Comics, Funny Or not?

I think about it all the time, because I really enjoy comedy.  It's hard to think there can be anything funny about cancer, or violence, or death but I guess it depends on the individuals sense of humor.  Someone who's just lost a loved one to Cancer is probably not going to find a joke about it humorous.  However the person who has the cancer and is going through treatment who needs to find something to laugh about could.  A joke about a drunk driver is probably funny to everyone but the ones who have lost a loved one to it. 

There is alot to be said about the delivery of this type of humor as well.  Sometimes it can be presented in such a manner that is not offensive or insensitive, sometimes it's just bad taste. 

I like to think I have a good sense of humor, I just prefer to not find it at someone else's expense when it comes to those really serious issues.  I find nothing amusing about someone else's pain and suffering.  

I can not believe this subject came up. I am a huge comic strip booster from way back. And it has to be way back considering how steep the fall has been for them. I wish I'd known that story was going to be broadcast because I love comic strips and I can make a correlation between the newspapers disdain for them and the dumbing down of kids today, at least partially. There are a lot of reasons kids are dumber today. But as someone who got a lot of my reading ability from them, I can say that it was a sorry day for kids all over when the campaign to kill them off began. Editors of newspapers have extremely short attention spans and as such seek to make their readers the same.

When I was extremely young and comic strips were pounded on our cave walls next to grocery list depicting a Pterodactyl for dinner, I learned to read with them on a daily basis. My favorites were the serials. These strips always featured characters of high integrity doing battle with an evil nemesis and always coming out on top, just like real life. (Haha, just kidding.) In those days one not only could hone one's vocabulary it also strengthened ones attention span in that a storyline would last for several months. Many of you may not remember these strips like Steve Canyon, Terry and the Pirates, On Stage, Brick Bradford and Johnny Hazard. Sadly, they are all gone now. Some have survived written by new artists but they are hollow shells of their former glory, like Dick Tracy. The only continuing strip that has held up is Prince Valiant. But the newspapers continue to shrink these gems in the never ending hunt for one more buck of advertising gilt and the reader be damned.

Incorporating themes of a serious nature is nothing new. I am guessing, Rich, the radio program mentioned the recent death from breast cancer of Lisa Moore in the Funky Winkerbean strip. Previously, in the strip For Better Or For Worse, the subjects ranged from homosexuality to Alzheimers to the death a beloved family pet. As for killing a major character, back in the 40s, many readers of Terry and the Pirates were dismayed when the character of Raven was killed off. That had never been done before. Dick Tracy was always at the forefront of technology with the introduction of wrist radio, and many other devices that came to fruition decades later. (I'm still waiting for the Space Coupe.)

If I have not completely wandered off the subject, I would like to say that in killing off these strips, (and it was done quite deliberately by the newspapers) I would have to say that any theme in the strips is fair play. The strips gave me a vocabulary and an ability to stay focused and I will never forget them. Putting serious subject matter before kids will only benefit them in the long run.

Lily's Lore "I don't ever want to be rescued And I don't ever want to be saved I got a feelin' that I'm gonna be alive forever Dancin' on the edge of a grave..." Jim Steinman

Marsha,

You're comments are the ones the show pointed out.  There are the usual yukkers, Blondie, Beetle Baily, Marmaduke & the like.  But some of them take every day, real life situations, put them in a humorous manner & yet can show that there are some really low points in life.  I think the point was whether or not real life situations, devestating on upwards , should be placed in the comic section.  My vote is, why not.  I would rather them keep the comic page funny, but real.  We've got the rest of the newspaper to remind us of the realities of life.  But a bit of realism ain't gonna kill us.  At least not on the comic page.  Thanks for the thoughts.

Lily,

You were right on @ the subjects.  They talked @ breast cancer among other things.  You can probably go to the NPR web site & get a replay.  Wish you luck.  It would be worth the effort.  It's a subject not many people think about, seriously, any way.  JATFUR.

RichK

Rich - I heard the same program on NPR this afternoon - most of it anyway.  Interesting comments from the callers, most of whom took comfort in the "comic" strip in question.  I think it's very appropriate for the cartoonist/storyteller to put real-life situations into their strips.

I too used to read the "funnies" on a daily basis and espcially liked the Prince (Valiant) and Brenda Starr, Superman and Terry.  Yes, Lily I remember all of those you mentioned.  Of course in those days with no computers and 2 channels on the TV if you had one, I read everything I could get my hands (and eyes) on. 

But, I digress.  I think the term "comics" and/or "funnies" are neither.  They are serial cartoons with every topic imagineable.  The angst of Archie, Betty, and gang related very closely to my group of friends and classmates.  Superman and all the others were examples of usually good triumphing over evil, etc.  They weren't all funny but were timely with their stories and I couldn't wait to read each and every one. Dagwood & Blondie reminded me of my parents in some ways - although more humorous most of the time.  Dennis the Menace?  Lots and lots of little Dennis' and Denices still running around - at least in the stores when I'm shopping.  And all of the Charlie Brown characters - they weren't necessarily hilarious, but a story was told in each strip that had meaning - to someone, somewhere.

I don't think people subscribe to newspapers as much as they used to when news wasn't available 24/7 on TV and certainly on the internet, I know I don't - I'm tired of paper and have stopped almost all printed publications.  Junk mail has put a damper on my daily trip to the mailbox.  But children have so much more to entertain them today than we did and so in many cases, reading has gone by the wayside (oh my dog, I sound so ancient).  I have become my own parents (not a bad thing).

Sunflower,

It has been no secret that for years, newpaper circulations have been going down, just for the reasons you stated.  I used to be an avid reader.  When I was a kid, I worked for my local newspapers.  I still get the TU, but mainly because my wife likes to read & do the puzzles.  I get most of my news from radio, TV but expecially online.  That's where the trend has been going & I don't see it changing any time soon.

As far as comics, PICKLES rule.  JATFUR.

RichK