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Post by joelbirenbaum on Apr 9, 2008 13:53:35 GMT -5
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Post by johntufail on Apr 9, 2008 17:35:36 GMT -5
Probabaly more than any other 19th centuy writer, Carroll used ilustrations (and thus his illustrators to define. expand and even subvert the written text. He was not alone in this - Dickens and Thackeray for example used illustration as plot line and to get around the constraints of 'Mrs gundy'. However Carroll suprememly understood the linguistics of illustration and, where possible, used them to the full. This is most apparent in the Alice books and Snark - least asppaent and successful in S$B (Furniss was not a happy choice as illustrator!).
So, what I find intriguing when lookibg at illustrations of Carroll's work how how clearly the illustrator understood the linguistic importance of the illustration/text relationship in his work.
Many illustrators attempt to turn the Alice Books into merely child entertainments - especially those illustators practising in the 20 or so years after Carroll's death. These are the illustrators I am least intrigued with.
I think it has to be considered that illustrations are central to Carroll's writing (what's the good of words without pictures!). So what I am looking for are the different ways that illustrations impact on the meaning of the text. I enjoyed, for example, Steadman's illustrations - purely because you could argue with them! Peake's illustrations of the Snark are fascinating and, to me, underline Carroll's use of myth and mysticism.
So I look for illustrations that challenge the text and, perhaps, even challenge the way Carroll used his illustrators to enable the reader to see his works in a new light.
regards
JT
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Post by johntufail on Apr 9, 2008 17:38:40 GMT -5
I hate my computer! it sucks. I am a fully paid up member of the Union of Bad Workment and am entitled to say this!
What came out as 'thingyens' was actually typed in as Dickens!
JT
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Post by Admin on Apr 10, 2008 7:44:40 GMT -5
Not your computer's fault John - the d**n fool automatic censor was still recognising part-words despite my telling it only to do complete ones. It seems to have understood now.
Provided some entertainment anyway.
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Post by mahendra on Apr 10, 2008 9:27:25 GMT -5
This thread is pure catnip for me … there's just too many Alice illustrators, the site you mentioned is fascinating, thanks!
For the Snark, though … it's Peake for me, and there's another one, Doug Howick sent me some material on him, a John V. Lord, his illos seem unusually locked into the subtext. And also, Max Ernt's illos, though a bit off-hand, do justice to the text.
The Snark is a good case-study for the visual/textual principles that you're espousing, the text is so rich and also universal, it furnishes a perfect springboard for a wide variety of visual approaches. It's one of those works which is instantly archetypical but in a completely intellectual manner. The Snark is Mannerism Nonsense, perhaps?
If we continue in this vein, maybe we should move to the Snark forum, it feels so lonely there …
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Post by bettyboop on Apr 10, 2008 12:24:02 GMT -5
I love the rich muted colors and quirkiness of Rackham, though I never think his Alice looks anything like, well... Alice. Ideally I'd combine his richness of color and general soft strangeness with Tenniel''s Alice and have something like my ideal.
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Post by joelbirenbaum on Apr 11, 2008 15:00:12 GMT -5
Maybe others are having the same problem I am with the Snark category. Every time I visit I see a Boo...
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Post by mikeindex on Apr 12, 2008 4:37:36 GMT -5
Maybe others are having the same problem I am with the Snark category. Every time I visit I see a Boo... Oh dear. It seems we need a new moderator for Collectors' Corner. |
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frockmaker
Rook
"I'm forty, unmarried and I work in musiclal theatre - you do the math"
Posts: 22
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Post by frockmaker on Apr 12, 2008 9:27:21 GMT -5
OOh I love Rackham too! The wonderful old-manuscript, leaky colors he used. But yeah, his Alice looks trippy and skinny, like a sixties hippy!
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Post by bettyboop on Apr 14, 2008 9:10:52 GMT -5
Sixties hippy is a good terminology. She certainly looks anorexic and not cute and Alicey at all! Though I guess the Tenniel Alice isn't that cute. But she works, doesn't she. She looks like such a bossy, smug little minx.
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Jules
Rook
The trombone frightens me
Posts: 45
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Post by Jules on Apr 27, 2008 5:03:58 GMT -5
I think Tenniel's Alice is the only Alice.
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Post by mahendra on Jun 13, 2008 16:02:58 GMT -5
I also love Rackham dearly but his Alice was a bit disengaged … this will interest all Alice fans … an artist, Su Blackwell, is creating some very complex and delicate Alice illustrations, she calls them book-cut sculptures, strongly recommended, start here and scroll down to the "tea Party" and TTLG: www.sublackwell.co.uk/gallery.php?id=1amazing work! cheers! Mahendra |
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