Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for November 02, 1990
Transcript:
Calvin: The hard part for us avant-garde post-modern artists is deciding whether or not to embrace commercialism. Do we allow our work to be hyped and exploited by a market that's simply hungry for the next new thing? Do we participate in a system that turns high art into low art so it's better suited for mass consumption? Of course, when an artist goes commercial, he makes a mockery of his status as an outsider and free thinker. He buys into the crass and shallow values art should transcend. He trades the integrity of his art for riches and fame. Oh, what the heck. I'll do it. Hobbes: That wasn't so hard.
Joey245 about 12 years ago
Once again, most of this stuff soared over my head as a middle-school kid. Very rewarding to read and understand it now that I’m older.
z4netti about 11 years ago
This is the real Watterson talking thru his comics. C&H became a big hit and promotors wanted to commercialize his characters. This was his way of saying no.
Xalder about 10 years ago
The world deserves a pure substance.
yow4zip Premium Member about 9 years ago
Calvin is always quick on his feet.
bmonk about 9 years ago
I’m glad Bill Watterson had higher principles than Calvin.
Even if, as Hobbes, he rolled his eyes.
I never could figure out why he picked Calvin (that dried-up puritanical reformer) for the libertarian, self-centered Calvin character, and the pessimistic Hobbes (“life is nasty, bruitish and short”) for the tiger. I mean, really—Hobbes is impish and can leave Calvin bruised, but he’s more cultured and far taller than Calvin.
AntonL.Graf over 3 years ago
I wonder what it would have been like to have a childhood and read this years ago, not understanding ANYTHING. Like, this was 100% for his adult readers