Arts & Entertainment
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Courtesy of Pantheon Books
Ever Meulen's art from Raw #2
Reading
Raw
By Charles
Lieurance
“Read Yourself Raw,” edited
by Art Spiegelman and Francoise
Mouly, Pantheon Books, $14.95.
In the early part of this
century, a small group of
artists, theorists and writ
ers, far to the left of the surrealists
and more committed to absurdity
than the absurdists, began produc
ing a body of works that, although
obscure and ignored by all but a
few academically cloistered ped
ants, has had a lasting effect on
every underground cultural move
ment of the past 65 years.
The movement these artists
spawned was called Dadaand their
chief theorist, Tristan Tzara, is
sued manifesto after manifesto
proclaiming the goals of the move
ment: denial of form, reality, his
tory and Dada itself. Most of Dada
was as the name implies: theoreti
cally substantiated gobbledygook
buoyed by pedantic over-intcllec
tualization.
iviucn oi ii, nowevcr, grasped
the absurd lone of this century, the
mind-numbing effects of industri
alism, urban sprawl, hyper-media
and hyper-capitalism, more appro
priately, humanely and, above all
else, humorously, than any other
modem cultural movement.
Most critically acclaimed TV
sitcoms — “Cheers,” “Buffalo
Bill,’’“Taxi,”etc.—contain some
elements of Dada. And under
ground comics, comics for and by
sophisticated adults, have always
looked to Dada as a source of inspi
ration.
The magazine “Raw,” first
published hy Art Spiegel man and
Francoise Mouly in July 1980 is,
perhaps, Dada’s most respected
heir. “Raw’s” First three pioneer
ing issues have been reprinted in
one cover and titled “Read Your
self Raw.” The book’s introduc
tion is by Spiegclman, whose
graphic novel “Maus: A
Survivor’s Tale” has been ac
claimed by some critics as a piece
of modem literature. The first
three issues feature work by
“Zippy” creator Bill Griffith; Josh
and Drew Friedman (published
frequently in National Lampoon);
and Spanish furniture, shoes and
textiles designer Mariscal among
many others. The graphic short
stories range from bizarre blends
of James Cain and Franz Kafka to
the childlike punk ruminations of
Gary Pantcr.
Spiegclman, in the book’s in
troduction, delivers a Tzara-esque
manifesto for “Raw”:
“Underground comics had of
fered something really new. com
ics by adults, for adults; comics
that weren’t under any obligation
to be funny, or escapist pulp;
comics unsclf-consciously rede
fining what comics should be, by
smashing formal and stylistic, as
well as cultural and political ta
boos. At last, there was a comics
avant-garde.”
Inside there are several nods to
the Dada spirit, including a story
by French playwright Alfred Jarry,
w ho created one of the best-known
Dada characters: Pere Ubu. Ubu
was featured in three Jarry plays.
Jarry has since become a promi
nent cult figure for underground
and alternative comics, novels and
music.
Raw is suii piioiiMicu crimin
ally and is available at Trade-a
Tapc here in Lincoln. As an added
bonus, this repackaging of “Raw”
includes Mark Beyer’s “Terrors of
the City” detachable color trading
cards and Spiegclman’s full-color
mini-comic “Two-Fisted Paint
ers.” The color covers of the first
three issues arc also intact.
The comics here will hold little
interest for those whose enjoyment
of comics stops with “Garfield”;
they are for those interested in a
thriving, if not monetarily prosper
ous, comic underground. Unfortu
nately, the business of making
comics as respectable as they are in
Europe and Japan has shoved
many of these artists further into
obscurity. Most of the comics in
“Raw” have qualities usually only
associated with literature — a
demanding sense of style, substan
tive subject matter that is often
distasteful for the squeamish, a
sense of historical and political
perspective, and an unabashed
knowledge of cult cultural move
ments like Dada, absurdism and
surrealism.
As the cover of “Read Yourself
Raw” promises, this is a coffee
table book for “damned intellectu
als.”
Shakespeare
at the Bowl
From Staff Reports
The Ranch Bowl Entertainment
Center (1606 S. 72nd St.) in Omaha,
which started booking alternative
bands last semester, will start off the
new year with a performance by the
Minneapolis band Trip Shakespeare
tonight.
Trip Shakespeare released an al
bum this year called “Apple Head
Man” on Gark Records. The band
features a stand-up drummer.
The show begins at 9 p.m. and
admission cost is $2. The first draw of
beer is free with a ticket.
The ex-bass player for the Violent
Femmes, Bryan Richie, will perform
at the Ranch Bowl with Blind Idiot
God on Jan. 26.
Oklahoma’s Flaming Lips will
perform Feb. 1 with Doctor’s Mob.
Guadalcanal Diary will return to
the venue on Feb. 14.
The Ranch Bowl is in the process
of booking Huskcr Du, John Calc, and
Guns and Roses, according to owner
Malt Markcl.
I
UnlbadVteM
February 17, 1988 is the Deadline!
All applications for the Student Health and Accident
Insurance must be received by February 17, 1988.
i
Brochures and information are available at:
UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTER
or call 472-7437
Check these points:
• Am I still eligible for coverage under my parent’s plan?
A. Is there an age limit? Most policies limit the age for
dependent coverage to age 23.
B. Are you thinking of marriage? Most policies exclude a
dependent after he becomes married.
• Have I declared financial independence from my
parents by receiving financial aid. and no longer
n? eligible as a dependent under their plan?
J • Would a medical emergency deplete funds set
set aside for my education?
