This is the weekly dispatch from Bizarro Studios North, where I have been writing and drawing the Monday through Saturday Bizarro comics since 2018. My partner and friend, Dan Piraro, created Bizarro in the late twentieth century and continues to do the Sunday comic from Rancho Bizarro in Mexico.
Wayno
An arrogant person considers himself perfect. This is the chief harm of arrogance. It interferes with a person's main task in life—becoming a better person.
Leo Tolstoy
Whether Tolstoy actually said or wrote this (I've yet to see a source cited), the words are valid. We can see examples everywhere. Some are blatantly obvious, such as when people actually use the word "perfect" to describe themselves, and more often in nonverbal ways.
The quote takes on specific meanings when "person" is replaced with "artist," "writer," or other descriptors.
Most cartoonists I know are constantly striving to become better at their art, and we often see only the flaws in our own work. The community is generally welcoming and supportive; more humble than arrogant.
I'm lucky to be part of this profession, and coming across the Tolstoy quote reminded me why I enjoy being around fellow cartoonists.
I expect this applies to any endeavor, and that those who are convinced that they're flawless stand out, but not in the way they believe.
Speaking of cartoonists, today's pipe pic was drawn by my cartoon hero Virgil Partch. I found the image on an auction site and resisted the urge to bid on it.
The image is a clip from this gag:
The caption reads, "He was my commanding officer during the war."
If you spot any boo-boos in the week's cartoons, rest assured that I probably noticed them after the files were uploaded and have been fretting ever since.
When Monday's comic was published, regular
Bizarro reader Matthew H commented, "She's rollin' in dough." Naturally, I had to steal that for today's blog title, and I tip my hat to Matthew, who always has something amusing to say.
Last Wednesday, we foreshadowed this week's four-day run of "What's Your Jam?" multi-panel gags riffing on various characters and what type of music they might enjoy. The format provided an opportunity to create title panels, which Dan uses every Sunday, and I had fun with it.
The tortilla chip that likes salsa music might be my favorite in this group.
We're not above occasional product placement in the comic.
I wrote one more after this week was already queued for publication, so it will appear in late March. I've probably exhausted the premise, but let's never say never.
You have to admire the commitment to old-world craftsmanship.
Thanks for dropping by to peruse these illustrated drolleries.
Duke Ellington: "C Jam Blues"
Soundies film, 1942
"Soundies" were precursors to modern music videos. Over 1,800 of these short musical films were produced in the 1940s, and they could be viewed on video jukeboxes called
Panorams.
Additional Bizarro Resources
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I didn't know Panorams existed until today! Very cool! I learned something new, thank you!
ReplyDeleteScopitones were similar, emerging in Italy in 1958. Some of them are amazing and weird!
DeleteSearch Youtube for "Giannetto A me piace Celentano 1963" if you dare!
Duke Ellington played at the US Naval Academy for our June Ring Dance in 1973( if memory serves). Was a great time!! This would have been a year before his death.
ReplyDeleteThis Soundie is a true marvel!
ReplyDeleteThanks and greetings from Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
Here are some more "Soundies" playlists:
ReplyDelete1920s to 1960s Jazz music soundies (295)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCy3YY1l0-o&list=PLfW7RF6BtNPP7e_mv-poQYoO15uFBfdSP
Soundies - Girls In The Band -1920's to present
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3gO18N2CJs&pp=ygUXU291bmRpZXMgZnJvbSB0aGUgMTkyMHM%3D
1940s Soundies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxg5wD7Ft3A&list=PLAQBOBW8lBUGrlojdFqIHG8te2xtK8oqZ&pp=0gcJCbUEOCosWNin
Enjoy!
Holy moly Wayno! Your "What's your jam?" series is brilliant! As a music lover, each one is comedic excellence. IF I was forced to choose a favorite, it would be the chip loving salsa music...but that's probably because as a child I proclaimed chips and salsa as my favorite food. Truly appreciate what you do and give the world. You're awesome and it does not go unrecognized. Thanks for the chuckles, Jennifer in Yakima, WA
ReplyDeleteThank you , Jennifer! I had a lot of fun with that series, and have one more of them coming up in the future.
DeleteThanks for introducing me to panorams. I enjoyed getting additional information through Google but probably will not purchasing one at $20,000! How did you become aware of panorams?
ReplyDeleteI was searching for a video of "C-Jam Blues" to call back to the "What's Your Jam?" comics and found that Ellington clip. I had heard of Soundies before, but either wasn't aware or had forgotten about the Panoram.
DeleteBeginning in 1958, an Italian company made similar video-jukeboxes called Scopitones.
Note the credit at end to Edward Kennedy Ellington, songwriter, and Duke Ellington as performer, as if they were two different persons.
ReplyDeleteThat's funny. I wonder if that was the way his compositions were credited in general.
DeleteWow! That's very cool!
ReplyDeleteThe Tuesday and Wednesday panels make me wonder: have any of the Secret Symbols talked in the past? IMWTK
ReplyDeleteGood question. I believe I've only given them "speaking roles" in title panels, like the ones you mentioned.
DeleteFrom his first LP, On The Road With Harlan Ellison:
ReplyDelete"They are that wonderful ineffable combination of arrogant stupidity. Arrogance you can beat because you can appeal to their envy, their ego, their something. There’s some way to weasel and work them. Stupidity you can deal with because you can outsmart them, or you can go around them, or burrow under them or climb on top of them. But arrogant stupidity you cannot do anything with--It is immobile."
I hadn't seen or heard that qote before, but it's spot on! I've read a lot of Ellison's works over many years. Thanks for that, Glenn!
Delete