My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #742

My entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #742 for February 1, 2021 may be a bit overdone. The drawing is by Tim Hamilton.

"Idiot! I said in front of the Manet."

These captions were not accepted to the Paris Salon:

"You're supposed to be down in cave art."
"It's been well done before."
"Let me see your artistic license."

 

February 8, 2020 Update:  The Finalists

February 25, 2021 Update:  I voted with Chicago. Lawrence Wood is going for eight wins.

March 1, 2021 Update:  The Winner

 

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Best Burger

At the Boston Burger Company, I was served the best burger I've had in years. During the meal, a steady procession of Red Sox fans made their way on foot towards Fenway Park. The restaurant did not serve dessert, but ice cream was available right next door at J. P. Licks. I'm beginning to suspect that's not a real name...

Boston Burger Company

J. P. Licks

Note:  There's a lot more to see in Boston.

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The Alliterative Jack Ziegler

When my children bring up the contemporary cultural phenomenon Zombie Apocalypse, I point out to them that it is the repetition of the o sounds in both words that gives this particular phrase its resonance and makes it memorable. The repetition of vowel sounds is called assonance and is a type of alliteration.

In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon terrorist bombings, the phrase Boston Strong has come to be used quite often as a rallying cry. It is a noble pairing of words, simple and eloquent, relying on the repetition of the o sound for its power and dignity.

There are two types of alliteration, one with repetition of consonant sounds and one with repetition of vowel sounds. Consonance is obvious to the ear ("March Madness") and can be very catchy. It is also easily overdone, e.g., Spiro Agnew's famous "nattering nabobs of negativism" penned by speechwriter William Safire. Assonance generally is more subtle but can still make phrases remarkably compelling.

Cartoonist Jack Ziegler makes excellent use of assonance with the very memorable words Hamburger Madness. Note the repeated a sounds. These words were first used by Ziegler in a gag cartoon but were just too good not to became a book title. This copy of Hamburger Madness with an original drawing is in my collection. It sounds good, it looks good, and I bet the burger tastes good too. Take that, Zombie Apocalypse!

Jack Ziegler, Hamburger Madness, 1978

Jack Ziegler, Hamburger Madness, 1978
Signed and Inscribed with Original Drawing

Note:  Look, I can't collect everything myself. If you are lucky enough to have a book with an original drawing by a New Yorker artist and would like to share it with the world right here on this very blog, please contact me.

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