New Double Vision

Go on over to Charlie Adley's Double Vision for a read!

It must be Friday...

...because there's a new Double Vision up!

Double Vision

Charlie's latest article is up on Double Vision, belatedly for reasons beyond my control etc. etc. I also haven't got around to my report on my Concern Workshops, which I'll try and have up in the next day or two. Back soon!

Thought for the Day...

What is the purpose of life?

To be
the eyes
and ears
and conscience
of the Creator of the Universe,
you fool.

Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions

New Double Vision

Don't foget to check out Charley Adley's Double Vision!

RIP Jean Baudrillard

I only heard today that Jean Baudrillard died yesterday. He was one of the most influential thinkers I've encountered and I wrote reams on him in college. So long and thanks for the simulacra.

Galway Comedy Festival Cartoon Exhibition

I'll be representing Galway in the Galway Comedy Festival Cartoon Exhibition in the Town Hall Theatre from the 5th -9th April. I'll be hanging alongside Jon Berkeley, Jim Cogan, Graeme Keyes, Tom Halliday, Tom Mathews, Martyn Turner, Steve Best, David Rooney, Hunt Emerson, John McCrae and Martin Honeysett.

I think I need to sit down.

Do pop in for a look if you're in town!

Concern Workshop Tomorrow

I'll be giving a workshop to transition year students tomorrow on the issue of child labour. It's a heavy issue, but I try to make it informative and with an emphasis on action (like many similar issues the sheer weight of it can be overwhelming). I'll post more on it tomorrow, hopefully I'll have some images ready as well.

There are no Original Ideas in Editorial Cartoons!

I winced when I saw the above cartoon on Cagle's Cartoon Index because it was followed immediately by this one:

This is exactly what every editorial cartoonist lives in fear of: that someone, somewhere, has had the same idea as you. The thing is I would guarantee there has been no plagarism here: if anything drives a cartoonist it is to be distinct by virtue of originality. This is an example of convergence.
There is a finite gene pool of tropes, references and metaphors that is at the disposal of an artist, and an idea (and don't tell anyone this because it's a trade secret) is simply the recombination of elements from that gene pool in the artist's head. And sometimes this limited gene pool mixes a remarkably similar idea in the heads of two different artists. This is a really good example of where the refinement of the idea, the composition of the image, and the execution of the gag come into play: I would consider one of the above to be more successful than the other. Read back over them and I think you'll see one of them has a sharper delivery complemented by a good composition.
I would imagine there was mutual head-slapping in Minnesota and Detroit over this, but sometimes convergence is unavoidable. I submit to the jury this example, and also my hilarious take on the bird-flu panic (I'm really flogging a dead bird at this stage, that's enough H5N1 references for now!).

The Bird and the Bee: My New Favourite Band!

I saw this The Bird and the Bee video last night on the telly and it just stopped me in my tracks. It's hypnotic. Buy it now!

the bird and the bee player

visit inara and greg on myspace or get the code for this player

Brought to you by cruxy.com

Macnas Parade Cancelled

I'm really disappointed to read that the Macnas Parade won't be happening this year during the Arts Festival. I had my suspicions that something like this was coming but it's still a blow when it comes. It's clear that between the Arts Council and the Galway City Council that the value that the parade lends to the city during the summer is meaningless. The Arts Council especially is culpable in this: in my last years in Macnas it was becoming increasingly antagonistic to Macnas and actually froze its funding. I don't know whether this was ever remedied but an institution has been allowed to flounder and let's be clear, this could mean the end of Macnas in the not too distant future. Consider the Macnas Parade to a white elephant like the Abbey Theatre: good millions are being thrown after bad there, while all Macnas needed was something in the region of €70,000 (my estimate) to keep the ball rolling. After years of loyal service Macnas are like the greying mutt kicked out into the back yard.
What is needed is a cash value being put on the parade: the first thing most of the audience does is turn around and find the nearest pub or restaurant. This year that nice little spike in takings one Sunday in the middle of July won't appear. Therefore it makes good economic sense for every business that does well from the parade to put a little outlay, tax-deductable, into ensuring an event that fills their premises actually occurs. In short the arts aren't just for looking at but can present a genuine marketing opportunity for the enterprising trader. But by the sounds of it, the eleventh hour has come and gone as regards this year's parade.

So long the Macnas Parade. You gave me the shteart in my career. Hope to see you next year but I won't hold my breath.