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As I was sitting around this morning, sipping my Diet Coke, hoping to kick my brain into gear (has not happened fully, yet), I noticed something. I've always felt there must be something to Bobby Crosby's Pupkin, but I wasn't sure what. Then it hit me: Pupkin is genius. Much like the parables of Franz Kafka, each strip carries a philosophical, sometimes moral message. When we begin to look for that message, we begin to understand the meaning of the strip, and we begin to understand Bobby Crosby -- one of the greatest philosophers of our time. Pupkin disguises itself as an attempt at humor, so that only the true intellectual elite can appreciate it. The rest of us laugh, but it is Crosby who gets the final laugh in those situations. I don't have the energy right now to fully explain, but I believe if I begin, your minds will become open to this man's work.  So much goes on in this strip that is impossible to explain. The baby's loving response to Pupkin, despite her parent's protest ("Get that monster away from my baby") is a protest against those who choose to alienate HIV-positive members of our society. The baby, who has not yet been exposed to the propaganda of our world, sees that "Pupkin" is an individual like any other. The dad's defense of Pupkin is a testament to Crosby's belief that there is hope for everyone -- as long as they open their minds. The shocker "punchline" of "I hope I don't have AIDS" is in fact a metaphor for the African AIDS crisis -- to our ignorant Western society, AIDS is a disease brought on by irresponsible adults. In Africa, according to Crosby, it is a disease which everyone must deal with -- even innocent children.  Quite genius. Many things are once again at play here. Social commentary is present -- Crosby points out the breakdown of the family unit -- as well as a reprisal of classic Greek myths, which I will mention later. Note that "Brutus" was not chosen as a random name for the dog, but as a metaphor for bloody, unexpected murder (Brutus slaying Caesar).  I promised myself I wouldn't comment on more than two strips (my brain is thick with sleep, still!), but I can not resist. The references, if not obvious before, should be abundantly clear in this piece. The arrest is central to the meaning, here. The reader begins to wonder if in fact the baby character killed the mother: a reference to both the story of Oedipus and the story of Electra-Orestes. This mashing of the stories updates them for today's world -- a world the daughter is capable of killing her own mother, a world where gender does not always decide preference. The arrest of the father is Crosby's leap into modern existential thought. Society will now judge the father for his past ills and for who he is (the essence of his individual being) -- it is the height of what existential thinkers call "the absurd." The strip follows in the tradition of Franz Kafka's The Trial and Albert Camus' The Stranger in depicting the absurdity of people judging other individuals; in fact, the mother's death is high-brow reference to The Stranger which may take a few moments to understand. Bobby Crosby will go down in history as the most misunderstood philosopher, moralist and sociologist of our time. It is my hope that through my essay and your open mind, you can begin to understand the genius that is Pupkin.
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Jul 25, 2002 22:15
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| # ? Apr 19, 2024 03:24 |
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Bobby Crosby makes me so filled with shame that I want to change my name.
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Jul 25, 2002 22:23
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Hmmmm. Interesting, and very possible indeed. Almost as if every strip has a plethora of hidden meanings, much like reading something by James Joyce. Either that, or it's just completely loving retarded.
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Jul 25, 2002 22:24
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Now analyze Family Circus!
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Jul 25, 2002 22:25
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I think you think too much.
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Jul 25, 2002 22:25
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quote:BrownH2.0 came out of the closet to say: now, if you could only explain to to the relation between mr.crosby's (previous) utter refusal to use the quote button and modern philosphy, then i would be truly impressed.
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Jul 25, 2002 22:25
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violently adopted by master of evil Scar Trek
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Too long. Didn't read. Actually, wait, I did. It was really funny. Good show, sir.
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Jul 25, 2002 22:26
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quote:J-Spot came out of the closet to say: It's a metaphor for sucking cock. Isn't everything?
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Jul 25, 2002 22:27
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quote:somezool came out of the closet to say: He wouldn't but now he does, and I think it has something to do with Homer's "Odyssey". I think I should have paid better attention in high school.
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Jul 25, 2002 22:28
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quote:J-Spot came out of the closet to say: That looks suspiciously like a dildo. EDIT: Beaten. Kind of. ----------------
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Jul 25, 2002 22:29
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quote:J-Spot came out of the closet to say: This isn't something I can do on the spot, especially not right now. There are many obvious connotations. Water tastes like water in a world full of scientific determinism -- a world where 2 + 2 does indeed equal four. I believe this particular strip just might be an interpretation of Fyodor Dostoyesky's Notes from Underground -- the boy, a modern "underground man", would like to believe that there is something more than the post-modern determinism of his time, but he is having trouble breaking out of that mold since the world he observes is in fact so...concrete. This is a search for his existential self, if you will.
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Jul 25, 2002 22:32
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Urge to kill... rising... Bobby Crosby
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Jul 25, 2002 22:33
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to hell with family circus. if there's something that's truly worth analyzing, it's this.
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Jul 25, 2002 22:39
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Family Circus will never compare to the comedic and philosophic genious of Hip Shot Examples: http://www.andywhite.net/hsf1473.htm http://www.andywhite.net/hsf1420.htm http://www.andywhite.net/hsf1495.htm http://www.andywhite.net/hsf1431.htm Whimsy fucked around with this message at 22:46 on Jul 25, 2002 |
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Jul 25, 2002 22:43
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Boston and Shaun Is an allegory for the rise and fall of totalitarian ideological states in the twentieth century, and also for the role of the American in this new and ever-changing 21st century. It is the greatest work of art in American history.
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Jul 25, 2002 22:45
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BrownH.20 Said "The arrest of the father is Crosby's leap into modern existential thought. Society will now judge the father for his past ills and for who he is (the essence of his individual being) -- it is the height of what existential thinkers call "the absurd." The strip follows in the tradition of Franz Kafka's The Trial and Albert Camus' The Stranger in depicting the absurdity of people judging other individuals; in fact, the mother's death is high-brow reference to The Stranger which may take a few moments to understand." Thats exactly what I was thinking. Bobby Crosby
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Jul 25, 2002 22:45
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Heh, my brain has been shoving an 'm' into pupkin this whole time, ever since bobby crosby arrived. Where can I view the rest of this horrible brain eating webcomic? Bobby Crosby
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Jul 25, 2002 22:46
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quote:BrownH2.0 came out of the closet to say: rear end. That's what. Pure, unadulterated rear end.
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Jul 25, 2002 22:46
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That's pretty funny, Brown. Especially the Kafka crap. 4.
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Jul 25, 2002 22:47
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quote:J-Spot came out of the closet to say:  Bobby Crosby EDIT: my hosting is poo poo-flaking itself but the image is really worth it. inveratulo fucked around with this message at 22:52 on Jul 25, 2002 |
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Jul 25, 2002 22:48
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quote:IRQ came out of the closet to say: http://www.bobbycrosby.com Read from the start for full enlightenment. Remember: once you open your mind, you will understand his genius.
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Jul 25, 2002 22:49
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I'd like to disagree with the first philosopher in the thread (Mr. BrowhH2.0). The statement in Mr. Crosby's works is blatantly clear, and you would be a fool not to read into his message. It is obvious that in his comic strip, Mr Crosby is trying to convey the reader of the struggle in Man under the opression of the Czar of pre-revolutionary Russia, and subsequent events. In the first strip, AIDS, the off-orange (still not RED) and UNNAMED Pupkin represents the opressed and lost Man, fighting for his rights in a society dominated by an elite few. Mother Russia (The Soviet Union) is still a child (the baby) and embraces the working man, and gives him identity. It is clear that the one parent represents the Nationalists, who wants the common Man "at his place". The parent is also commenting that "He might have a disease" is portraying the fear of the Workers the Nationalists had. The Working Man, in the end frame, finally declares his fear of freedom. Is he diseased? will he succeed? In the second strip, you see the Nationalists fall, as the Working Man affirms his identity. The almost irrelevant mention of the name Brutus is as Mr. BrownH2.0 declared a reference to the Shakespearean play of murder. But it is not negative, it is an overthrow of an emperor, a royalty - destruction of the crown. In the last strip, the message rings true and clear, 300 people is an easy paralell to the Leningrad massacre that claimed "Three hundred and one" Working Men's lives, where Pupkin represents the one man resurrected from the dead. We see a slightly subtle message of the separation of the church and state, as the baby (Mother Russia) is driven away from the christian symbols in the graveyard. The arrest of the husband shows the remnant faction of nationalists (white roses) that have to be driven out from the people's empire. Also something else worth noting. The Working Man get's "captured", but not by a dog catcher, but by his own desires - Mr. Crosby is telling us that the budding Communist Nation needs to learn and strive to become a true Red - not orange nation. Edit: besides from this i'd like to point everyones attention to the blatant homosexuality in the last strip, last frame. The pitching/catching deal. hur hur. Pointman fucked around with this message at 23:15 on Jul 25, 2002 |
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Jul 25, 2002 23:08
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pointman said,some great stuff. this thread is now worthy of two fives. bobby crosby.
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Jul 25, 2002 23:11
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quote:Pointman came out of the closet to say: Now analyze Family Circus! 
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Jul 25, 2002 23:13
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I want to grab a cheap hooker. One time after one of them, to remind them of what is seen as the real bobby crosby.
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Jul 25, 2002 23:17
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Well, yes, I agree with you Pointman. Your view is supported by today's strip, for example. The man who brought the dogs to "Dogtopia" is revered as God by the dogs -- obviously a metaphor for the socialist utopia and the USSR's tendency to idolize their leaders. Pictures of the former USSR quite often depict giant images of Lenin and Stalin on buildings -- they have effectively replaced God for the people of Russia, who live under Marx's atheist philosophy. But you can not say that the strip ends with politics. Communism is a collectivist idea and Crosby's existential thought is a rebellion against that. Yes, I said rebellion -- Crosby is an existentialist, not only rebelling against Soviet Communism but also against what Nietzsche termed "the herd." The dog, much like Zarathustra, is striving to be the ubermensch.
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Jul 25, 2002 23:19
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 Re J-Spot's post: PIC OF DAD LOOKIN AT PR0N OMGLOLROFLMAO!!!1!!1!!!1!.jpg
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Jul 25, 2002 23:20
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I'm leaving now and won't be back for some hours, but I hope the spark can be kept alive. Remember: when you open your mind, you will see the true genius of Crosby.
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Jul 25, 2002 23:24
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quote:J-Spot came out of the closet to say: ALT 1: Family circus is attempting "humor" by showing the ignorance of a child. The child has heard from "bobby" that his dad has "cookies" in his computer, and references this to the edible kind, instead of the cookie that is used in networking terms. Truly a remarkable work, showing the duality of man and the innocence of a child. ALT 2: In the strip, we have an asker and an askee, father and son. They are unified as a family, but separate in mind. The father sits in his throne, managing his computer with ease.. but wait! doesn't it seem too small? The monitor way beneath his eyes conveys the viewer of a man confronted with an uncomfortable position. Add to that he is wearing spectacles, a rich mans tools in 19th century Russia, but also a BLIND man's. A clear indication that a revolution is coming. The little man, the worker, is ready to claim the throne that the King has outgrown. The red headed child, or shall i say worker in a red cap, is hiding his hands behind his back - a sign that he has secretive plans, however they are not ready to reveal or execute. The message is strengthened by the fact that his hands are outside the frame as well. On the right of the father is the clipboard, wich represents the communist manifest - the father, of course, is turned away from it - pretending to ignore it's presence. The child is on his left, a bold affirmation of his political stance and relationship to the king. Pretty clear to me edit: just read Brown's last post (not the go away one) .. must.. control.. laughter... in ... cubicle environment.. Pointman fucked around with this message at 23:28 on Jul 25, 2002 |
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Jul 25, 2002 23:25
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quote:Pointman came out of the closet to say: UGH. Study your Plato. This is obviously a reference to his idea of being and becoming: the author is pointing out that "computerness" and "cookieness" share the same properties (becoming) but are not the same (being.)
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Jul 25, 2002 23:28
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quote:J-Spot came out of the closet to say: It's just always sitting right in the corner, waiting to suck. Adopted by Azathoth. Hilarity shall ensue shortly.
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Jul 25, 2002 23:29
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quote:BrownH2.0 came out of the closet to say: No no! he is a pure Marxist! he denies God by running away from the graveyard and the death of man it represents (chasing after CCCP), and the dog represents the collective not the individual. If one inspects "Manifesto of the "intercononial union", the organization of the natives in all colonies" by Ho Chi Minh: "Applying Karl Marx's formula, we tell you that your emancipation can only come from your own efforts. " Again Mr. Crosby has us befuddled, remember he does not want us to think inside of the box, he is refering how the dog Pupkin is left alone, and has to struggle against the dog-catcher by himself - but as a collective. "But now that the storm is over, you remain as you were," Hah! it is obvious that Mr. Crosby dedicated the very last frame to this very statement Pupkin is as he were alone and confused, he does not grasp the full extent of the situation. And claiming that Zarathustra is the paralell is interesting, but i believe it is a fallacy, nay, it is a trap set by our master Mr. Crosby - he wants you to analyse it in that way, he can gain so much more by weawing his argument into an existential pattern. Zarathustra revolted, as did the workers - that is where we start going astray with the arguments. But Zarathustra revolted for Philosophical and Theological reasons, whereas the Worker revolted for even more basic needs. And don't even get me started on Kant! edit: i should do some work now, he he. Pointman fucked around with this message at 23:42 on Jul 25, 2002 |
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Jul 25, 2002 23:38
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quote:Bobby came out of the closet to say: That rhymes.
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Jul 25, 2002 23:39
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I politely request a URL to point me to the beginning of the Bobby Crosby goon obsession. NOT BOBBYCROSBY.COM! I just want a link to wherever the hell this thing started.
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Jul 25, 2002 23:45
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I wish I could agree about Family Circus, but it's clear to me that Billy has merely shared with his brother an origin myth. Look at the proportions of Daddy's face:  Obviously pre-modern. The comic is asking if Daddy/Father/Abba/God's magic box contains life-giving manna. Are those "heaven-cookies" accessible to those who are merely the Father's children?
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Jul 25, 2002 23:46
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quote:FarkHAL came out of the closet to say: FarkHAL is not impressed by your cheap imitation. In fact, this is what he said when asked: quote:You have a nice day" as they know you by your face, and eventually know what I was talking about around 9520013221f political talk show hosts being admitted either a) conservatives, b) republicans, or c) both - everyone from rush to getmarried any more? Well, gentlemen, read between the lines here. It's gonna get worse before it gets better. ----------------
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Jul 25, 2002 23:54
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quote:livingalie came out of the closet to say: http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=200773 Then . . . http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=201537 Then . . . http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=203518 And there's tons of others. Bobby Crosby
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Jul 25, 2002 23:56
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Forum Rules:
I like that this is rule number 10, since that is by coincidence the amount of money some people end up paying just to learn it.
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Jul 26, 2002 00:05
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The 2 latests strip has me convinced that Mr. Crosby is a Marxist. "Dogatopian" reference, "Davey" outlawing pooping in 1987? Well, is it a coincidence that "Mikhail Gorbachev", the death of Communism and creator of Perestroika, was elected Man of the Year of 1987? No, i say. The other dogs, the non-communist nations look down on the Communist nation for wanting to exhibit primal needs. In the very last strip we also see a distinct change in blatancy, here, God is refered to by the other (non-communist) dogs. Pupkin can naturally see through this charade, and asserts god as nothing by a human, while the others are lost in the ignorance and mystery of faith.
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Jul 26, 2002 00:06
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| # ? Apr 19, 2024 03:24 |
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The truth really, truly is stranger than fiction. Great analysis, Pointman.
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Jul 26, 2002 00:13
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