Fizgig’s back – Mar 12, 2009

2 Responses to Fizgig’s back – Mar 12, 2009

1. Janet Johnson says:

   March 30, 2009 at 2:02 pm

   March 12, 2009 “Pick Which One of These Things Doesn’t Belong” — My friends & I have been trying to figure this cartoon out. I guess we’re not familiar enough with Fizgig. Do you have time to give a short explanation as to which one doesn’t belong?

   Thanks!

   We check out your cartoon/commentary every time we see them!!!

   [Reply]

   neal replied:
   March 30th, 2009 at 2:19 pm

   Hi Janet,

   I hope you’re not disappointed by this answer, but a lot of the vehicle for this cartoon (presenting it as a Sesame Street-style game) was just to amuse myself. Since three panels are relating to university issues and one panel is a flying dog, it’s obvious that the flying dog is different. Obviously, that’s not a very satisfying conclusion to reach, and so it hopefully inspires the reader to think a little more about what they just read.

   So the “serious” answer would be that while two university panels involve an abundance of funding (the two areas in which the university functions as a business), one shows just how much the university is hurting financially in other areas (the education side). I wanted to draw attention to that contrast, and thus push the idea that the Perlman panel is what “doesn’t belong.” That fourth panel is kind of a manifestation of the flawed idea of grouping all the different aspects of the University together, as if the issues it faces apply equally to all parts.

   There are a lot of ways to do that, and the way I chose to do it was to draw Fizgig the Bumbledog. Fizgig was a recurring character I used in my days as a cartoonist at the Daily Nebraskan, and I’d never had an opportunity to draw him in a Journal Star cartoon. This cartoon was to run on my birthday, so that was a little treat to myself.

   It’s kind of hard to explain thought processes that happen somewhat subconsciously, so I hope that helps.

   [Reply]