For me, I found I really liked the artwork by George Herriman, a scratchy minimal cartooning that reminded me of Bobby London's Dirty Duck (of course I have it backwards). But the stories often were impervious to my understanding. I just didn't "grok" what Herriman was trying to say, though I found the fashion in which he packaged his comments appealing. So for most of my life Krazy Kat has been an enigma.
And I wish I could say that has changed with my seasoning over the decades. I "get it" more than I did way back when, but still there's something about the strip which eludes me. The complex relationship between Krazy and Ignatz and Pupp is puzzling. I get that Krazy loves Ignatz who might or might not love Krazy and that Pupp loves Krazy too, and I get that none of them seem to know how to express those feelings. Is that all there is? Is that enough? It might be.
But I do know that as puzzling as the message might be, I do very much love looking at those grand pages depicting Coconino County, a land of imagination that twists and turns and flying bricks with every glance. Is that the point? Is that enough? It might be.
Rip Off
Completely agree! I've read academic papers on Krazy Kat but all they did was confirm you can read it at several levels. What a fascinating man. I'll bump that book up my list having had it for years too. Thanks Rip
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome and thanks for making not feel like an idiot about it.
DeleteI found it amazing that such a surreal strip appeared in US national papers in the early to mid 1900s. I love the art but have to admit to not having a clue as to what was going on in most of the pages I have read.
ReplyDeleteI was able to enjoy it more when I quit trying to figure it out. Maqybe that was his whole point.
Delete