Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for September 15, 2022

Calvin, you’ll love Photoshop.

A formal portrait…..

Calvin would be really big on Instagram.

They say a picture says a thousand words, but some make you wish they would say a thousand more.

The IG manifesto

Ain’t that the truth! XD

Pop quit: which is more surprising?

1) Calvin knows how to tie a tie.

2) Calvin knows how to comb his hair.

Oh it’s legal Hobbes.

It is legal, Hobbes. Just check out Facebook or another lousy social media app.

Many years ago, I accidentally shoplifted a comb at Walmart. I had a passport photo taken there. I didn’t have a comb, so I took one off the shelf. After using it, I put it in my pocket and forgot about it.

And now, there’s deep fake and photo editing software available to anyone who has a smidge of money. And even the free ones are pretty rich in features!

And thus, CNN and MSNBC were born.

Legal, but not moral.

It’s true, “The Camera never lies” was a saying at one time…….

Calvin may actually have a good true point.

Cal is destined for politics where image is everything and substance is cropped out.

It all started when people started using make up and wearing clothes to make themselves look better.

Careful Calvin, or you’ll be accused of Fake News and being ‘MSM’.

The accusers are the worst perpetrators X-D

No one has mentioned the moon landing?

It would’ve been much easier to just make the bed than stage that fraud. But that’s beside the point.

Calvin discovers the Photo-op.

Hobbes doubts about Calvin’s plan in this story arc seem to derive from the fact that he loves Calvin as he is and wouldn’t want Calvin to be someone he wouldn’t have as much fun with.

The old adage “pictures never lie” was disproven when photoshopping was created.

Calvin addresses the subject of ‘media bias’. Which it seems, only exists if you don’t agree with what is reported.

Do you think Bill Watterson met some alien who gave him a glance into the future?

Cable news, “Are you going to believe what’s happening or what we are showing you?”

This still wouldn’t work for Bannon.

About the only time that Calvin will comb his hair and put on a tie willingly!

The news media does this all the time to favor or disfavor a story, person, or point of view, depending on their bias. It’s important to check several sources on controversial stories.

Calvin was 25 years ahead of his time.

Calvin really gets into his own ideas, and believes them, to boot!

LOL

Wait ’til he discovers Photoshop (or PaintShop Pro, in my case).

Perspective can be deceiving.

Journalism has been doing this forever. “You furnish the pictures and I’ll furnish the war.” – William Randolph Hearst 1897

They lie like all “citizen reporters.”

And this was before Photoshop was a thing.

Photos for his campaign ads.

Calvin is on his way to TikTok stardom.

Don’t forget the airbrush makeup, the softening filter, and the sparkles. Oh, and the two blurred sidebars.

Comb his hair? He knows how?

And so, the trouble begins

forget the news, look at print ads for women’s clothing, that shiny new car, that mouth watering burger. And I’ve played enough times with P’shop to knock a few years off of someone’s age.

Pre-Photoshop

Check out Tinder. There isn’t an honest photo

Another strip that’s aged beautifully! It’s astonishing how well this strip holds up today.

I think digital photography has made this much, much less true. But still not entirely untrue: a picture taken out of context can still be used to manipulate.

A camera can do what many people cannot do; share only what should be shared and nothing else.

Like computers, cameras try their best to do exactly what you tell them to do.

It’s true; and nowadays you can use Photoshop or whatever to digitally manipulate the photos and their truth further!

Calvin can be cute when he wants to be!

Calvin owns a tie?

When an artist’s Greatest Hits collection doesn’t sound all that great, you wonder how bad their catalog is!

And this was all before ‘social media’.

If only trick photography works, Calvin!

Politicians still manage to find photos of their opponents, that look frightening or hilarious.

This is what fuels FOMO on social media, always showing the best stuff that you’re not a part of and hiding the messes.