beanytuesday
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A Comic About Aging, Identity, and Where I See Myself In The Future
🕑 Added 2020-09-01 02:43:33 +0000 UTCEvery time I post a non-funny personal comic, I always dread the inevitable obnoxious comment of "uhh too much text lmao" or some other genius takedown. Thankfully, the reception is usually quite good.
The inspiration for this comic came when I was watching True Detective Season 1 a few days ago. In the first episode we see the apartment of Matthew McConaughey's character, a nihilistic misanthropic detective. The character itself is actually pretty cliche. In contrast with his family man partner, who lives in a nice house, Rust's apartment is completely sparse, mattress on the floor, surrounded by stacks of books about philosophy and criminal psychology. The intended effect, presumably, is to show the audience how alienated and obsessive the character is, and perhaps get them to pity his meager lifestyle. But I just thought "cool".
This is a technique I used to use a lot in my early post-college years, when I was much lonelier and depressed than I am now; recontextualizing your own life into something romantic, dramatic. Alienation, night walks, overwork, despair? The perfect combination of circumstances to create a film protagonist. No one ever wants to watch a movie about a regular guy with pretty alright life-- unless we are promised that something will go wrong.
Is it any wonder why I like the works of Nobuyuki Fukumoto so much?
Comments
Stephanie Lin
You are a whole, complete person on your own. You do not need to seek out acceptance and validation from everyone you meet.
billy likes balloons
If it makes you feel any better, the option of a "normal" family man with a house and kids is not going to be an option any longer no matter how much you think you want it. The lifestyle you described is going to become the norm in the future with all the shit that's going on.
I've never seen a comic so accurately describe a fantasy I've never been able to put into words. I love your writing btw!
Beany Tuesday
Saikyo Densetsu Kurosawa
this resonated and I really liked it
This comic really resonates with me- the chord you strike between earnest self-examination and cautious optimism is beautiful :)
Awesome. I'd check out Nobuyuki Fukumoto's work if it captures anything like the same vibe that you've set up here. Any recommendations of what you'd read first of his?
