COMICS CULTURE SHRAPNEL from CBEM 338
A friend of mine came up from Maryland to spend the weekend. She's more of a friend-of-a-friend to start, but we spent some time together over the summer with various conventions and so I really like her. Enough to let her suck my weekend away. It wasn't bad, just a little bit annoying in the end because I had homework to do. But it's done so I can safely reflect on the events of Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday a trip was arranged between us and some other people to go to the Brooklyn Museum. Yes, the Brooklyn Museum with the "Sensation" exhibit that the mayor went ballstic over. It was all very silly and people need to find something better to protest other than stupid African-style, dung-covered interpretations of the Virgin Mary. But this time around the controversy was minimal, with the exhibition of an anime-inspired series called "My Reality." There were giant pink bunnies and a really neat action-figure display represent all the arcana of the Tarot. Those were the more interesting pieces, my favorite being a giant vending machine filled with capsules containing bandages, rubber cement, thread, and vanilla cookies. Only 100 yen each!
Then there were the pointless works, like various scraps of paper taped to the wall, all containing various little doodles and sketches. It was supposed to represent the Lolita Complex and the disposibility of Japanese society. What it really meant was that the government will give you grants for anything.
Afterwards we made the pilgrimage to Jim Hanley's Universe. And holy it was, for my Maryland friend began to make little sucking noises and froze like a deer in headlights at the window display. We finally shoved her inside, which proved to be a mistake, since she wandered off and we had to go and retrieve her such that her bag would be checked. Bag checking is paranoid, true, but I don't particularly mind because it gets all that annoying, heavy school stuff out of the way.
My friend went nuts, I even enjoyed just being in the store. She bought lots of stuff, I bought a little seeing as how I was just there 2 days before. But it wasn't about spending money. It was about connecting and sharing, and all those nice little things they taught you in kindergarten. I've stated how important it is to make sure and connect with people who do like comics. If you're a lucky person who has a good store and reads lots of nice titles, share the wealth. Share it with people who would trust your opinion. Share it with people who might actually listen. Share it with someone who might actually do something.
Having this strange little girl from Maryland over made me realize how lucky I am. But I am not truly happy until others know what I know. Most museums are not as interesting as the ones in Manhattan. Most stores are not as good as the ones in New York. Which is why out-of-towners must be brought to them. For they must know: there is a better way. And they can have it if they only ask and act.