Long story short - I couldn't sleep, had an idea.
Basically, compilation of Cartoons, rants, pics, WOMPs, 'American Moments' etc basically anything that would explain America to others and be a handy manual of instruction. Perhaps this could be cobbled together into some kind of publication, maybe it's an Intermittens....
1st submission from The Scrid
(http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/1471/usersguidetoamerica1.png) (http://img153.imageshack.us/i/usersguidetoamerica1.png/)
:rbtg:
I could not make heads or tails of this
Quote from: Cheese Hawk Fronkensteen on July 29, 2010, 10:08:26 PM
:rbtg:
I could not make heads or tails of this
1. Average dude
2. Threat!
3. Realization that the threat was exaggerated
4. Self-medication with fast food, pharmaceuticals, religion and inefficient cars.
GENIUS
Quote from: Mangrove on July 29, 2010, 10:06:53 PM
Long story short - I couldn't sleep, had an idea.
Basically, compilation of Cartoons, rants, pics, WOMPs, 'American Moments' etc basically anything that would explain America to others and be a handy manual of instruction. Perhaps this could be cobbled together into some kind of publication, maybe it's an Intermittens....
1st submission from The Scrid
Oh, I am ON that.
Quote from: Doktor Howl on July 29, 2010, 10:29:48 PM
Quote from: Mangrove on July 29, 2010, 10:06:53 PM
Long story short - I couldn't sleep, had an idea.
Basically, compilation of Cartoons, rants, pics, WOMPs, 'American Moments' etc basically anything that would explain America to others and be a handy manual of instruction. Perhaps this could be cobbled together into some kind of publication, maybe it's an Intermittens....
1st submission from The Scrid
Oh, I am ON that.
Welcome aboard, Dok! I'm looking forward to your input. :)
Quote from: Mangrove on July 29, 2010, 10:33:23 PM
Quote from: Doktor Howl on July 29, 2010, 10:29:48 PM
Quote from: Mangrove on July 29, 2010, 10:06:53 PM
Long story short - I couldn't sleep, had an idea.
Basically, compilation of Cartoons, rants, pics, WOMPs, 'American Moments' etc basically anything that would explain America to others and be a handy manual of instruction. Perhaps this could be cobbled together into some kind of publication, maybe it's an Intermittens....
1st submission from The Scrid
Oh, I am ON that.
Welcome aboard, Dok! I'm looking forward to your input. :)
I'll put something together while I'm traveling.
So is it...100% VISUAL? I'm sorta still not getting it...though I like what I see...and why are you sleeping in the afternoon?
Quote from: Jenne on July 29, 2010, 10:37:43 PM
So is it...100% VISUAL? I'm sorta still not getting it...though I like what I see...and why are you sleeping in the afternoon?
No, it doesn't have to be visual. It can obviously be text...which is visual also, unless you've discovered some form of online braille.
(I wasn't sleeping in the afternoon...well...I didn't today. Yesterday was a different story.)
The concept is this: Distill your opinions of America in a way that explains it to other people. If you had to give a new immigrant or visitor an operation manual for their edification and survival.
Essays, rants, poems, art, photography etc is all fair play. Hell, even video or musical presentations if people are so inclined. Obviously, if this is something that is worthy of being put into a print medium like Intermittens, then video & music is not going to work.
Anyway, this is just a basic 'theme' for people to riff off of. I couldn't sleep well the other night and whenever I'm like that, my brain churns over at an alarming rate but in doing so I came up with the 'America - A User's Guide Concept', the above cartoon, an essay idea about socialism and one (maybe two) more installments of my 'letters from the afterlife' series.
Oh...GOT IT! Ok, I'm so in...:lulz: In fact, I should make a parody of this "field manual" my husband mistakenly bought me thinking it would help me understand Afghans better...it's given out to the US military, I guess? Or maybe it's just marketed like that? Because it's really hilarious. Accent on Afghanistan: Dari. http://www.amazon.com/Accent-Afghanistan-Dari-Language-Culture/dp/1591257344/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1280462028&sr=1-2 ...but of course about the USandA.
Ok...I'll be thinking about this some.
Quote from: Jenne on July 30, 2010, 04:54:02 AM
Oh...GOT IT! Ok, I'm so in...:lulz: In fact, I should make a parody of this "field manual" my husband mistakenly bought me thinking it would help me understand Afghans better...it's given out to the US military, I guess? Or maybe it's just marketed like that? Because it's really hilarious. Accent on Afghanistan: Dari. http://www.amazon.com/Accent-Afghanistan-Dari-Language-Culture/dp/1591257344/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1280462028&sr=1-2 ...but of course about the USandA.
Ok...I'll be thinking about this some.
I was looking for a guide to Dari for someone with some Persian experience. That's not what I found here. Instead I found a good basic introduction to Dari with an extremely heavy military orientation. I have students who immigrated to the United States from Afghanistan. I'd like to speak with them and their parents in Dari. But I have no desire to say, "Do you have any unauthorized weapons?" or "Hands behind your back."
(From Amazon review) :lulz:
PS Jenne, I welcome your input. I think the Afghan manual has great potential for parody.
Quote from: Mangrove on July 30, 2010, 05:56:23 PM
I was looking for a guide to Dari for someone with some Persian experience. That's not what I found here. Instead I found a good basic introduction to Dari with an extremely heavy military orientation. I have students who immigrated to the United States from Afghanistan. I'd like to speak with them and their parents in Dari. But I have no desire to say, "Do you have any unauthorized weapons?" or "Hands behind your back."
(From Amazon review) :lulz:
:lulz:
(http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/211/e/7/DEMONS_OF_SOCIALISM_by_dorkanese.jpg)
^ There's a general sense of mistrust towards Europe where I live. :P
Quote from: Mangrove on July 30, 2010, 05:56:23 PM
Quote from: Jenne on July 30, 2010, 04:54:02 AM
Oh...GOT IT! Ok, I'm so in...:lulz: In fact, I should make a parody of this "field manual" my husband mistakenly bought me thinking it would help me understand Afghans better...it's given out to the US military, I guess? Or maybe it's just marketed like that? Because it's really hilarious. Accent on Afghanistan: Dari. http://www.amazon.com/Accent-Afghanistan-Dari-Language-Culture/dp/1591257344/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1280462028&sr=1-2 ...but of course about the USandA.
Ok...I'll be thinking about this some.
I was looking for a guide to Dari for someone with some Persian experience. That's not what I found here. Instead I found a good basic introduction to Dari with an extremely heavy military orientation. I have students who immigrated to the United States from Afghanistan. I'd like to speak with them and their parents in Dari. But I have no desire to say, "Do you have any unauthorized weapons?" or "Hands behind your back."
(From Amazon review) :lulz:
PS Jenne, I welcome your input. I think the Afghan manual has great potential for parody.
Thanks. Yeah, I mean, H bought it as a means to help me relate to his mom. And the advice they tell people in that book is hilarious--like "don't call everyone 'Haji'--they don't like that." :lulz: I started whipping it out as a joke book for people who came to see us at the house. It got much lulz.
Quote from: Jenne on July 30, 2010, 09:23:33 PM
Thanks. Yeah, I mean, H bought it as a means to help me relate to his mom. And the advice they tell people in that book is hilarious--like "don't call everyone 'Haji'--they don't like that." :lulz: I started whipping it out as a joke book for people who came to see us at the house. It got much lulz.
LOL! :lulz:
The really frightening thing is I can see advice like that being useful.
Quote from: Hover Cat on July 30, 2010, 07:45:56 PM
(http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/211/e/7/DEMONS_OF_SOCIALISM_by_dorkanese.jpg)
^ There's a general sense of mistrust towards Europe where I live. :P
Yay!
:D
(http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/771/usersguidetoamerica2.png) (http://img707.imageshack.us/i/usersguidetoamerica2.png/)
Quote from: Mangrove on July 29, 2010, 10:06:53 PM
(http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/1471/usersguidetoamerica1.png)
amazing.
I never quite felt like I could relate to you Americans, until I saw this.
Quote from: Hover Cat on July 30, 2010, 07:45:56 PM
http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/211/e/7/DEMONS_OF_SOCIALISM_by_dorkanese.jpg
^ There's a general sense of mistrust towards Europe where I live. :P
Which is quite amusing when you realise most of Europe is right now:
a) economically to the right, to the point it worries the centrist corporate shills in the White House
b) becoming even more conservative and paranoid about a
certain religion than the USA - and writing that paranoia into law
Not to mention how certain countries here *cough cough* operate under
very low tax regimes with minor regulation and no minimum wage etc yet still provide basic services that the US cannot.
(http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/4373/usersguidetoamerica3.png) (http://img196.imageshack.us/i/usersguidetoamerica3.png/)
I forgot about this, but now I have remembered, so I'll "think some more" on it, but I like your Scrid Vignettes so far.
Quote from: Jenne on August 23, 2010, 07:01:00 PM
I forgot about this, but now I have remembered, so I'll "think some more" on it, but I like your Scrid Vignettes so far.
I forgot about it too!
I've been busy with uhh...busy stuff and haven't delivered anything further on this project or my 'letters from the afterlife'.
Can't do it today either. Supposed to be getting ready for a trip instead of wasting time online.
Quote from: Mangrove on August 02, 2010, 05:00:47 PM
(http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/771/usersguidetoamerica2.png) (http://img707.imageshack.us/i/usersguidetoamerica2.png/)
This user's guide looks awsome.
Quote from: Mangrove on August 03, 2010, 05:50:14 PM
(http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/4373/usersguidetoamerica3.png) (http://img196.imageshack.us/i/usersguidetoamerica3.png/)
That is funny.
New material forthcoming!
(http://img856.imageshack.us/img856/6739/usersguidetoamerica4.png) (http://img856.imageshack.us/i/usersguidetoamerica4.png/)
ETA: This is a true story.
:lulz: :mittens:, sir.
(http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/7550/usersguidetoamerica5.png) (http://img717.imageshack.us/i/usersguidetoamerica5.png/)
These are awesome--please tell Teh Scrid he's totally on target.
Quote from: Jenne on April 13, 2011, 04:30:22 PM
These are awesome--please tell Teh Scrid he's totally on target.
Dear Jenne,
Thank you for your support. Please know that 'America - The User's Guide' is still accepting contributions from anyone on PD.com. If you have something to share, (particularly a badly drawn satirical cartoon in MS Paint) I would be most grateful.
May you forever bask in the tentacled glory that is,
Teh Scrid.
PS If you see Richter, tell him to
a) Get back to work
b) Clean up that mess he left. Oh yeah, he knows what I'm talking about
c) We need milk
I wish I had the skillz, man. But I'll pass on the word, nonetheless.
*paging Richter, clean up on aisle 5!*
Quote from: Jenne on April 13, 2011, 05:25:36 PM
I wish I had the skillz, man. But I'll pass on the word, nonetheless.
*paging Richter, clean up on aisle 5!*
I'm saddened that you think that any skill was involved :lol:
Quote from: Mangrove on April 13, 2011, 05:46:31 PM
Quote from: Jenne on April 13, 2011, 05:25:36 PM
I wish I had the skillz, man. But I'll pass on the word, nonetheless.
*paging Richter, clean up on aisle 5!*
I'm saddened that you think that any skill was involved :lol:
The wit, the repartee...you know, the SCHTICK, MAN, THE SCHTICK. :lol: (point taken on the MS Paintage, though)
Quote from: Jenne on April 14, 2011, 01:24:24 AM
Quote from: Mangrove on April 13, 2011, 05:46:31 PM
Quote from: Jenne on April 13, 2011, 05:25:36 PM
I wish I had the skillz, man. But I'll pass on the word, nonetheless.
*paging Richter, clean up on aisle 5!*
I'm saddened that you think that any skill was involved :lol:
The wit, the repartee...you know, the SCHTICK, MAN, THE SCHTICK. :lol: (point taken on the MS Paintage, though)
I think it's a matter of:
a) Find something (event/idea/remark etc) that catches your attention
b) Strip it down to the bare minimum
c) Apply irony (comic exaggeration especially helpful)
For instance, here's something that catches my attention:
In many adverts on TV, women are very frequently portrayed in a manner that suggests that they are married, employed, have children and are able to juggle all of these things simultaneously while also attending a Pilates class. Meanwhile, the husband is usually a blithering, subservient 'man-child' who couldn't possibly do anything for himself other than cause trouble.
For an added bonus, the woman concerned won't just have 'children' but will have a snotty teen (dismissive, eye rolling brat who might be a goth or in some way oddly dressed) and 'the twins' which is always shorthand for 'out of fucking control'.
However, at the same time, the advertising world wants us to believe that women are basically 'Cathy' from that execrable and hateful waste of time comic strip of the same name. These women, when they're not being preternatural 'multi-taskers' are brainless drones lacking in self control when it comes to chocolate or anything containing sugar. That's why there's low calorie products because as we all know, women have no self control and if it weren't for heavily processes 'health food', they'd all be the size of whales and wracked with paroxysms of self loathing. But wait!! All the women in those commercials are thin.
Having observed the lunacy of the advertising world and it's insane stereotypes, it would be a matter of shaping all of the above down into a symbolic image with as little detail and text as you can get away with without making it too obscure.
Now!! Go forth!! Use MS Paint and describe to others how to understand American culture! :D
Ooh...but the pithy, simple imagery and wording are what I have the worst time coming up with. :lol: But I should just play around with it some and figure it out. Maybe come up with a couple and then it wouldn't be so obvious I was sucky at it. :lol:
Mang, you should take in a few hours of Nickelodeon and Disney Channel programming. Not the cartoons, but the live-action stuff. Overall it seems clear those shows are all going after a tween-age girl population. I may be overly cynical and reading something that isn't there, but it seems like the overall takeaway message is.....you wanna be someone cool you need to be famous, well known, rich, or a combination of the three.
Consider:
iCarly - Central character is in a famous/popular web show
True Jordan, V.P. - Famous teenage fashion designer
Hannah Montanna - Famous singer
Victorious - Famous singer at posh, exclusive Hollywood Arts school
Big Time Rush - Famous boy band
Shake it Up - Famous dancers on a TV show
Suite Life - A bunch of rich kids going to school on a cruise ship.
Needless to say, with a young daughter I've taken in more than my fair share of these shows. I don't know how she can possibly relate to any of it. Living in a pineapple under the sea is more realistic.
Quote from: Rev. What's-His-Name? on April 15, 2011, 07:07:28 PM
Mang, you should take in a few hours of Nickelodeon and Disney Channel programming. Not the cartoons, but the live-action stuff. Overall it seems clear those shows are all going after a tween-age girl population. I may be overly cynical and reading something that isn't there, but it seems like the overall takeaway message is.....you wanna be someone cool you need to be famous, well known, rich, or a combination of the three.
Consider:
iCarly - Central character is in a famous/popular web show
True Jordan, V.P. - Famous teenage fashion designer
Hannah Montanna - Famous singer
Victorious - Famous singer at posh, exclusive Hollywood Arts school
Big Time Rush - Famous boy band
Shake it Up - Famous dancers on a TV show
Suite Life - A bunch of rich kids going to school on a cruise ship.
Needless to say, with a young daughter I've taken in more than my fair share of these shows. I don't know how she can possibly relate to any of it. Living in a pineapple under the sea is more realistic.
I am vaguely familiar with some of the above mentioned shows. A good friend of mine has two little girls and so when I visit him, this kind of thing is usually on tv.
It comes down to one of those 'what I said and what you heard may not be the same thing' moments. Whether the Disney channel intend this message or not, I think it's probably what the target audience perceives (ie: if you're not famous, then you don't matter).
These Disney shows are probably just info-mercials for the spin-off products. Once upon a time it seemed that a tv show or movie would have 'tie in' merchandise but I suspect the relationship has now been reversed and the shows are tied ins to the products.
Pineapple under the sea doesn't sound bad at all.....
Yep, and to paraphrase a Cracked article: That's why Pixar is making a Cars sequel and not an Up sequel.
Quote from: Rev. What's-His-Name? on April 18, 2011, 06:35:40 PM
Yep, and to paraphrase a Cracked article: That's why Pixar is making a Cars sequel and not an Up sequel.
Up doesn't need a sequel, they'd just screw it up.
Which means they'll probably do one.
Yeah, I'd rather not see an "Up" sequel. :(
STILL THINKING OF A TH/MEME...OH JESUS I THINK I JUST THOUGHT OF ONE...
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h183/Jenne73/EasterTeaParty.jpg)
It sorta sucks...
Quote from: Jenne on April 18, 2011, 07:32:42 PM
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h183/Jenne73/EasterTeaParty.jpg)
It sorta sucks...
No it doesn't!!!
:lulz: :lulz: :lulz:
:mittens:
My next one will be better. I cringe at that one. :lulz: But thanks, Khara. MSPaint and I have reconciled for the day. :lulz:
Quote from: Jenne on April 18, 2011, 07:32:42 PM
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h183/Jenne73/EasterTeaParty.jpg)
It sorta sucks...
It's great! :lulz:
Thanks! I am itching to tweak it, so it's hard to not yoink it and leave it alone. :lulz:
Quote from: Jenne on April 18, 2011, 07:32:42 PM
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h183/Jenne73/EasterTeaParty.jpg)
It sorta sucks...
Awesome. :lulz:
Quote from: Jenne on April 18, 2011, 07:32:42 PM
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h183/Jenne73/EasterTeaParty.jpg)
It sorta sucks...
You got the idea. In fact, the paradoxes of American/Religious holidays probably has a lot of mileage in it.
Worthy subject matter. Keep 'em coming!
Quick primer on the war on drugs/prison-industrial complex.
(http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/8864/warondrugs.png) (http://img577.imageshack.us/i/warondrugs.png/)
Yer's is better than mine's, LJ!
Ok, here's a few more, just changed the words, lol:
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h183/Jenne73/EasterTeaParty2.jpg)
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h183/Jenne73/EasterTeaParty3.jpg)
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h183/Jenne73/EasterTeaParty4.jpg)
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h183/Jenne73/EasterTeaParty5.jpg)
Quote from: Laughin Jude on April 18, 2011, 11:15:20 PM
Quick primer on the war on drugs/prison-industrial complex.
(http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/8864/warondrugs.png) (http://img577.imageshack.us/i/warondrugs.png/)
Beautiful!
Quote from: Jenne on April 19, 2011, 02:52:05 AM
Yer's is better than mine's, LJ!
Ok, here's a few more, just changed the words, lol:
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h183/Jenne73/EasterTeaParty2.jpg)
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h183/Jenne73/EasterTeaParty3.jpg)
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h183/Jenne73/EasterTeaParty4.jpg)
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h183/Jenne73/EasterTeaParty5.jpg)
Developing a theme through 'recycled' art. Very green of you! :D
...had to work it outta mah system. Am done. Am now thinking of new theme...
(http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/877/americanpriorities3.png) (http://img560.imageshack.us/i/americanpriorities3.png/)
This has been pissing me off since 2008.
You and me, both.
(http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/108/6/e/i_just_asked_for_directions____by_dorkanese-d3ec8ru.png)
(http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/108/0/7/i_just_asked_for_directions_2_by_dorkanese-d3ec8ud.png)
Ok, second half probably sucks. I got distracted by much better ideas, what can I say?
Hover Cat:
If they fit, they I must acquit!
:mittens:
:lulz:
:thanks: :D
Awesome job, HC! I am thinking of doing another couple plus a WOMP or two tonight...if I can swing it. :D
(http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/8281/usersguidetoamerica6.png) (http://img233.imageshack.us/i/usersguidetoamerica6.png/)
:lulz: I approve, sir.
:lulz: