. However, that'd come down to surmounting another paralyzing difficulty - that of having the confidence to face the audience first, before ever going on to respect them, and that of having the confidence to face self, before facing the audience. Confidence doesn't have to be loud and showy, and is, on the other hand, able to vanquish the shyness, guilt, revolt and fear produced from facing things loud and showy.
So to show or not to show? That's a fine line. But not the one walked by G.L. I think he's referring to a line of controlled showing and all-over-the-place showing. It's related to the artist's (as in Artist with a capital A, not G.L. in particular.) delicate confidence, which needs good control and balancing. G.L.'s complaining exactly about the internet, the digitized media. It's a place that promotes anonymity and showiness at the same time, and so easy to get out of control. How can we blame the introverted artist then?
So could anyone help me see the point of blogging please?
posted by Azzurra | 4:56 PM
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