Dating back to the 16th century, the expression “a dog’s life” alludes to a miserable existence. But times they are a-changing. My dogs, Todo and Alfie, live in ecstatic comfort and ease. Plus, unlike us humans, they don’t have to think about masks, and social distancing, as the photo below illustrates. Fortunately, things are easing…
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A Dog’s Life
“Angry Bird” Caption Contest Commentary with Lawrence Wood
Jon Adams’ cartoon poses an unprecedented challenge because no one in the drawing is speaking. Who, then, is delivering the line that will serve as the caption? Is someone we can’t see commenting on the bird that’s flown through the window? Should the caption reflect the bird’s thoughts? Or should the caption be the cartoon’s…
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Good Cop, Bad Cop
I recently looked back at some cartoons I did decades ago for The New Yorker featuring cops. In 1999, they were funny in a straightforward sort of way to me and the editor of The New Yorker but wouldn’t make much sense if they appeared now. And, depending on one’s view of law enforcement and…
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Anatomy of a Cartoon: The Corona Masquerade
Cartoon critics Phil Witte and Rex Hesner look behind gags to debate what makes a cartoon tick. This week our intrepid critics take a look at the 2020 Masquerade. Years from now, after the COVID-19 pandemic has ended, photographs will preserve this strange era. Empty streets, deserted beaches, and shuttered storefronts will predominate in cell…
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“Frankie Goes to Hollywood” Caption Contest Commentary with Lawrence Wood
In Bob Eckstein’s drawing, which is perfect for the contest because its simple premise provides such fertile ground for captions, a Hollywood agent is saying something to his client, the Frankenstein monster. “Frankie Goes to Hollywood,” the title I chose for this commentary, was actually submitted as a caption by two entrants, but it’s not…
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Dad Day is Coming Your Way
I’m a big fan of Father’s Day. I never thought I’d be a father and didn’t have any Father’s Days until I was 47 years old. So, having been deprived early on, I treasure them all the more now. I have no idea what I’ll get for this Father’s Day from my darling daughter, Sarah,…
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