From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Modern Cartoonist
Modern Cartoonist
through ’reality’, is more accessible to a general audience
but in most cases less a precise, preconceived vision than
one based on compromise and serendipity. Comics offer
the creator a chance to control the specifics of his own
world in both abstract and literal terms." (p. 7)
"The new technology promises a structural shift (’de-
mocratization’ is a word they use) in the reader’s favor,
giving him an exaggerated role in the give-and-take be-
tween artist and audience. He is to be given choices so
he can ’interact’ with the narrative. Is this a good thing?
Is our every reader a worthy collaborator or does his in-
volvement dilute the whole process? Do we, as readers,
want this? This is where the ’entertainment media’ at
large is headed: to pander to the impatient lout and to
provide him with material that ranges only from mas-
Modern Cartoonist is a 1997 essay by Daniel Clowes pub-
turbation fodder to the narrative equivalent of a roller-
lished as a 16-page black, white and red illustrated pam-
coaster ride." (pp. 13-14)
phlet. It was originally bound in with copies of Eightball
#18 and was also offered for sale individually. Although
the back cover describes it as being published by "The Illustrations
Catholic Federation for Preservation and Advancement Most of the pamphlet’s illustrations feature an archetyp-
of All Things Related to the Comic Book and its Creators, al cartoonist working at his drawing board. Several are
Inc.," the address given for ordering additional copies is exaggeratedly pessimistic in tone; the cover image shows
that of Fantagraphics Books, presumably its actual pub- him surrounded by collapsing buildings, while another
lisher. Because of its subject matter, its small dimensions shows him slitting his wrists. It is unclear if the drawings
and its illustrations, and its original distribution inside of are in any sequence that would qualify them as sequen-
a comic book, Modern Cartoonist is sometimes classed as a tial art.
minicomic.
The essay is a series of portentous reflections on the
comics medium and its present and future challenges. It References
is divided into four parts: "The Current Situation", "So, [1] The Comics Journal #233, p. 56. Interview by Matt
Why Comics?", "To the Young Cartoonist" and "The Fu- Silvie.
ture and Beyond".
In a 2001 interview Clowes, while denying that the es-
say was a joke, said that his intention in Modern Cartoonist External links
was "to write something that had this certain tone that • Review of Modern Cartoonist from The Comics Journal
I find amusing, something that’s on the razor’s edge be-
tween this sort of pompous, heartfelt earnestness and its
ironic counterpoint."[1]
Quotes
"[O]ne of the reasons why comics are such a potentially
alluring forum for the individual creator [is that] they are
in a sense the ultimate domain of the artist who seeks to
wield absolute control over his imagery. Novels are the
work of one individual but they require visual collabo-
ration on the part of the reader. Film is by its nature a
collaborative endeavor. The filmmaker’s vision, filtered
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Modern Cartoonist
Categories:
• Comics by Daniel Clowes
• Pamphlets
• Minicomics
• Books about comics
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