#webcomicschat – “The Cartoonists of Comics”
on March 10, 2011 at 8:23 pmPosted In: news, webcomicschat
In 2010 Dave Kellett, cartoonist extraordinaire of Sheldon, delivered a speech titled “The Freeing of Comics” at Ohio State University. I remember hearing Dave discuss the speech on Webcomics Weekly and I’m happy to see that the speech has been posted on YouTube. Dave’s speech made the case for webcomics but also came as a response to the famous Bill Watterson (legendary cartoonist of Calvin and Hobbes) speech of 1989 entitled “The Cheapening of Comics.” I believe that these speeches should be required reading for anyone entering the world of comic strips and cartooning today.
Bill Waterson’s Speech “The Cheapening of Comics”
Dave Kellet’s Speech “The Freeing of Comics” Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, andPart 5.
Dave Kellett is a good cartoonist who makes a very enjoyable webcomic. His success as a webcomic artist is proof of that as is his strip’s longevity. His speech is very informative and interesting in particular when contrasted with the comments Bill Waterson made about the state of newspaper comics in 1989.
I like the freedom that is implied in the artist owning the distribution model of the work. Dave’s point about artists needing to be business savvy is also very true and well taken. The same type of evolution is happening in the music industry as old ways are displaced by the internet.
The one unanswered question raised by Waterson and somewhat skirted by Dave is that of turning the cartoonist into a marketeer and merchandiser. Bill Waterson saw this as a ‘cheapening’ effect and a negative impact on quality of the artistic expression. I wonder what Dave’s position is and if he thinks its cheapens the art of cartooning or not.
Thanks for the interesting and thought provoking topic.
Thanks for this post. I was not aware of either of these speeches. Listening to Dave makes me want to be a better cartoonist and I hope I get to meet him in person one day.
Great point. It’s hard to say whether or not it will have a negative impact. I guess time will tell.
Dave practices what he preaches. He is very kind and friendly to everyone. Including dopes like me.