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
The more constraints one imposes, the more one frees oneself. And the arbitrariness of the constraint serves only to obtain precision of execution.
Igor Stravinsky
I don't know a lot about classical music, but I can recognize Igor's insight about the creative process and the challenges faced by artists of all types. It definitely applies to cartoonists who do standalone gags, or "drawings" as The New Yorker refers to them.
Every time we create a cartoon, we begin with a blank page (or screen) and an infinite number of options. Defining a structure that can be applied to a series of comics can inspire a productive bout of writing, which sometimes spills over into developing additional material unrelated to the original framework. Maybe that's what I have found appealing about the occasional "theme weeks" I've done.
When I started to seriously pursue being a daily cartoonist, my default writing strategy involved searching for a joke. That's a simplistic approach, and it can work for a while. However, setting up a premise or situation, or even randomly choosing an object and drawing it, narrows things down.
Focused exploration truly frees oneself much more than staring at a universe of possibilities or waiting for the gods to drop something into one's hands.
I'm interested in hearing from others about how Igor's observation applies to your own creative work. Whether you're a cartoonist, painter, illustrator, songwriter, cook, coder, scientist, comedian, or anyone who makes something from nothing, drop a comment about how you relate to the idea of constraints.
Today's pipe pic is American playwright Moss Hart (1904-1961).
I found this one myself, but forgot to document where. I did save a short description, but no source:
Moss Hart was one of Broadway’s most successful creators, penning such hits as You Can't Take It With You and The Man Who Came to Dinner, and directing Camelot.I usually provide some background with these images, and apologize for the scant info on Mr. Harts's photo. Still, it's so snazzy I had to share it.
Let's see what resulted from my self-imposed constraint over the past six days.
Sometimes, an interesting turn of phrase can impose constraints that result in a gag.
When doing a crossword puzzle on the phone, all ten of my fingers feel like they're this size.
This poor character was hoping to relax in his recliner. The mind was willing, but the flesh was overactive. The most challenging aspect of this panel was placing the word balloons.
Thursday's gag can be read as ennui or tragedy. The expressionless protagonists lend themselves to multiple interpretations.
How would the child of a magician rebel against their parents?
Reversing a familiar situation can sometimes result in a workable gag.
Random observations of the week:
2) The same goes for bow ties.
That's the latest from my Little Shop of Humor. Please visit again in a week for another batch of rectangular risibility.
Commercial Break
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Bonus Tracks
Eddie Harris: Freedom Jazz Dance
From The In Sound
Atlantic Records LP, 1965
Atlantic Records LP, 1965
This is the first recording of Eddie Harris's composition, "Freedom Jazz Dance.”
Miles Davis: Freedom Jazz Dance
From Miles Smiles
Columbia LP, 1967
Miles Davis made the composition a standard when he recorded it for his 1967 album, Miles Smiles. Harris's original had a relaxed, loping groove; Davis reconfigured it as a tightened-up, angular tour de force.
Buckets of Bizarro Blatherings
If you enjoy what we do and appreciate that it's free, we encourage you to explore the following links.
Miles Smiles? Eddie Harris sounds a lot more like someone who'd be fun to hang out with smoking and joking. I encountered the Miles version long before I finally heard how Eddie originally conceived it - and never really cared for it until then. I bet you'd be more likely to find people dancing to Eddie's... Thanks for giving Eddie his due. I wonder what Eddie Harris would have to say about Igor Stravinsky's constraint/freedom theorem?
ReplyDeleteThank you. I've no doubt Eddie Harris wou;d've been more fun to hang with. I love his electric sax stuff.
DeleteHave you heard his comedy/jazz hybrid album? It's called "The Reason Why I'm Talking S--t" (That's how it's spelled on the cover.)
I have Not heard that but it sounds awesome - thanks for the tip. Paul
DeleteIn the future, I expect to see redheaded people wearing bow ties.
ReplyDeleteHa! Ed, I'm afraid that is statistically Jimmy Olsen.
DeleteArchie Andrews too, perhaps (there's a constraining challenge - two [or more] red-headed comic characters in one gag)!
DeleteThey could be long-lost relatives!
DeleteI was introduced to Eddie Harris through this duet with Les McCann back in the early ‘70’s. It knocked me out then and still does! Even more relevant today IMO.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/4qNJfVXxrQU?si=61b5wR3AIM2DlNC_
I LOVE that album. I know it's not intellectual jazz, but it cooks. I once met Benny Bailey, and told him how much I enjoyed his playing on it, and he got angry. He said he was sick of people talking about that album. If not for that record, a lot of people wouldn't know of him,
DeleteIn regard to your commentary about constraints, as a quilter I notice that when I impose limitations on my projects (such as only using fabric I own, old jeans, or an unexpected color palette), it challenges my creativity in very unexpected , and wonderful, ways. The end result is something I could never have planned-- and I end up loving these pieces because of the unexpectedness. Great gags as always! Thanks for being you. - Jennifer B
ReplyDeleteJennifer: That's so cool to hear, and it's an artform I hadn't thought of in that way. Thanks for the comment!
DeleteThanks for making the saturated-color versions of the shirts available. When someone requested them back when you said you were working on shirts, I gave a thumbs up. So I've put my money where my mouth is and ordered a purple I ♥️ bird shirt.
ReplyDeleteThank you kindly, Steve!
DeleteDecades ago I came across de Bono's "Lateral Thinking" and another book titled, "A Whack on the Side of the Head" which were approaches to help one get out of a rut and jump start making unexpected connections. One trick was to pick a required number of solutions to a design problem ahead of trying to solve it to avoid picking the first one that came to mind. Another was to flip through a dictionary (imagine trying to do that these days!), pick a random word, and try to create links between that word and my problem. I found both to be helpful in "blank paper" situations.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the excellent comments!
DeleteI also recommend Brian Eno & Peter Schmidt's "Oblique Strategies" cards.
Hey Wayno,
ReplyDeleteYou probably knew that a number of other artists recorded Freedom Jazz Dance. Brian Auger and Miroslav Vitouš (Weather Report) are two of my favorite performers of this song.
I saw Brian Auger in Houston, back in the day, very intense and stayed focused on the keyboard.
Not a Blogger, I’m Ric
Thanks, Ric! Yes, I was aware of those excellent versions, too. Eddie Harris should be more widely known than he is!
DeleteHi Wayno, I discovered a photo of Harlan Ellison with a pipe that i thought would be perfect for you if you haven't used it already. I don't know how to send you a copy of it, but perhaps you can find it yourself through a Google search. Love your cartoons and your blog
ReplyDeletekent
It's already in the queue, Kent! Thanks!
DeleteW
I used a good one in the blog for Saturday, July 27, 2024. The post was titled "Totes Uncommon," and you can find it on the Archive Menu on the right side of the blog page (when viewing in web browser mode).
DeleteI'm no expert on classical music, Wayno, but (like Art) I know what I like. Some may recall that, at its premiere, Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" literally resulted in a riot! And NOT a laugh riot! I've listened to it many times and honestly still don't really "get it." I hope none of your art ever results in rioting.
ReplyDeleteYes, let's hope not, Gerry!
DeleteI guess you had to be there to get why people flipped out. Imagine what it must have been like in the 1950s to see Little Richard for the first time. I bet parents went NUTS then!