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Joined: Jun 2002
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
TEd, I'm waiting for the pun to drop... 
formerly known as etaoin...
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Joined: Aug 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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..Charles Dickens sitting across a desk from his publisher, who is whining at him, "Now, Mr. Dickens, was it the best of times or the worst of times? You can scarcely have it both ways."
That sounds very much like "Through History with J. Wesley Smith," a cartoon featured regularly in The Saturday Review of Literature, more years ago than I care to remember. My favorite among these depicted a gentlemen sitting in front of his lawyer's desk, briefcase bearing the monogram AS, and hearing his suggestion: "No, this contract is entirely too much in favor of Mr. Gilbert, and I should advise you to terminate the partnership immediately..."
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jan 2001
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On the subject of cartoons, there was once a book that spoofed The New Yorker, including cartoons. One showed Jimi Hendrix sitting across the desk from a businessman, in what looked to be a job interview. The businessman was asking "So, are you experienced?"
Re: Homunculus/Homunculi. I am not sure this would be the proper term for a pair of angels (one fallen) on somebody's shoulders. An homonculus literally is a little man, and generally refers to a creature created out of witchcraft or magic. Then again it might be appropriate since they are sometimes represented as little forms of the protagonist on whose shoulder they sit. (i.e. a little devil Bugs Bunny and a little angel Bugs Bunny.)
The term is also used in medicine to describe the mapping of nerve endings to the brain, e.g. "the sensory homonculus."
The two angels, often featured in Warner Bros. cartoons, represent conscience and desire, or superego and id in Freudian terms.
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
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...represent conscience and desire, or superego and id in Freudian terms....and to generalize that conscience and desire / superego and id are synonymous with 'good and evil'... well why don't we just call them 'smart and stupid' or 'old and young'...  Howabout 'religious' and 'spiritual' [eg]
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Joined: Mar 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
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why don't we just call them 'smart and stupid' or 'old and young'... OK, wise guy, which is which?
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Posts: 1,692
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692 |
I wonder if anyone is familiar with a series of books written by Giovanni Guareschi about a priest called Don Camillo. The chapter headings contain little stylised sketches of the two main characters often with a little devil and/or angel by their shoulders. The books are set in the Po Valley shortly after the second world war and contain droll short stories about the priest and the local mayor who is a communist. Both characters had been in the Italian resistance and have the good of their community at heart beneath their feuding and differences.
I had forgotten these books until reading this thread, but now feel compelled to read them again. I thoroughly recommend them as light but thoughtful reading giving insights into personalities, feuds and life at that time in rural northern Italy. Trust me - you will enjoy them! I think the first book is called “The Little World of Don Camillo”. Thank you for bringing them back to mind. Now I just need to find where I have them!
dxb
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Joined: Jul 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
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I agree. Absolutely marvelous little books. I too have them SOMEWHERE!
TEd
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
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I know where my copies are. And it ain't here. But you're right, dxb, they're brilliant.
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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Joined: Jul 2002
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 742 |
This trio of recommendations has moved me to find the books. I look forward to reading the original works, since I enjoyed the TV series made from them, which series was my introduction to the work of Brian Blessed.
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Joined: Oct 2000
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veteran
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veteran
Joined: Oct 2000
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“The Little World of Don Camillo”
Oh yes, David! Read them ages and ages ago - though far too young to appreciate them fully, I loved them.
Trip to Amazon in order, I think..
Thank you for reminding us.
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