In accordance with The Far Side's editor, “the best part“In many of Gary Larson's cartoons there is something that readers often overlook: the character's eyes. Larson's humor can be incredibly subtle, but according to editor Jake Morrissey, who worked closely with the singer for most of his career, the way Larson portrays facial expressions, especially his eyes, makes them truly a window into his soul. The Far Side.
In his presentation to The complete Far Side Volume OneMorrissey gave an interesting explanation of his involvement in the creative process of Gary Larson, and along the way, he gave his opinion on that “the best part“Larson's humor was
For students, when you encounter confusion Far Side comedy, it helps to take a cue from Morrissey – look into the characters' eyes. While this isn't key to every panel Gary Larson produced during his career, it does add an element to the humor of many of them.
The Far Side Editor Offers Insight into Gary Larson's Greatest Art Trick Ever
Eyes Are The “Best” Part Of The Far Side That means, Far Side the characters' eyes are more than just flourishes, they are important details; in a way, they add a level of self-awareness to the humor of the panel.
As The Far Side's The editor, Jake Morrissey was as close to a creative collaborator as Gary Larson ever was. Which means he knew better than anyone what made Larson such an amazing talent, and what made his career stand out. In The complete Far Side Volume OneMorrissey explained that whether one of Gary Larson's cartoons was subtle or provocative, the artist always had a clear sense of his work. Morrissey wrote:
(Gary) always knew where the true humor was in each panel – sometimes the best part of the cartoon was the reaction on the character's face, for example – and he knew when to stop playing with it, which other cartoonists can't do.
In other words, Larson didn't just decide when a cartoon was “done,” he knew that the irony of his comics was often more subtle.
Students who spent a lot of time with them The Far Side you may already know how important a character's eyes can be, but for new fans of Larson's work, this is an important insight. One of the biggest barriers to awareness Far Side it is the illegibility of many of its jokes; being able to see “tell” something a Far Side comics, which readers can refer to, to guide their understanding of the panel line, is essential to fully understand Gary Larson's work.and his most respected place in American comedy.
That means, Far Side the characters' eyes are more than just flourishes, they are important details; in a way, they add a level of self-awareness to the panelist's joke, suggesting that the absurdity, or shock, of the joke is being registered to the panelist, as much as to the reader. If nothing else, they serve as a reminder that Gary Larson was as often obscured by his humor as anyone else, a fact that, in itself, gave an important quality to his work.
It Pays to Look Closer to the Far Side
Double Takes Are Worth It Like any good, memorable piece of art, The Far Side it continues to reward readers who return to it, seeking a subtler, deeper understanding.
When it comes The Far Sidethe devil really was in the details. That is, a second viewing of a confusing panel may cause it to become surprisingly clear, or a funny panel may become funny, if the reader can interpret it correctly. The characters' eyes and facial expressions are just a prominent and repeated example of this. A look of shock or disappointment on a character's face can go a long way in elevating the performance of a particular panel.
Even laughing out loud, obviously Far Side punchlines can be made even more interesting with careful testing of the image, and a deeper analysis of the captions. It's true that Gary Larson creates his comics to get immediate reactions from readers, but like any good, memorable piece of art, The Far Side it continues to reward readers who return to it, seeking a subtler, deeper understanding. In fact, this ability to have an immediate and lasting impact is for another reason The Far Side it is patient.
A Window on Gary Larson's Artistic Process
The Far Side By looking
Morrissey's declaration that “the best part“In Gary Larson's work, the eyes of his characters confirm that the jokes are often difficult to understand…
In all of them Perfect Long SideGary Larson offers unparalleled insight into his artistic mind, and his creative process. Since his self-examination of his work is precious and powerful, and it's incredibly valuable to have Jake Morrissey's opinion. As The Far Side's Editor, Morrissey has a vision as unique as Larson's talent. Which is to say, just as he helped shape the comic during its run, he also served as an outside observer, privy to the darkest secrets of Larson's artistic practice.
This window in the creation of The Far Side important, and Morrissey's declaration that “the best part“In Gary Larson's book the eyes of his characters confirm that humor is often difficult to understand – described by Larson himself as “confusing, obscure, esoteric, and strange” – of the strip was more of a feature, rather than a bug. In other words, they knew that not all comic book readers would “get it” The Far Sideespecially not after one quick viewing, and rather than trying to target a large audience, they tweaked the line-up to suit those who were paying close attention.
Beauty Is Far In The Eye Of The Beholder
Gary Larson's legacy is still being shaped Editor Jake Morrissey's explanation of the importance of a character's eyes The Far Side's comics provide guidance to comic readers, young and old alike, giving them something to sink their teeth into when one of Gary Larson's cartoons doesn't immediately “click”.
More and more students understand how The Far Side done, the more it seems to open up to them, and provide more rewards for their involvement. In its heyday, Gary Larson's humor could be controversial, meaning that even readers who didn't “get” his jokes often had a visceral, immediate reaction to them. In fact, even those who develop an understanding of Larson's comedic style may not appreciate it in the end, and for as long The Far Side continues to find its way to new readers, it will continue to differentiate to some extent.
Still, the changing landscape of American comedy over the past few decades — across the board The Far Side's publication time, well past Gary Larson's retirement – he introduced contemporary audiences to absurd, violent, and unpopular comedies, and for many, finding The Far Side first it's like finding a missing link for comics. There is, no doubt, a strange beauty in them The Far Side; not so much a tangible aesthetic quality, but rather an attractive temporal qualityto draw those who have some kind of sensitivity to it, in an almost siren-like way.
In other words, this is an inheritance The Far Side continues to be shaped even thirty years after its end, as new fans immerse themselves in the wealth of animation Gary Larson produced and reveal the many pearls of wisdom contained in his work. Editor Jake Morrissey's explanation of the importance of a character's eyes The Far Side's comics provide guidance to comic readers, young and old alike, giving them something to sink their teeth into when one of Gary Larson's cartoons doesn't immediately “click” for them.