The Argyle Sweater by Scott Hilburn for October 08, 2009
October 07, 2009
October 09, 2009
Transcript:
Doctor: I know... crazy, right? I mean, what're the odds of getting both hands stung? Swelling should subside in a few days... anyhow, let's get on with the exam, I guess.
It’s just a recognised image that places subtle context into the cartoon. All (good) cartoonists are telling you far more than what you think you see in the language of cartoons. Just as you would recognise a small black cloud over his head, or perspiration drops flying off his face. It’s all the visual language of cartoons. here’s what’s happening here:
The eye chart is common to all doctor’s offices (or most anyway), therefore he’s at the doctor - probably a GP.
He’s in the gown because he’s about to be examined in a physical way, not just his throat or something he could remain dressed for.
The fact that the two go together to make for his discomfort allow you, the viewer, to put your own horror spin on it (according to your own worst fear at the doctor) and project THAT, thereby bridging the gulf between yourself and the cartoonist and making the cartoon specifically funny to YOU.
It’s genius and it’s what good cartoonists do.
He’s got some good ideas, does Scott Hilburn, but he’s too heavily influenced by Gary Larson and that’s hard to get past for a casual reader. He’s kinda like a PG Larson - he draws like him and even shapes the strip that way, but some of his strips are something Larson wouldn’t go near and this makes the strip look too much like a wannabe I believe.
Genius! I needed a good laugh this morning. Thanks!
Also, the eye chart is even funnier. With today’s health insurance, he probably was not approved for a specialist. He may even be at a minute-clinic at CVS…
no, the eye chart is for one eyed willie to test his sight…
….it IS a urologist and so after the doctor asks the patient to lean forward on the table and to spread his legs,
those folks paging through worn out magazines in the waiting room will be startled by the impending screams coming from the exam room….
hannijules: Other than my optometrist, I can’t remember any of my doctors having an eye chart on the wall.
ben_david: Most of my doctor’s have had their diplomas and certifications hanging on the wall of the examination room. I’m certain of that because I’ve ended up reading them while waiting for the doctor to show up.
The ones who didn’t have diplomas on the wall were not in their own private practice but associated with some medical group. In these cases, the assignment of examination rooms could change from one doctor to another.
I had one once for my flight examination… asked the doctor if he could atleast buy me a drink first! hahahaha nice cartoon… as my dad (fellow pilot) once told me…. “You should only become worried if you feel both hands on your shoulders” lol : )
margueritem about 15 years ago
Please tell me he’s not a proctologist…
Edcole1961 about 15 years ago
Worse. He’s a prostate specialist.
Allen Rymer about 15 years ago
either way, the patient is just going to “love” that short arm inspection.
randayn about 15 years ago
If he is a proctologist, why does he have an eye chart on the right side of the cartoon?
But then, if he is an eye doctor, why is the patient wearing a medical gown?
Questions to ponder.
hannijules about 15 years ago
It’s just a recognised image that places subtle context into the cartoon. All (good) cartoonists are telling you far more than what you think you see in the language of cartoons. Just as you would recognise a small black cloud over his head, or perspiration drops flying off his face. It’s all the visual language of cartoons. here’s what’s happening here:
The eye chart is common to all doctor’s offices (or most anyway), therefore he’s at the doctor - probably a GP. He’s in the gown because he’s about to be examined in a physical way, not just his throat or something he could remain dressed for. The fact that the two go together to make for his discomfort allow you, the viewer, to put your own horror spin on it (according to your own worst fear at the doctor) and project THAT, thereby bridging the gulf between yourself and the cartoonist and making the cartoon specifically funny to YOU. It’s genius and it’s what good cartoonists do.He’s got some good ideas, does Scott Hilburn, but he’s too heavily influenced by Gary Larson and that’s hard to get past for a casual reader. He’s kinda like a PG Larson - he draws like him and even shapes the strip that way, but some of his strips are something Larson wouldn’t go near and this makes the strip look too much like a wannabe I believe.
ben_david about 15 years ago
And most docs don’t have their diploma hanging in an exam room.
Hugh B. Hayve about 15 years ago
What is this, comic parsing 101?
Colt9033 about 15 years ago
Well, thats going hurt. For both parties…
wicky about 15 years ago
Not today doc! bon swar, and all that sort of rot, in a couple of days maybe. caio.
kmcdemus about 15 years ago
Genius! I needed a good laugh this morning. Thanks!
Also, the eye chart is even funnier. With today’s health insurance, he probably was not approved for a specialist. He may even be at a minute-clinic at CVS…
fatherjimmc about 15 years ago
Takes your mind off the cold stethoscope, eh?
dropping.beans about 15 years ago
hannijules
No one’s listening
Nighthawks Premium Member about 15 years ago
no, the eye chart is for one eyed willie to test his sight… ….it IS a urologist and so after the doctor asks the patient to lean forward on the table and to spread his legs, those folks paging through worn out magazines in the waiting room will be startled by the impending screams coming from the exam room….
lobkiller about 15 years ago
Highlites Magaziiiines!!
Now if only he was a Chiropractor!!
chromosome Premium Member about 15 years ago
Or if he was a massage therapist!
jpozenel about 15 years ago
hannijules: Other than my optometrist, I can’t remember any of my doctors having an eye chart on the wall.
ben_david: Most of my doctor’s have had their diplomas and certifications hanging on the wall of the examination room. I’m certain of that because I’ve ended up reading them while waiting for the doctor to show up.
The ones who didn’t have diplomas on the wall were not in their own private practice but associated with some medical group. In these cases, the assignment of examination rooms could change from one doctor to another.
definitely.not.dan about 15 years ago
Best panel ever!
bald about 15 years ago
oh he$$ no you aren’t examining me
Yukoneric about 15 years ago
Mr. Hilburn: short, sweet, simple. I like it.
risitas about 15 years ago
I can’t wait to see the suturing part, after the ‘roids ‘r’ removed w/a machete!!!
HARVIN about 15 years ago
The cavity probe jokes keep on coming…
buckleylover Premium Member about 15 years ago
Now just relax and breathe easy. Oh, i’m out of lube too.
10eapolis Premium Member about 15 years ago
Like one doctor said to me: “This is going to feel like a Mack truck!”
RaginTexan about 15 years ago
I had one once for my flight examination… asked the doctor if he could atleast buy me a drink first! hahahaha nice cartoon… as my dad (fellow pilot) once told me…. “You should only become worried if you feel both hands on your shoulders” lol : )