Loved seeing your process, making it so perfect for this moment. I am young enough to remember that Mr. Chaplin was "persona non grata" because of right wing lies against him, but thank goodness he was welcomed back. Your opinion/artwork piece inspired me to write the Noble Peace Center to beg them to never, ever, ever, never. give our "persona non grata conman" a moment of their thoughts. post@noblepeacecenter.org
Well, Ann... you just succeeded in making me glad I subscribed - again. Thank you for your internal drive to create high quality editorial content. In this case, the finished product is of the highest quality. "The Ultimate Dictator" really packs a punch.
Thank you for your brilliant take on Chaplin's film. While Chaplin's film was humorous, unfortunately what's happening today is too real to be funny. I wish it were not because I never ever thought this would happen in the country I love.
Humor is a powerful weapon. It disarms them when you get many others to laugh in their faces. What was happening then was all the more real and was not funny at all. His tears made that clear. Powerful humor scares the little weazles when you get their cult to laugh.
They are very small inside and that is why they have to project power. The violence they inspire is for their own protection.
Indeed. Case in point: Stephen Colbert. Also, now add GAVIN CHRISTOPHER NEWSOM, AMERICA’S MOST FAVORITE GOVERNOR!
Per Robert Hubbell's Substack post last night, "right-wing media and Republican officials have expressed outrage over the lack of decorum and unhinged rhetoric in Governor Newsom’s parody of Trump's posts. With no sense of irony or self-awareness, Fox News entertainers posing as journalists have criticized Gavin Newsom. For example, Fox host Dana Perino said,
'You have to stop it with the Twitter thing. If I were his wife, I would say: You are making a fool of yourself, stop it.'"
I wonder if Melania has followed Dana Perino's admonition and told her husband he makes a fool of himself with every tweet!
Regarding the weapon of humor, I often think of Eco’s The Name of the Rose. Won’t say any more, but I recommend the book or the excellent film.
Separately, if I may, the BBC article Ann cites contains an interesting coda from Chaplain regarding the Nazi atrocities he hadn’t been aware of when he made the film…
Thank you for the tip. I'm a bit overwhelmed right now designing the new home to replace what we lost in the Altadena fire. I stop to read Ann, Heather, Joyce and a few others regularly, but that's all the time I will have for a while.
So sorry to hear! (I happen to have heard that the art world also lost mid-century Visual Symphony equipment invented by Charles Dockum in the Altadena fires.) All the very ‘phoenix’ best to you and yours!
Hundreds of artists, musicians, actors, scientists and writers lost more than can be described. An amazing community. It looks like you do a bit of good work yourself. As for the rebuild, I'm "Burning" as one might say.
[edited] RR, I’m catching up on Altadena. It’s beyond heartbreaking how much black creative culture had gone uncelebrated before, and how much of its artifacts have now been lost. And so many creative and innovative individuals of all backgrounds living there - Zorthan Ranch (which I’d never heard of before) gone! Add to that the people who’ve lived there and collaborated in the past, from Robinson to Feynman (who we’d just learned about) to Parker to Chaplain (who we’ve been discussing here) - and one can see it is clearly a very special place. (A sort of multi-dimensional Laurel Canyon, for starters…)
I’m still plumbing, and will do so for a while, but I wanted to let you know that I’m doing so; I’m embarrassed at my ignorance; I mourn as an outsider, and I again thank you for the exchange!
Lucian is on top with Heather and Joyce. Jeff T. keeps me sane. Lucian was Village Voice, ya know, back when he was still a middie. I was a middie at Cal Maritime then.
Wow! I’m a relatively new fan of Lucian’s from his Salon-only days. He brought me to Substack (thank heavens!) when he moved here. I won’t thread on, but I’m really glad we volleyed!
I love learning the journey an artist and writer take to arrive at their finished work. I thought it all looked vaguely familiar. Will revisit the film most definitely.
I remain hopeful, Ms. T. that soon you will have nothing to comment on as the felon and all his merry multitudes will come around to reason or pass quietly in their sleep.
I had seen the movie a long time ago but had forgotten about it. When I saw your drawing it certainly reminded me of something but I couldn’t put my front it until someone in the comments put a link to it. Wonderful and accurate!!
For all his bluster, he is just a toddler playing with toys he should never be allowed anywhere near.
And still trying to please his father, who did a real number on him.
I don't know this for sure, but he likely took advantage of dear daddy's dementia to exclude the rest of his family from the will.
Fair point
Inflatable Giant Golf Ball comes to mind
I recognized it right away, a clever take. Well done.
Thank you for sharing your roughs! I love to see the roughs!!
Loved seeing your process, making it so perfect for this moment. I am young enough to remember that Mr. Chaplin was "persona non grata" because of right wing lies against him, but thank goodness he was welcomed back. Your opinion/artwork piece inspired me to write the Noble Peace Center to beg them to never, ever, ever, never. give our "persona non grata conman" a moment of their thoughts. post@noblepeacecenter.org
Nobel Peace Center
P.O. 1894 Vika
0124 Oslo, Norway
or better, nominate someone who might cause narcissistic overload....Steven Colbert or Southpark.
Well, Ann... you just succeeded in making me glad I subscribed - again. Thank you for your internal drive to create high quality editorial content. In this case, the finished product is of the highest quality. "The Ultimate Dictator" really packs a punch.
The entire film is stunning. The final speech always takes my breath away.
You can see that Chaplin was near tears; he felt the lines so deeply.
Ok, I’m definitely gonna watch it again! I love that speech - indeed right from the heart! 💙💙💙
Thank you for your brilliant take on Chaplin's film. While Chaplin's film was humorous, unfortunately what's happening today is too real to be funny. I wish it were not because I never ever thought this would happen in the country I love.
Humor is a powerful weapon. It disarms them when you get many others to laugh in their faces. What was happening then was all the more real and was not funny at all. His tears made that clear. Powerful humor scares the little weazles when you get their cult to laugh.
They are very small inside and that is why they have to project power. The violence they inspire is for their own protection.
Indeed. Case in point: Stephen Colbert. Also, now add GAVIN CHRISTOPHER NEWSOM, AMERICA’S MOST FAVORITE GOVERNOR!
Per Robert Hubbell's Substack post last night, "right-wing media and Republican officials have expressed outrage over the lack of decorum and unhinged rhetoric in Governor Newsom’s parody of Trump's posts. With no sense of irony or self-awareness, Fox News entertainers posing as journalists have criticized Gavin Newsom. For example, Fox host Dana Perino said,
'You have to stop it with the Twitter thing. If I were his wife, I would say: You are making a fool of yourself, stop it.'"
I wonder if Melania has followed Dana Perino's admonition and told her husband he makes a fool of himself with every tweet!
https://open.substack.com/pub/roberthubbell/p/the-epstein-scandal-isnt-going-away?r=flasu&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Yup, that's the deal. Self important teeny weeny peepee fraidy folks are outraged over the rest of us just BREATHING!!
Regarding the weapon of humor, I often think of Eco’s The Name of the Rose. Won’t say any more, but I recommend the book or the excellent film.
Separately, if I may, the BBC article Ann cites contains an interesting coda from Chaplain regarding the Nazi atrocities he hadn’t been aware of when he made the film…
Thank you for the tip. I'm a bit overwhelmed right now designing the new home to replace what we lost in the Altadena fire. I stop to read Ann, Heather, Joyce and a few others regularly, but that's all the time I will have for a while.
So sorry to hear! (I happen to have heard that the art world also lost mid-century Visual Symphony equipment invented by Charles Dockum in the Altadena fires.) All the very ‘phoenix’ best to you and yours!
Hundreds of artists, musicians, actors, scientists and writers lost more than can be described. An amazing community. It looks like you do a bit of good work yourself. As for the rebuild, I'm "Burning" as one might say.
[edited] RR, I’m catching up on Altadena. It’s beyond heartbreaking how much black creative culture had gone uncelebrated before, and how much of its artifacts have now been lost. And so many creative and innovative individuals of all backgrounds living there - Zorthan Ranch (which I’d never heard of before) gone! Add to that the people who’ve lived there and collaborated in the past, from Robinson to Feynman (who we’d just learned about) to Parker to Chaplain (who we’ve been discussing here) - and one can see it is clearly a very special place. (A sort of multi-dimensional Laurel Canyon, for starters…)
I’m still plumbing, and will do so for a while, but I wanted to let you know that I’m doing so; I’m embarrassed at my ignorance; I mourn as an outsider, and I again thank you for the exchange!
I have a lot of reading to catch up on! Thank you! My deepest regards -
Great ‘essential Substack’ list, by the way!! (I might only add Lucian Truscott IV…)
Lucian is on top with Heather and Joyce. Jeff T. keeps me sane. Lucian was Village Voice, ya know, back when he was still a middie. I was a middie at Cal Maritime then.
Wow! I’m a relatively new fan of Lucian’s from his Salon-only days. He brought me to Substack (thank heavens!) when he moved here. I won’t thread on, but I’m really glad we volleyed!
Brilliant touch that his apotheosis idea looks
like his flatulence!
Ooo! Ooo! What a great new name: His Flatulence! 🥰❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️!
The orange turd is not king material, but he could pass as the Prince of Flatulence.
You are a treasure, Ann. Your talent never ceases to amaze and inspire me. Thanks for posting the sketches.
It was brilliant.
Oh, man—you had to explain that? Yeesh. I thought it was apt.
My mind first jumped to Sally Rand... then to Chaplin. Perhaps I should take some aptamins along with my morning vitamins!
Very nice! It brought to my mind one of Jules Pfeiffer’s dancer cartoons.
I love learning the journey an artist and writer take to arrive at their finished work. I thought it all looked vaguely familiar. Will revisit the film most definitely.
I remain hopeful, Ms. T. that soon you will have nothing to comment on as the felon and all his merry multitudes will come around to reason or pass quietly in their sleep.
Meanwhile, thank you.
I had seen the movie a long time ago but had forgotten about it. When I saw your drawing it certainly reminded me of something but I couldn’t put my front it until someone in the comments put a link to it. Wonderful and accurate!!
I thought it was perfect!
Brilliant! Again… Thank you!