If it wasn’t for my parents, I don’t think I would’ve gone through with a Thanksgiving dinner today. Cause when you really think about it, Thanksgiving is a metaphor for celebrating imperialism, genocide, gluttony, and for some, blatant capitalism the next day. For the dysfunctional, we get together with people. We force ourselves to be ‘nice’ while others act like hypocrites for the sake of ‘family.’ On top of that, many gather around a dead bird. Talk about a holiday being more morbid than Halloween.
Then Ben gently reminded me of the things that I should be grateful for. He’s right. There’s plenty I have to be grateful for. Won’t list them here, don’t want to bore you. Besides, there’s always the marathon tradition of Godzilla, King Kong and Mystery Science 3000. While they may no longer be broadcast on television, there’s always DVD. Oh wait, I forgot – Blu-ray. Netflix. Whatever. With that, Ben put things into perspective. So Happy Thanksgiving everyone. From your local friendly misanthrope.
I’ll leave you with two links. One is a poem from my homeboy William S. Burroughs. He’s right up there with Friedrich Nietzsche, Crow (MST3K) and Tartar Sauce the Grumpy Cat:
Before Sandy came along and made everything rather messy. NYCC entrance. Jacob Javits Center, NYC. Oct. 2012. Photo by Michele Witchipoo
Before the mess of Hurricane Sandy and the U.S. Presidential elections, there was the seventh annual New York Comic Con. The NYCC took place at its’ usual spot at the Jacob Javits Center. From 2006 onwards, the NYCC has become the second largest comicbook convention in the United States. It’s second only to the infamous motherload of them all, the San Diego Comic Con.
In 2010, I had a small table at the NYCC over in the Artist Alley section. Perhaps one day I’ll have another table again. For now I’m content walking around with a professional badge around my neck, observing everything.
Monsters. NYCC. Oct. 2012. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.
Mainstream comic book conventions are good for highlighting current pop culture trends. As mentioned in my previous post, Doctor Who and The Avengers were huge among costumers this year.
In the Doctor Who catagory, you had both genders doing the Matt Smith look, complete with fez hats. There were a few David Tennants as well. I did spot someone dressed as the fifth doctor, and one lone Tom Baker clone. Even children got in on the act.
Baby Dalek. NYCC 2012 Photo by Michele Witchipoo
There was a small collective of Harry Potter fans. Of course, no comicbook con is complete without people dressing like their favorite characters. For example, I saw a Spiderman with a pot belly, a Venom with a sizable crotch bulge, one Rorschach, a few Jokers from The Dark Knight era, a few Harlequins, plenty of Deadpools, Blackcats, and who can forget Star Wars. My faith in humanity was briefly ignited for one second thanks to a couple dressed like Dr. Frankfurter from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
My faith in humanity was briefly restored when seeing this couple. Doctor Frankfurter from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. NYCC, Jacob Javits Center, NYC. Oct. 2012. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.
Here’s some photos from the weekend of Oct. 11 – 14th, 2012.
Crowd towards the end on Friday night. NYCC. Jacob Javits Center, NYC. Oct. 2012. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.Women posing for photos. NYCC, Oct. 2012 Photo by Michele Witchipoo.Angel costume. NYCC. NYC Oct. 2012. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.Some men love being underneath women’s feet. NYCC, Oct. 2012. NYC Photo by Michele Witchipoo.Rapper Jean Grae after participating in a panel about Hip Hop and comicbook culture. Also a fellow Love and Rockets comicbook fan. NYCC. NYC. Oct. 2012. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.Wanna smell like a member of The Avengers? That’s actually kind of scary…considering you’re in battle inside sweaty metal armor all day. Ironman cologne. NYCC. NYC. Oct. 2012. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.
Before Hurricane Sandy and the US Presidential Elections, there was the 2012 New York Comic Con.
The New York Comic Con has become an annual event in NYC since 2006, making it the second largest comicbook convention in the United States, next to the San Diego Comic Con.
My ‘Professional’ pass for the 2012 NYCC. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.
I had a small table in Artist Alley back in 2010. Perhaps one day I’ll have another shot at having a table in that section. In the meantime, I was perfectly content to walk around with a professional badge around my neck.
Greetings Earthlings. NYCC Entrance. Oct. 2012. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.
Like all such events, there are trends. Particularly pop culture trends, and comic book conventions are no exception. This year the 11th regeneration of Doctor Who, (currently portrayed by Matt Smith) was in vogue. An interesting development in this craze was there were just as many females dressing up as ‘the doctor’ as there were males. There were more female doctors, as a matter of fact, fez hats and all.
In the autograph section was British actor Peter Davidson, who was the fifth doctor in the ongoing series. Currently in the UK version of Law and Order, he was gracious enough to pose for fan photographs.
Doctor Who fan Ben Herman shakes hands with British actor Peter Davidson, who played the fifth Doctor Who. New York Comic Con 2012. Photo by Michele Witchipoo. Oct. 2012.
One sidenote: his current son-in-law is the tenth doctor, David Tennant.
Besides Doctor Who being in vogue, there were The Avengers (not the American punk band from the late 70s, I meant the comic). There were especially a lot of fans dressed like Captain America, no doubt thanks to the hit movie. All the cosplayers were out in full force, of course. I did see two people in attendance dressed like characters from The Rocky Horror Picture show.
Hip Hop/Rap & comics panel. Went here by accident, but stayed because of some of the righteous stuff that was being said. Reminded me of some of the globalization lectures I heard in Austria this past spring. Fuzzy photo taken by Michele Witchipoo
By accident I walked into a panel discussing Rap and Hip-Hop’s connection with comic-book culture. Instead of turning around, I stayed due to some of the key points being discussed during talks. My eyebrows were raised when female rapper Jean Grae mentioned reading my all-time favorite comic Love and Rockets during her formative years. Afterwards I approached her, informing her that I was also a huge Los Hernandez fan. Well she gave me an unexpected sincere hug, and that converted me into being her fan.
Joel Hodgson from Mystery Science Theater 3000. NYCC 2012. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.
On Sunday there was a pleasant surprise. Joel Hodgson from Mystery Science Theater 3000 from Mystery Science Theater 3000 was signing autographs.
Onto Artist Alley. A major improvement when it came to this department. It was much more organized than in previous years. Therefore it was easier to walk around, checking out assorted artists, ranging from established to the independent. For example, George Perez (Wonder Woman circa 1980s) had a table selling his work.
Here’s some additional photos from this year’s event, which took place at the Jacob Javits Center.
Proof that social media and/or iPhone apps have made it into the heart of pop culture consciousness. Instagram app. NYCC 2012. Photo by Michele WitchipooLove in an elevator. NYCC 2012. Photo by Michele WitchipooFelix The Cat! At the NYCC, you might need more than a bag of tricks. NYCC Oct. 2012. Photo by Michele WitchipooEven at comic cons, it might be a nice day for a white wedding. NYCC 2012. Photo by Michele WitchipooCosplayer. NYCC 2012. Photo by Michele WitchipooFan dressed as the 10th Doctor. As in Doctor Who. NYCC 2012. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.Checking out the activities before extermination. NYCC 2012. Photo by Michele WitchipooOne of these days, I’m gonna dress like a furry for Halloween. But that’s all. No funny business. Just the costume. NYCC 2012 Photo by Michele WitchipooOrko! NYCC 2012 Photo by Michele Witchipoo
Punk/Batcave 80s throwback. First spotted her during in the “Art Takes Times Square” event in June 2012. NYCC 2012 Photo by Michele WitchipooPunk/Batcave 80s throwback. First spotted her during in the “Art Takes Times Square” event in June 2012. I want her skirt. NYCC 2012
It’s been a while since I’ve updated this blog. For those who chose to live inside their self imposed exile inside their caves, a lot has happened. Especially in New York City. There was the New York Comic Con back in early October. Then right before Halloween, there was that bitch called Sandy. As in Hurricane Sandy. If that wasn’t enough, the US had to deal with its presidential elections. Yup. All that good stuff. Hopefully I’ll get to address each event of my blog, one by one. We’ll see.
In the meantime, I’m going to reminiscence a few months back to April 2012. Back when I won my scholarship to study in Austria for a week. When I traveled to the lovely town of Salzburg, I took my manual film camera. Now although digital is much easier to work with, there’s a certain beauty you can only get with film.
Here’s a few examples.
On the grounds of Schloss Leopoldskron in Salzburg, Austria. Taken by Michele Witchipoo, April 2012. Manual black and white film.
During the stay at Schloss Leopoldskron for the Salzburg Global Seminar, the students took a day trip to Munich, Germany. A visit to the Dachau concentration camp. Photo by Michele Witchipoo. April 2012. Manual black and white film.
Another photo from the Dachau concentration camp. April 2012. Manual black and white Kodak film. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.
Last day in Salzburg. The students were given a free day to explore the town. Salzburg is known for a few things. The architecture, for example. It ranges from Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical modernism and post-war modernism, as well as Contemporary. Mostly it’s where the story of “The Sound of Music” is based. Also the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Here’s a shot of people just walking through the square.
April 2012. Manual black and white Kodak film.
Photo by Michele Witchipoo.
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