We interrupt regular broadcasting once again to bring you a few cartoons from our resident cartoonist…
1.
Cave Art – Created by Don Cheke
Recently, there was a discussion on an art forum that I participate in. It was a discussion about cave art, where the original poster wanted to know what others thought about the subject. It was quite a good discussion, with one gentleman trying desperately to convince the group that “cave art” was misnamed, because he thought that it was not art at all, but rather, signage, for lack of a better term. He suggested that because these ancient people had no language and less intellect than we do as modern people, that they were simply communicating that something of tribal importance needed noting, like “antelope passed here,” or “antelope frequent this area.” Of course, this fellow was the only one in the discussion that thought this way, since all other participants said that it could be both signage and art, noting by example the many elements of art seen in the works, even if it is only the stylish way in which the drawings were laid down. The artists in the forum discussion also felt that the ancients likely had more to them, intellectually speaking, than some people give them credit for, even if they didn’t have verbal or written language at the time. The artists in the discussion could also see that cave “art” could have much to do with spiritual elements, be it with their specific beliefs or rituals. Everyone in the forum discussion could fully understand what the fellow was trying to get across by his beliefs, but all concluded that we could never know what was in the minds of the ancients, but didn’t think that the cave art was, necessarily, “only” signage. I personally thought that all anyone has to do is look at the cave drawings, or cliff drawings, etc. to know there is more to it than what the fellow was hoping everyone else would buy into – that we shouldn’t put anything of ourselves into it when trying to figure it out.
At one point I said, “All your points are well made and make a lot of sense, and I suspect that we could bounce back and forth all day long talking about all the nuances and what they might mean. Although we can deduce what we think the ancients were up to with their cave drawings, I still think it is all just speculation, since we can’t know what was in their minds. Only best guesses, I would say, based on what we know today. I just don’t think we can prove any of it. Is it worth trying, sure, if only to show the depth of the thought processes we have as humans, and to remind ourselves that we don’t know as much as we think we do.
I also posted the image below, which I though made the point well, about how cave “art” is more than signage. That something like the image below must surely be more than that. On the other hand, maybe it is a cave dweller census. 😊 Hummm, but then they would have to be able to count wouldn’t they? LOL!
Cueva de las Manos (Spanish for Cave of the Hands or Cave of Hands) Photo by Wiki User Marianocecowski
Of course, the Loaf cartoon came to mind after seeing the cave of hands image and because of the whole discussion. 😊
2.
MyPad – Created by Don Cheke
As the cave art discussion continued, a number of things came up in the discussion, including hieroglyphics, which the single-minded fellow in the discussion insisted was simple text, with no other reason than leaving information. Again, most participants accepted that hieroglyphics are a form of written language, but the way in which it is/was used can, indeed, be thought of as art. Probably even important to their spirituality and rituals as well.
The cartoon above is my take on carving hieroglyphics into a stone surface, or tablet, as the ancient Egyptians did. In this case, it is a play on the word tablet, like a stone tablet, or the Rosetta Stone, as an example.
By the way, the hieroglyphics in the thought bubble spell out LOAF.
3.
Dressed for the Occasion – Created by Don Cheke
Another discussion, in the artist forum that I participate in, was about whether or not one is still an artist if they make money from their art. The original poster wrote at length about his experience from early years, living as an outcast in poverty, to the change that came over him later in life, when he decided to play the financial games of the art world and came to have bags of cash, due to his efforts. His writing is very erratic, but I took from it that he learned many lessons that he has had to rationalize in order to be able to live with his decisions. Perhaps I am wrong, but that is what I surmised. He wanted to know what other people thought about such things.
In response to the discussion, I replied: I am a simple man and I have learned that a simple life is what suits me the best. I am honest, I work hard, I respect others’ freedoms, and I obey the law. I don’t cheat, I don’t steal, and I sleep well at night. My family and friends respect me. I am not a famous artist, I have never made loads of money, and I have never been an “influencer,” but I am happy to the core. Even when life is hard and I am discouraged or in pain, I know that deep down that core of happiness is still there, I feel it always. Yes, we all need money to live in this world, and although all my work through the years has allowed me to be creative, my artwork has not provided an income, except by way of my artistic skillset which I utilized in all my work. Would I like a gallery to show my work, sure, but I think that is just my ego, the baggage I carry to seek approval, or love, from others. Would I like bags of money? Sure, but that is only to find a sense of security, that I know is fleeting at best. Just ask my friend who has bags of money and was just diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Although I am of this world, and I can appreciate all human experience, I really am not part of it. I live a humble life in my small corner, and just try to be the best person I can. My daughter speaks often of her loving upbringing, and we have a wonderful and loving relationship. Same with me and my wife. That is what matters to me!
The cartoon above, is my attempt to indicate how a simple love-filled life is the one best suited to me. Celebrating family with a “dress-up” theme. 😊 Look how much Loafina has grown since we last saw her. Note that they all got skin-colored pants and shoes for the occasion. Too cold here in Saskatoon to go without pants most of the year. I’m thinking that they are dressed for Halloween. Perhaps it’s pizza Friday, and they are going to eat pizza and have a Flintstone’s TV marathon night. Even the cat is joining in on the fun, dressed as the Great Gazoo! Do you remember Gazoo from the series?
4.
Whale Song – Created by Don Cheke
Do you have strange rituals that you do with your children? Well, I have one that Emma and I share on a regular basis. I’m sure you will think it is strange! Quite often when Denise is on the phone with Emma, I will call out with whale song in the background, loud enough for Emma to hear. Emma will stop her conversation with Denise and call back in a similar fashion which I can catch while Denise holds her phone out facing me. Of course, it’s one of the ways that Emma and I share a moment of love, and it always makes my heart glow. Denise is well aware of our ritual, and just goes along with it. After a short bit of whale song, Emma and Denise continue with their conversation and I go back to whatever I was doing. Although Emma is 35 years old, with children of her own, I still think of her as my little girl, and we still share in the great relationship that started the moment she arrived in our lives. Today, for a changeup, she did bird song for me, and I replied in a similar fashion. 😊 That gives me an idea! Now that the pet ostrich is long gone from the Dubronovich family home, maybe a pet parrot is in the Dubronovich family’s future.
This brings to mind something else. Both Denise and I still use and giggle about mispronounced words from Emma’s younger years, and even those of our extended families and their children. Let’s see, Emma used to call tea something that defies spelling, something like Ttttt with a bit of a rattly sound. She used to call hotdogs, hockdogs. She called the living room, rivroom. There were probably others that escape me at this moment. Our nephew Daniel used to call his sister, her-her, and we still call her that when we talk about her (Rebecca). We see the same with the new generation too. Olivia called bathing suits bayaboo. That’s a great word that I think we will use on occasion. And then there is Madelyn who calls her sister Olivia, Olyla (oh-lie-la). Once she learned to say Olivia and tried it out, Olivia said “don’t call me that, call me Olyla!” Very sweet! Geez, my spellchecker is going nuts with all these new words. 😊
5.
Captain Loaf – Created by Don Cheke
I have mentioned things from Star Trek: The Next Generation many times in my various blog posts. Not too long ago I finished watching the entire series for the fifth time. I had decided to rewatch the series because I knew how many good storylines there were about the human condition, and other relevant life commonalities, within each episode. I knew that watching would help spark some thoughts in my mind, which I could work into blog post articles. It worked well, and if you have read my blogs on a continual basis, you will have encountered some of these thoughts, ideas, and discussions.
Even after all the times I have watched the series, I enjoyed it yet again. I was reaffirmed that this was Gene Roddenberry’s opus on the human condition, and that he certainly was one of the spiritual travelers I talked about when I wrote about such things and people in my various books.
The first time I watched the series would have been on TV when viewers watched it once a week on the old square screen. The second time would have been when I had purchased the series in DVD boxed sets. I remember noticing, while watching the series for the third time, all the things that were wrong with the stage set. This included things like rolling carpet, peeling wallpaper, and dings and dents here and there. Since they were producing these shows once a week, there was probably little time to maintain the set, and with so much traffic there was bound to be some wear and tear that went unnoticed by the producers. It was on the fourth run-through that I wrote down all the wonderful quotes that came up now and again.
One dialog that appeared in Star Trek TNG: The Nth Degree, that resonated with me was something I experienced after I finished writing my first book Along the Way: A Journey of One. In the episode Lt. Reg Barclay is hit by a surge of energy that gives him a boost of confidence, and an IQ off the charts. After the effects cease and the show is near its conclusion, Reg goes back to normal and Deanna Troi and Geordi LaForge contemplate how Reg will deal with the loss.
TROI: You know, almost everyone has a moment in their lives when they exceed their own limits, achieve what seems to be impossible.
LAFORGE: The tricky part is what happens afterwards.
TROI: You almost always feel a sense of loss, but it is possible to carry something of that experience through the rest of your life in ways that you aren’t even aware of now.
As I read Along the Way during my final review, I found it hard to believe that I was the one who actually wrote it. I couldn’t imagine what I would do for an encore, as that saying goes. I discuss this a little more in my blog post titled Broken, if you want to check I out.
If you haven’t watched the series, I highly recommend it. Although the videography is a bit dated, the content is still very relevant. It’s like a good classic, mostly timeless.
In the cartoon above, we see yet again, a moment of bonding between father and son, as they visit the stage set of Star Trek: TNG and Loaf shares his wisdom with his son, Little Loaf.
In my opinion, the journey really is everything!
We now return to regularly scheduled programming….
Donald B. Cheke – November 18, 2024
Nicely written.
Thanks Michael. I always appreciate your support!