the other half:

In the first panel, SG sees TG playing on the computer and is disappointed. SG puts a lot of value in the idea of “making things,” specifically “art,” and thinks TG is just wasting their time

So he asks them if they wouldn’t rather be “making something” instead of just playing games and listening to music, implying that TG isn’t doing anything worthwhile or creative with their time

But TG replies that “interpreting is generative,” meaning that even if they spend their time just doing fun stuff, the mere act of enjoying something is creating an experience and an interpretation. Talking about something, dancing to music or sharing a piece of art with your friends IS “making something,” and each of those can be worthwhile and artistic.

SG leaves, complaining he “can’t be an auteur of [interpretation].” Auteur is a movie term that refers to a filmmaker with artistic control and vision enough to be considered essentially the singular creator of the resulting work of art. Turns out, SG doesn’t just want to “make things,” he wants to make things he and others see as “important.” He wants to make art not for the sake of art, but for the sake of being recognized and praised for his art.

This comic really speaks to elitism within the artistic community, the idea that art needs to meet certain standards to be considered art. SG’s viewpoint is really traditionalist, that art need to be “approved” and validated in order to be considered “really art;” while TG recognizes that art can be as little as just talking about what you love.

Notice how the wife is in the background waving for help before she plans to toss her son into the river, she wishes the husband would look at her, but the husband only cares for MEAT– pay attention to these themes for they will show up later.

wife is still in the background and MEAT is still in the foreground, but she is happy this time in her virginal white dress and all is right with the world. There son has yet to be tossed into the river.

TWO children now with a girl child learning to dispense not only MEAT but alcohol, the wife is in the background, but her smile is frozen and stiff on her face. She knows what the raggedy anne doll at the bottom knows.

everyone is so fucking HYPED for this new meat STICK– no longer limited to the round, finite circle. The father is the most excited of all. Watch as friend Tommy enters the scene from the background and the wife is now wearing pink instead of white. She will never return to her perfect unknowing ways.

1950s gay fucking panic. the circular meat is burning. the wife is wearing red. Jimmy and Tommy are going to go on a “fishing trip” and he won’t look her in the eye when they return. The other wife in white lives in ignorance, but not for long as DOUBT enters her expression.

the wife has finally taken center stage. She sets the table without looking at her husband who stands guiltily with his weird magic stick in the background. The daughter rushes away from her brother who has emerged from the river to hover across the ground and seek vengeance.

sleep

sleep

and sleep

think

plan

…

…

execute