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Kerry D. Soper reminds us of The Far Side's groundbreaking qualities and cultural significance in Gary Larson and "The Far Side." In the 1980s, Gary Larson (b. 1950) shook up a staid comics page by introducing a set of aesthetic devices, comedic tones, and philosophical frames that challenged and delighted many readers, even while upsetting and confusing others. His irreverent, single panels served as an alternative reality to the tame comedy of the family-friendly newspaper comics page, as well as the pervasive, button-down consumerism and conformity of the Reagan era. In this first full study of Larson's art, Soper follows the arc of the cartoonist's life and career, describing the aesthetic and comedic qualities of his work, probing the business side of his success, and exploring how The Far Side brand as a whole--with its iconic characters and accompanying set of comedic and philosophical frames--connected with its core readers. In effect, Larson reinvented his medium by creatively working within, pushing against, and often breaking past institutional, aesthetic, comedic, and philosophical parameters. Due to the comic's great success, it opened the door for additional alternative voices in comics and other popular mediums. With its intentionally awkward, minimalistic lines and its morbid humor, The Far Side expanded Americans' comedic palette and inspired up-and-coming cartoonists, comedians, and filmmakers. Soper re-creates the cultural climate and media landscape in which The Far Side first appeared and thrived, then assesses how it impacted worldviews and shaped the comedic sensibilities of a generation of cartoonists, comedy writers, and everyday fans.

Product Identifiers

PublisherUniversity Press of Mississippi

ISBN-101496817281

ISBN-139781496817280

eBay Product ID (ePID)240361310

Product Key Features

GenreBiography & Autobiography, Art, Literary Criticism, Social Science, Comics & Graphic Novels

Publication Year2018

LanguageEnglish

Artist/WriterKerry D. Soper

TypeTextbook

FormatHardcover

Dimensions

Item Length9in

Item Width6in

Item Weight0 Oz

Additional Product Features

Number of Pages230 Pages

SeriesGreat Comics Artists Ser.

ReviewsA well-paced and vividly drawn portrait. The biographical details are fascinating, helping to limn a person who remained willfully opaque throughout the peak of his fame.

Dewey Edition23

Publication NameGary Larson and the Far Side

Lccn2018-006258

Target AudienceScholarly & Professional

IllustratedYes

Dewey Decimal741.56973

TopicTechniques / Cartooning, Popular Culture, Anthologies, Artists, Architects, Photographers, Comics & Graphic Novels

Lc Classification NumberNc1429.L32s67 2018