A Reflection on the Nature of Comedy

I saw an ad for The Comedy Awards, which apparently began last year. Almost immediately, it struck me as really odd to have a big cable TV (it's a Comedy Central jam) awards show for comedians. Like it's contradictory to the very nature of comedy.

Historically, comedians have always been the kind of people you don't want to keep on display out in the daylight. You'd go and see them late at night, in an ill-lit, smokey club, and the whole scene had an amazing underground element to it. Comedians, just as brilliant and creative as any other artist, were regarded as less worthy of being recognized for the unique genius they possess. But that's okay. They fed on that. They were the underground, the drug-addled, alcoholics reflecting openly all the stuff everyone does in private, saying the dick lines it's in our nature as human beings to think, but socially unacceptable for us to say.

It was amazing, brilliant, and really filled a very specific void in our collective subconscious.

The entire comedy sub-culture seems to have been slowly creeping it's way into the mainstream since the 90's when open-mic nights started disappearing, and it's watering down the entire experience. Then there was another leap in the early 2000's when Dane Cook and Blue Collar Comedy Tour gained popularity, and now we've got this award show.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say every funny person, or even every professional comedian is some kind of a train-wreck of a human being. Although most of them will.

I have the pleasure of being friends with someone who has experience on the stand-up circuit, and one of the first things he said to me when I approached the subject was "most comedians have a very dark side". He continued, saying:

...My best friends that are comedians and that are actually good, have experienced so much more in life than most would. They are literally down for anything, any drug, any situation. They don't say no to anything, because regardless you can get a story or an experience out of it. Some of the stories that I've heard just bs'ing after a show, is 10x funnier than bits they do in their acts. You can't make that mainstream.

In all honesty, I'm not sure I could write a more accurate conclusion than that final line:

You can't make that mainstream.

Still Alive

So I have been CRAZY busy the past few months and I do actually intend to re-visit you lovely reader(s) very soon! Here's what I've been up to:

• Had some paintings on display at an art show
• Zip-lined over alligators
• Went skydiving!
• Worked on a couple of commissions
• Lots and LOTS of work and study time
• Ponies

And here's what's on the docket for some upcoming posts!

• Spoiler-free Cabin in the Woods review
• Mt. Dew/Dorito Cupcakes! The ultimate in gamer chow condensed into one culinary confection. Featuring food photography by CTRL ALT Petite.
• New post in my series on internet memes

Stay tuned, and happy geeking!

Q: Aren't You Too Old for PokéMon?

Character © Nintendo/Rare, Art © Sarah Hendricks

A: While it tends to be marketed to a younger demographic, there is actually a sizable group of PokéMon fans in the 20-something range. They are the individuals who began playing the games- or watching the show, or reading the comics- back in '95 when they were released, and simply continued to do so through the present. When a generation grows up with a franchise as a constant it becomes timeless, not unlike Mickey Mouse or Winnie the Pooh.

So no bitch, I am not too old for PokéMon.

Tattoos & Video Game Culture

About 13 years ago, my best friend and I were playing through The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time together. It was the first game I ever really got into and played all the way through (although it certainly wouldn't be the last), and it was amazing. At 12 years old, when we first defeated Ganon, we were so excited we had accomplished such a feat (together, mind you) that we jumped up and down and hugged.

I've already done a post on how video games have influenced me (really gotta follow up on that), and one on today's tattoo culture. For good measure, let's combine the two for an exploration of the overflow of tattoos based on video games.

Many people (non-gamers, feh) find it difficult to understand the logic behind getting an image from a video game emblazoned in permanent ink on your body. "It's just a stupid game" is one common response, and there's always the classic "Er... that's... cool". Yep, way to not be obviously awkward.

But tattoos are just an outlet for our love. These games, these worlds, and characters... when you're enveloped in a game something incredible happens. You go on an adventure. You save a princess (unless you visit the wrong castle). It's akin to the thrill of getting sucked into a great book or movie. Only with video games you're capable of doing so interactively with a friend or family member, strengthening your bond as a result.

... Unless you're playing Mario Kart. Never play Mario Kart with someone you love.

Best of all, you don't even need to have played a game with someone to get in on that sweet, free-love action. Make one mention of it being "dangerous to go alone" or "all your base are belong to us" to the right person, and you are instant friends.

So, video games can bring people together in a very unique way. And with long-running series like Mortal Kombat, Pokémon, and everything Shigeru Miyamoto touches it's no surprise that, when someone grows up playing a game series, it can be as much a part of their life as anything else. It's what inspires people to go into the field in the first place.

Now- finally- let's check out some sweet ass video game inspired tats that you haven't had shoved down your throat all over the internet:

"I got Squirtle Squad Squirtle because I will forever be Pokémon faithful. He's my favorite little guy."

Power-ups from Mario 3

Bullet Bill

"Dead mans hand holding Nintendo Zapper."

Blood-Sin from Vagrant Story

My little sister and I got Legend of Zelda series brotats, here's hers and her story:

"I grew up watching my older sisters play Legend of Zelda all the time. I used to follow them everywhere and it always annoyed them, but when they were playing LoZ I could sit and watch and they wouldn't mind. Growing up, none of us really lost our love for the LoZ series and I feel like it will always be something my sisters and I can go back to. LoZ was also one of the first fantasy 'worlds' that I could get immersed in."

And mine, naturally with the most long-winded explanation c;  :

My Zelda tattoo (just an outline for now) is based on a sketch I did of the Wind Fish from The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening. Obviously one of the main reasons I wanted a Zelda tattoo was because it had always meant a lot to myself and my sibling, and many friends along the way. I chose Links Awakening because it was always one of my favorites, one I played  countless times right through the end boss (I'm notorious for not quite finishing games. Like ever). I was also always attracted to the extra quirky characters and the existential undertones in the game.

Feel free to comment and share any pics or stories, I'm interested in the different perspectives people have on this subject.


Tats pictured belong to:

• Squirtle belongs to Brittney
• Mario power-ups, Bullet Bill, and Nintendo Zapper are Jason from Designs by Voorhees
• Vagrant Story tat belongs to Sam
• Zelda chest piece is my lovely little sister Olivia of sister blog Ctrl Alt Petite
• Wind Fish is of course, yours truly.

Most of these, including my own, were done at Harris Ink right here in J-ville. Awesome atmosphere and awesome artists, check them out for your next ink.

Official(?) Legend of Zelda Timetree

Last week it was announced that an official Nintendo-approved timeline for The Legend of Zelda series was going to be released in the special 25th anniversary Hyrule Historia book. The book, which is being edited by Zelda developer Eiji Aonuma, will feature the timeline (more of a time tree in its current condition) mapping out the history of the franchise and linear(ish) order of the games.

Many a fanboy/girl has wiled away hours of their life to the maddening quest of unraveling Link's enigmatic story. It is common canon that there is more than one Link, as the Hero of Time reincarnates- a fact that makes it all the more challenging to construct timeline for the games. It is not especially clear how many Links there are, but at the very least the Wind Waker version is mentioned in the game as being a descendant/reincarnation of the Hero.

Here is the timetree as it stands now:

It's not a finalized version but particularly interesting is the fact that some of the games branch off in a universe where Link doesn't beat Gannon in Ocarina of Time. Here's a link to the full-sized version, in case you can't read the above: Click

My primary question for Nintendo is this: What in the HELL am I supposed to make my life's work now?


NOTE: For the next post I'd like to do a write-up on video game tattoo culture, so if you have a video game tat please send me a photo: strayxdogxstrut@gmail.com
I could easily Google some up but I'd rather use ones that haven't been passed around the internet like a cheap digital whore. I'd be much obliged.