Understanding Comics and Geography
So I saw Scott McCloud lecture today. Yeah, that's right. SCOTT FUCKING MCCLOUD. And it was awesome. He mostly talked about things that were in Understanding Comics, but his powerpoint was very awesome and pretty (of course). Also, the whole time he was sort of silhouetted in front of the screen, so you only saw his outline. It had the effect of making the presentation really focus on the ideas instead of him. Plus I was all, "It's just like he's a drawing! Like in his books!" The guys behind me were TOTAL geeks though. WAY worse than me. When I eavesdropped on their conversation I didn't know more than 60% about what they were talking about AT ALL. Nope. Not me.
I also saw Crank tonight. While I and my friend were walking back to the T (that would be the Boston subway)we were waiting for the light to change to cross the street (yes, normally you wouldn't, but it happens to be the street where facedecaf was hit by a car, so I'm paranoid) and there was a sizable group of Chinese businessmen waiting next to us. We had a conversation that went something like this:
Businessman: Excuse me, are you Boston people?
Me: Umm, yes kind of.
B: Can you tell us how to get to Harvard University? We want walk to Harvard University.
Me: Oh you can't walk to Harvard, you have to take the T.
B: No, no, we want to walk.
Me: Harvard is in Cambridge, not in Boston, you can't walk there, it would take TWO DAYS. (I put up two fingers for emphasis. I'm kinda starting to do that thing that asshole Americans do when they're talking to someone that doesn't speak English that well and talking more loudly, as if it will help).
B: Oh.
Me: You have to take the SUBWAY. You can't walk there, it would take a very long time. It's in CAMBRIDGE. NOT IN BOSTON.
B: Oh, we thought, Harvard, Boston, we would walk there. Where is a good place to walk, jog?
Me: Well, Boston Common is right across the street, it's a very big park.
B: Over there? Thank you, Boston people are very friendly. What is it called?
Me: Boston Common. No problem.
So I hope they didn't get mugged or anything. They seemed kind of sad that they couldn't see Harvard.
I also saw Crank tonight. While I and my friend were walking back to the T (that would be the Boston subway)we were waiting for the light to change to cross the street (yes, normally you wouldn't, but it happens to be the street where facedecaf was hit by a car, so I'm paranoid) and there was a sizable group of Chinese businessmen waiting next to us. We had a conversation that went something like this:
Businessman: Excuse me, are you Boston people?
Me: Umm, yes kind of.
B: Can you tell us how to get to Harvard University? We want walk to Harvard University.
Me: Oh you can't walk to Harvard, you have to take the T.
B: No, no, we want to walk.
Me: Harvard is in Cambridge, not in Boston, you can't walk there, it would take TWO DAYS. (I put up two fingers for emphasis. I'm kinda starting to do that thing that asshole Americans do when they're talking to someone that doesn't speak English that well and talking more loudly, as if it will help).
B: Oh.
Me: You have to take the SUBWAY. You can't walk there, it would take a very long time. It's in CAMBRIDGE. NOT IN BOSTON.
B: Oh, we thought, Harvard, Boston, we would walk there. Where is a good place to walk, jog?
Me: Well, Boston Common is right across the street, it's a very big park.
B: Over there? Thank you, Boston people are very friendly. What is it called?
Me: Boston Common. No problem.
So I hope they didn't get mugged or anything. They seemed kind of sad that they couldn't see Harvard.