Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT
WCDT 2897 - 2901 (16-20 February 2015)
Aziraphale:
--- Quote from: eschaton on 18 Feb 2015, 08:35 ---Once again, I guess I had a totally different reaction to this comic than most people. I found it basically a worthless throwaway that doesn't advance plot or characterization.
It's odd, because Jeph said he was moving away from dialogue-heavy strips. Marten gets a ton of dialogue in this strip. But it's basically just a long-winded way of saying "I'm really into you." The strip does not seriously have exposition about Marten's feelings more broadly. He could have said he was exposed to a lot of trans people through his mother as a child, and he never thought about it seriously - until he met Claire and it all changed. Because he sees her as a person first - a person he's crazy about. Instead he talks mush.
This just feels like a retread of their first talk. Claire asks if he's okay, Marten reassures her, and she is beaming at the end. I'm immune to Marten/Claire squee, but I can't even see what's squee worthy in this strip. It's frankly the lamest I've seen in months.
--- End quote ---
For one thing, a general move away from dialogue-heavy strips doesn't mean that you're going to necessarily abandon them altogether. The art (form) follows, or acts in service to, the story (function). If something can be said with very little dialogue, or none at all, it will (like the strip where Faye's fading in and out of consciousness). If something needs to be told rather than shown, it will be (hence today's talky strip).
Which obliquely leads to your other point. People who have insecurity (or any number of other issues) don't have them constantly. I'm pretty sure that Claire doesn't live under a constant, crushing mountain of self- (or Marten-) doubt, and for him to address it when it's not an issue would be borderline douche-y. But when someone has a valid concern, you address it. She brought it up, he said what needed to be said, she was reassured. That's how it goes sometimes.
It also addresses Isyrion's point:
--- Quote from: Isyrion on 18 Feb 2015, 09:11 ---I just thought of this, the fact that Claire may cause some issues between Marten and Claire. Not because Marten has issues with Claire being trans but Claire, this being her first boyfriend, subconsciously thinking Marten is just humoring her. So far Claire is approaching this right by talking out her concerns, hopefully that continues. (The reason this came to me is one of my best friends is trans and she said she ended up screwing up a good relationship due to worrying about her partner being weirded out by her being trans despite him repeatedly tell her he was cool with it. Eventually the constant worrying drove a wedge between them.)
BTW I think they are a cute couple so I hope this works they both deserve happiness.
--- End quote ---
I've kinda been there (was dating someone biracial who, for some reason, thought that I was weirded out by the whole thing, even though A: I wasn't and said as much, and B: I'd asked her out in the first place, which isn't something I'd do if I were iffy about someone). I've been on the other side of that situation as well, thinking that something about me was a bigger deal to someone than it was, or thinking that they were a lot less into the relationship than they turned out to be. Communication (as they're doing now) and trust (which they've got, and seem to have been building on) go a really long way.
pwhodges:
--- Quote from: cesariojpn on 18 Feb 2015, 13:40 ---But the strip can't escape the unsightly issues that come with such things. It's better to educate than just sweep it under the rug.
--- End quote ---
Nasty though the world is, it is still actually not all nasty. You seem to be denying the validity of representing the possibility of coming across some behaviour that's not totally awful. It may not be typical; but being reminded that there are things better than the typical is also educational and may be encouraging.
Endellion:
--- Quote from: bhtooefr on 18 Feb 2015, 12:53 ---Prepare forum... prepare forum for ludicrous squee! Fasten all seatbelts, seal all entrances and exits, close all shops in the mall, cancel the three ring circus, secure all animals in the zoo!
--- End quote ---
It's going to go into plaid.
Dalillama:
--- Quote from: Half Empty Coffee Cup on 18 Feb 2015, 14:52 ---
--- Quote from: brew on 18 Feb 2015, 12:57 ---
--- Quote from: DillyDolly on 18 Feb 2015, 12:08 ---
I'm loving how "boring" and "normal" Marten's and Claire's relationship is. Sometimes that's just how it goes down in real life—regardless of the type of people involved.
--- End quote ---
I don't mind how the relationship is, but I don't like strips being written to show this. You could take away these strips and we'd still get it. It just feels like a waste.
--- End quote ---
Wrong. These strips could be taken away and you would still get it. Unfortunately, idiots abound.
--- End quote ---
And Some Anvils Need To Be Dropped (Warning, TVTropes link)
--- Quote from: pwhodges on 18 Feb 2015, 15:08 ---
Nasty though the world is, it is still actually not all nasty. You seem to be denying the validity of representing the possibility of coming across some behaviour that's not totally awful. It may not be typical; but being reminded that there are things better than the typical is also educational and may be encouraging.
--- End quote ---
Also, this.
Rghfrgl:
--- Quote from: BenRG on 18 Feb 2015, 12:33 ---This entry from Jeph's Twitter feed is probably not good news for everyone, based on the comments I've seen (especially this evening).
--- End quote ---
The twist is we're cutting away to Jimbo doing cute things.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version