Edition No. 17
In this Edition
Arts and Culture
In their latest exhibition, The Challenge, the Grosse Pointe Artists Association challenged artists to try something new. Above: Black Jockey by Angelo Sherman
Creativity Unlocked
A 2013 TED Talk from New Yorker cartoon editor Bob Mankoff gives an inside look at the anatomy of crafting the perfect cartoon caption.
Our American Values
A recent editorial from The Washington Post endorses the work and recommendations of the National Task Force on Election Crises.
The Challenge. Try Something New.
In the spirit of partnership, we are excited to share the latest exhibition from our friends at Grosse Pointe Artists Association. This new exhibition, The Challenge, encouraged artists to try something new as an antidote to the ennui brought on by the pandemic. Through the submitted pieces, artists were able to experiment with new mediums, themes, and styles, many that they had either never tried nor used in years. Chuck Duquet of the Collected Detroit gallery juried the show, which includes 45 pieces of art by 38 different artists. The show is available to view both online and in-person. The new gallery space at The War Memorial is open for pre-scheduled visits from 2-6:30pm on Tuesdays through March 9 and Thursdays, March 4 and 11. Fans of the show are encouraged to join for a discussion with the artists on Friday, February 26, hosted by The Loft Fine Art gallery manager Maria D’Agostini.
Photo courtesy of Jim Klein.
Photo courtesy of Jim Klein.
Anatomy Of A New Yorker Cartoon
While not everyone may be a fan of Saturday morning cartoons, we are pretty sure most can appreciate the cleverness and ingenuity behind a cartoon featured in The New Yorker. Each week, over one-thousand idea drawings (as the team at The New Yorker has named them), are submitted for publication. Of those submissions, only about 17 get selected to be featured. In a 2013 TED Talk, cartoon editor Bob Mankoff shares the anatomy of these famous cartoons: what works, what doesn’t, and why. A talk filled with hilarious and insightful stories, listeners receive a “behind-the-scenes” look at how The New Yorker built their reputation as a cartoon comedy titan.
“The New Yorker demands some cognitive work on your part, and what it demands is what Arthur Koestler, who wrote “The Act of Creation” about the relationship between humor, art, and science, is what’s called bisociation. You have to bring together ideas from different frames of reference, and you have to do it quickly to understand the cartoon. If the different frames of reference don’t come together in about .5 seconds, it’s not funny...”
And for a deeper look into the mind of a cartoon editor, TED challenged Mankoff to share a list of his favorite cartoons published over the years. Not only does Mankoff rank his top eleven, but he provides colorful commentary on what makes each cartoon unique. Click or tap here to view the full list.
And now it is your turn!
Anyone can become a cartoonist for The New Yorker. Given the favorable reception to the cartoons, the magazine hosts a caption contest each week, asking ordinary people to submit their best caption. The New Yorker selects three top finalists each week, and the general public votes on a winner. Finalists have the honor of appearing in both an upcoming online and print issue.
National Task Force on Election Crises
In a Sunday, January 31 editorial, The Washington Post endorsed the work and recommendations of the National Task Force on Election Crises. To avoid another crisis like the one that nearly engulfed our democracy in late 2020 and early 2021, the Task Force recommended twenty-three specific changes in the areas of Election Administration, Legal Reforms, News Networks & Social Media, and concluded with five general or overarching recommendations.
Click or tap here for the full article (subscription may be required).
Inspired Thoughts is a collection of highly curated content that embraces the spirit and purpose of The War Memorial: arts and culture, community enrichment, leadership, and patriotism.
Derived from the notion that learning from others is the key to success, Inspired Thoughts is meant to shine a light on those making a difference in the world around them. This collection features artists, poets, writers, architects, and every thought leader in-between. Inspired Thoughts is the strongest reflection of what The War Memorial stands for, and what we aim to be.
The content featured on Inspired Thoughts is curated by War Memorial leadership — we also look forward to featuring special guest curators in the near future. If you are interested in providing content for Inspired Thoughts, please email our Community Engagement team at bhoste@warmemorial.org.