In today's strip, however, the authors demonstrate that, in true medieval fashion, they recognise the greatness of their own work. As medieval writers aspired to be "auctors" whose work would be cited and honoured by others, so do Michael Martin and Arran Graham. Their determination to have their greatness recognised has led to them placing a collection of Fred Basset comics amidst books labelled, "Tolstoy," "Dickens," "Proust," and "Mark Twain."* The self-promotion isn't even disguised. Well done, you guys.
Next week, tune in to watch Fred eat a chocolate, imply to his owner that he needs to go for a walk, and join the Third Crusade. It promises to be quite a good time.
P.S.: I had to make some stuff up here. There is no Middle English equivalent for "eponymous." Since there's also no modern English synonym, I had to break the word down and cobble it together out of tiny scraps of English (instead of Greek). There is also no Middle English equivalent for "hero" in the way meant here. Ah well.
P.P.S.: This is Japes' hundredth post. Hip. Hip. Hurrah!
*Why does only Twain get a first name? This is going to bother me for days.
6 comments:
First of all, congrats on Post #100!
I think I know why Mark Twain gets a first name: the other 3 names are like "Cher" and "Madonna": they are used often enough as a single name. You seldom hear Mark Twain referred to as just "Twain", though.
I guess I'm too much of an English student. I refer to Mark Twain as "Twain." However...maybe the name is less recognisable to the comic's primary (British) audience. I dunno.
I still think it's hilarious that the Fred Basset collection apparently counts as "great" literature.
Perhaps Michael and Arran do not wish to be associated with Shania Twain or little-known programming protocols. It might well detract from their hallowed status as purveyors of fine literature.
Mentioning Mark Twain gives me performance anxiety: I fear that if I refer to "Mark Twain" I'll sound uneducated, and if I refer to "Samuel Clemmens" I'll sound pretentious.
Congratulations on post 100! "Japes" brings sunshine into my life, which is especially welcome during this dark and frigid Chicago January.
Acutally, they do get out of their gender roles from time to time. If you study the strips carefully*, you'll see that it's the wife who always drives the car. This is because the strip is drawn in the UK, but in full-frontal automotive scenes, they move the steering wheel on the car.
* I do not recommend this activity.
Fred Basset is well known to be a serious contender for "Most Boring Comic in the Multiverse". I must commend you for finding something interesting to say about it.
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