borealism.com: highbrow pretension by the assload
Monday, October 3, 2005
I am having some difficulty updating the web site. Wouldn't you know it, just as I've started working on stuff again?
-Ben/"WW"
Sunday, April 24, 2005
Today I hung out with Jason Turner (Brian, Ed, Janet, and Lisa came by for periods as well), drank beer, and drew comics, but did not participate in 24 Hour Comics Day.
Here's what I drew: one (1) and two (2).
Also, I inexplicably got a burger for free at the Alderman. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? Not that I'm complaining, you understand...
-Ben/"WW"
Monday, April 18, 2005
I've got a new paper up in the essay section. Written for a grad seminar in popular culture, The Fourth Estate and the Ninth Art is an examination of Joe Sacco's nonfiction comics. My thesis is that, though often referred to as "comics journalism", this work bears a closer resemblance to the documentary tradition of filmmaking. Sacco's unique case opens up the more general problem of defining the boundaries between journalism and documentary as interrelated but distinct genres of nonfiction reportage.
I had wanted to do a whole section on Sacco's work as a form of ethnography as well, but ran out of room and time.
Special thanks to my friend Bethany Lindsay, who shared with me the transcript of a recent interview she conducted with Sacco. It was a great help.
-Ben/"WW"
Saturday, March 12, 2005
There's a new paper in the essay section of the site. The Symbolic Canadian (pdf) is an examination of the work of cartoonists Seth, Chester Brown, and Joe Matt in the context of the "loser cinema" of Canadian film. Jacques Lacan and Frantz Fanon come along for the ride.
-Ben/"WW"
Sunday, February 27, 2005
The Daily Grind Ironman Challenge begins today, and I'll be serving as one of the refs, should there be any dispute about the rules. This is the second round of the challenge, intended to get good cartoonists producing more work.
It's become a bit large and farcical, but it does mean five comics a week from the likes of Brian, Jason, Dean, Jeff, and Tom.
-Ben/"WW"
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
-Ben/"WW"
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Hey, guys. I just wanted to note that I am alive and not "missing in action" or some such nonsense. I just got back from Christmas break at my parents' place in Pennsylvania and am getting back into the school groove.
I'm currently working on a couple of pieces for print. I continue to appeal to your patience with the lack of updates here on the site.
-Ben/"WW"
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
I have been deep within the end of term abyss, but am now able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Take a look at the products of the recent Vancouver comic jam.
-Ben/"WW"
Monday, November 29, 2004
I'm still kicking. There's a new Strip Fight entry in the War Journal.
-Ben/"WW"
Monday, November 22, 2004
So, I guess I owe you all an explanation as to where I've been for the last little while ... See, after finishing off the last American Robots storyline, I kind of hit a patch of writer's block. And life was getting busy enough that I couldn't be bothered to get too torn up about it.
As a solution, I've decided to officially put a_r on hiatus until the new year. In the meantime, I will endeavour to keep updating the site with odds and ends on a regular basis, so y'all don't forget I'm here.
Speaking of which, there's a new Strip Fight entry in the War Journal. Haven't said that in a while...
Anyway, keep checking back ... or I will destroy you! Or something.
-Ben/"WW"
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