Spring Break
Don't let the ''other'' OSU get the better of us
Scott Dennis
Issue date: 11/3/09 Section: Forum
It's never fun to be upstaged. It's even worse when the one wrecking your self-esteem has the same acronym as you. Ohio State University (known in some circles as the "other" OSU) has built a better mousetrap that surpasses even our edible silverware in terms of sheer greatness.
This, of course, will not do.
Ohio State's vicious upstaging comes in the form of a museum, of all things. "But wait," you say, "Museums are boring and dusty. How could this be better than our secret library in Weatherford?" While that is a good point, this was no ordinary library.
You won't find ancient artifacts (a Sumerian plate), ancient artworks (a drawing of a horse - on a plate!), or dumb old dinosaur bones here. This museum, you see, is devoted to a single subject: cartoons.
The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum is exactly what it sounds like. Having collected artwork from the likes of Will Eisner ("The Spirit"), Bill Waterson ("Calvin and Hobbes"), and Jim Borgman ("Zits"), the museum is now the "largest and most comprehensive academic research facility documenting and displaying printed cartoon art."
This is all stunning enough, but on Nov. 3 they will host a lecture and screening of the art and life of animation pioneer Winsor McCay. McCay, in case you don't know, is the man widely credited as the first to create an animated character that expressed emotion.
As part of the museum's exhibit they will actually recreate, in full scale, McCay's vaudeville routine, wherein he would stand in front of a theater screen and interact with his animated dinosaur companion, Gertie. In this case, the man playing Winsor's role will be Academy Award-winning animator and historian John Canemaker.
Ohio State has seen our secret tunnels and hidden libraries, and raised us an incredible cartoon museum and exhibition.
In this game of one-upmanship our next move is critical. Clearly we must create something stupendous and jaw-dropping - but what?
This, of course, will not do.
Ohio State's vicious upstaging comes in the form of a museum, of all things. "But wait," you say, "Museums are boring and dusty. How could this be better than our secret library in Weatherford?" While that is a good point, this was no ordinary library.
You won't find ancient artifacts (a Sumerian plate), ancient artworks (a drawing of a horse - on a plate!), or dumb old dinosaur bones here. This museum, you see, is devoted to a single subject: cartoons.
The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum is exactly what it sounds like. Having collected artwork from the likes of Will Eisner ("The Spirit"), Bill Waterson ("Calvin and Hobbes"), and Jim Borgman ("Zits"), the museum is now the "largest and most comprehensive academic research facility documenting and displaying printed cartoon art."
This is all stunning enough, but on Nov. 3 they will host a lecture and screening of the art and life of animation pioneer Winsor McCay. McCay, in case you don't know, is the man widely credited as the first to create an animated character that expressed emotion.
As part of the museum's exhibit they will actually recreate, in full scale, McCay's vaudeville routine, wherein he would stand in front of a theater screen and interact with his animated dinosaur companion, Gertie. In this case, the man playing Winsor's role will be Academy Award-winning animator and historian John Canemaker.
Ohio State has seen our secret tunnels and hidden libraries, and raised us an incredible cartoon museum and exhibition.
In this game of one-upmanship our next move is critical. Clearly we must create something stupendous and jaw-dropping - but what?
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