If you have the opportunity and privilege to hear Art Spiegelman, the man behind the Pulitzer Prize-winning Maus, talk about comics, politics and culture in a public forum, as he did last week at the Yale University Theatre, I strongly recommend making the effort.
By the way, his talks aren’t really lectures either… they’re performance art. At least, that’s the legal technicality promoters make clear at various speaking venues, that allow Spiegelman to skirt local laws that would typically prevent him from smoking in a public hall.
Me being the avowed non-smoker — I lost both parents (one directly, the other indirectly) via that deadly habit — was a bit put off the first time by the posted warning signs. But Spiegleman’s passion for comics and cool slide show accompanying his talk made me quickly forget about it.
Besides, it’s tough to be put off when the artist/”performer” opens with, “This is not a lecture, this is a performance. Because in a performance, you can smoke onstage. Tonight, I will play the part of a neurotic comic book author…”
February 5th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
This behavior strikes me as egotistical and asinine. Maybe someone will make a graphic novel someday about people who think they are above the law and who are hopelessly addicted to cigarettes. And instead of using human beings as characters, they could use human asses with cigarettes coming out of the holes to portray said smokers.
February 5th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
“This behavior strikes me as egotistical and asinine.”
Nobody made anybody go to his lecture/performance. Heck there were even warning signs! Art Spiegelman doesn’t owe anybody a non-smoking performance.
February 5th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
I remember Spiegelman was smoking on stage when he did an appearance with Michael Chabon in San Diego about a year or two ago. It did strike me as a bit odd (especially given the hardcore non-smoking laws of California), but it was an interesting evening.
February 5th, 2007 at 10:50 pm
Actually, the kind of behavior that strikes me as egotistical and asinine is when someone uses the consequence-free whine zone of the internet to blurt their self important opinions to everyone (much like I’m doing here, how clever of you to notice.)
They posted more than enough warning that the horrid old man would be killing everyone there with his second hand smoke, he didn’t pin an unsuspecting passerby down and blow it in their faces.
Although your suggestion for the ass themed graphic novel was amazingly witty. You, sir, are a comic genius.
February 5th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
He is also teaching a seminar course at Columbia this semester.
February 6th, 2007 at 12:36 am
Addiction is never pretty–be it to caffeine or nicotene. Now excuse me while I go grab a can of cola.
February 6th, 2007 at 8:56 am
Thanks for the laughs, Hatchet9x. I agree, Mark Summers’ comments are a bit harsh.
The behavior of Mr. Spiegelman (wonder why his name is in italics?) is consistent with that I’ve heard about second- and third-hand from many rich, famous, egotistical people – it’s basically, “Don’t you know who I AM?”
I thought Maus was OK, nothing great, but then I didn’t attach the same emotional significance to the subject matter that many people apparently did. Tho’ I imagine there was some tokenism blended into some people’s (non-comics fans’) reactions (“it’s a ‘funny book’ but it’s SERIOUS! Wow! whoddathunk?”).
February 6th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Go easy on Mark Summers, he has OCD, plus Super Sloppy Double Dare was really stressful.
February 6th, 2007 at 10:45 am
And that’s all, folks. If you’d like to wish painful death upon each other, you can do it elsewhere. Comments have been deleted and the thread is now closed.