Comic Evaluation Essay
L.B.
Composition II
Cartoon Analysis
March 05, 2014
Escaping The Humdrum of School
In a favorite cartoon of mine by the name of Calvin & Hobbes, cartoonist Bill Waterson has shown in a few short scenes what almost all kids already believe about school. Whether it is the way things are presented or the general disinterest some children have with formal education, there is a perspective that children have on education which is oftentimes carried right into adulthood. Through use of visual aids, emotional excitement, the experiences we've all had in school and that inner child in all of us, Bill Waterson shows that traditional school is boring, and even the adults know it!
In the opening scene of this cartoon, the author uses a fine visual example of absolute boredom in the classroom and nothing else. How powerful is that example though! Calvin, our bored schoolboy has a look of absolute mental boredom and abject empty-headedness. His face is slunk down into his hands; his tongue is sticking out as if to indicate that he is only awake by the slightest margin. What adds to this is that the cartoonist added nothing else to this first frame but Calvin at his school desk. There's nothing to indicate any subject or reason other than, quite simply, he is at school. It gives the impression that if it were at all possible Calvin's brain might very well fall right out of his head.
The humorous aspect of this, however, is the very next frame. Calvin suddenly seems to erupt with wild-eyed madness. The artist drew his eyes wide and crossed and added extra exclamation marks after his words as if mentally snapping. The realization in this frame is that there is a whole world of excitement out there. It's an otherwise beautiful day in Calvin's life that is being wasted in utter boredom hearing about something that Calvin sees as being nonsense. Even the hint of 'carpe diem' is laced within the
Composition II
Cartoon Analysis
March 05, 2014
Escaping The Humdrum of School
In a favorite cartoon of mine by the name of Calvin & Hobbes, cartoonist Bill Waterson has shown in a few short scenes what almost all kids already believe about school. Whether it is the way things are presented or the general disinterest some children have with formal education, there is a perspective that children have on education which is oftentimes carried right into adulthood. Through use of visual aids, emotional excitement, the experiences we've all had in school and that inner child in all of us, Bill Waterson shows that traditional school is boring, and even the adults know it!
In the opening scene of this cartoon, the author uses a fine visual example of absolute boredom in the classroom and nothing else. How powerful is that example though! Calvin, our bored schoolboy has a look of absolute mental boredom and abject empty-headedness. His face is slunk down into his hands; his tongue is sticking out as if to indicate that he is only awake by the slightest margin. What adds to this is that the cartoonist added nothing else to this first frame but Calvin at his school desk. There's nothing to indicate any subject or reason other than, quite simply, he is at school. It gives the impression that if it were at all possible Calvin's brain might very well fall right out of his head.
The humorous aspect of this, however, is the very next frame. Calvin suddenly seems to erupt with wild-eyed madness. The artist drew his eyes wide and crossed and added extra exclamation marks after his words as if mentally snapping. The realization in this frame is that there is a whole world of excitement out there. It's an otherwise beautiful day in Calvin's life that is being wasted in utter boredom hearing about something that Calvin sees as being nonsense. Even the hint of 'carpe diem' is laced within the