SFM #24 - Alive and kicking

[Sasanishiki]

In Mark's absence (on holiday I believe) I'll announce that Issue #24 is up and running. You'll find lots of the usual insight and interesting perspectives so head over to the link at the foot of this page (actually every page on SF) to take it all in.

You'll find articles on yokozuna Asahifuji, koten-zumo (a style peculiar to a set of islands off the coast of shimane prefecture), amateur sumo, a wrap-up of the last basho and more. There is an interview with Nakayama oyakata, a look at Sadogatake-beya, and Eric Blair weighs in to give his thoughts on our very own Sumo Forum.

As ever, most pages are in English, Spanish German and French for our various readers.

[Asashosakari]

an interview with Nakayama oyakata

I was already wondering about that yesterday - who? (Holiday feeling...) There are only Nakadachi, Nakagawa and Nakamura...

[Kintamayama]

Interesting article by Eric Blair. I totally, categorically disagree with the gist of everything he writes, especially this time around. Comparing SF to the SML (wealth of information-wise and other-wise..) is a bit over the top, I say. I also must add we are far from breathing our last breath in the near future.

But forget about all that - I recommend reading the funnies. Especially the funny funnies.

RESOUNDING Boo to Eric Blair.

Edited April 28, 2009 by Kintamayama

[Sasanishiki]

an interview with Nakayama oyakata

I was already wondering about that yesterday - who? (Holiday feeling...) There are only Nakadachi, Nakagawa and Nakamura...

Not sure, just going on what was on the SFM top page. I'd guess that it is Nakamura beause he has his own heya.

[Naganoyama]

Sasanishiki is right and it should be Nakamura. Not sure how that one got through!

[Tony]

Or, it would be Oguruma oyakata, his real name is Nakayama.

Edited April 29, 2009 by Tony

[Treblemaker]

I recommend reading the funnies. Especially the funny funnies.

Ok, that was just painful. I clicked on the "funnies" and started the slideshow of Benny's cartoons...

I think for a REAL good laugh, one should read Egyptian pictoglyphs inside any pyramid, or for a REAL knee-slapper, try out the Bayeau Tapistry. Or maybe Peruvian cliff drawings...

Sorry, Benny, but that stuff is neither funny nor art-worthy. It isn't even cartoonish. It's amateurish.

Totally unrecognizable faces with the same eyes and body shapes mixed with a childish script.

(The horse, however, was well done and instantly recognizable.)

(Did I mention that I stopped at the 11th slide, at which point I was already yelling at my monitor?)

Edited April 30, 2009 by Treblemaker

[Jakusotsu]

(Did I mention that I stopped at the 11th slide, at which point I was already yelling at my monitor?)

Wow, you got patience! I only made it to the third. (Sign of disapproval...)

[Sokkenaiyama]

I'm really curious who 'Eric' thinks this new competition for the Sumoforum is, just the way Sumoforum was for the SML. Totally ridiculous piece.

P.S. Mark, be a man and stop hiding behind that pseudonym, will you?

[Gusoyama]

Interesting article by Eric Blair. I totally, categorically disagree with the gist of everything he writes, especially this time around. Comparing SF to the SML (wealth of information-wise and other-wise..) is a bit over the top, I say. I also must add we are far from breathing our last breath in the near future.

But forget about all that - I recommend reading the funnies. Especially the funny funnies.

RESOUNDING Boo to Eric Blair.

Its the Internet equivalent of a crazy on the corner with a "The World is Coming to an End" sign. Treat it as such.

[bennyloh]

I recommend reading the funnies. Especially the funny funnies.

Ok, that was just painful. I clicked on the "funnies" and started the slideshow of Benny's cartoons...

I think for a REAL good laugh, one should read Egyptian pictoglyphs inside any pyramid, or for a REAL knee-slapper, try out the Bayeau Tapistry. Or maybe Peruvian cliff drawings...

Sorry, Benny, but that stuff is neither funny nor art-worthy. It isn't even cartoonish. It's amateurish.

Totally unrecognizable faces with the same eyes and body shapes mixed with a childish script.

(The horse, however, was well done and instantly recognizable.)

(Did I mention that I stopped at the 11th slide, at which point I was already yelling at my monitor?)

Totally unrecognizable faces with the same eyes and body shapes mixed with a childish script.

But why are you guys, 8429 swine fever included, and quite a number at sumotalk are so interested in setting new ground rules for cartooning. And why can't you guys just produce your good cartoons here so we can all learn from? I have asked so many times but I get a stereotyped "I don't do cartoons, why should I want to know about cartoons?" I challenge you on this. No balls? Sorry, Benny, but that stuff is neither funny nor art-worthy. It isn't even cartoonish. It's amateurish.

Totally unrecognizable faces with the same eyes and body shapes mixed with a childish script.Sweet Treblemaker?

I am reproducing a post from another site:

Newbie

*

Posts: 6

Re: Buckton Or Blair

[Asashosakari]

That's no swine in my avatar.

[Naganoyama]

Soken photo bonanza here.

[Gusoyama]

stuff clipped for brevity

For those of you who do not want to wade through that post, Benny's basic gist is that his sumo cartoons are akin to political cartoons in the newspapers. Take that as you will.

[Treblemaker]

Benny,

You're a cartoonist. Granted.

Those are cartoons. Granted.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Art is intended for the viewer to form their own opinion. The same goes for music, dance, sports, anything observed.

If one who creates art is reluctant to accept other's views of it - good or bad - then he's in the wrong business. A good chef accepts the fact that his dishes are not to all tastes, and adjusts accordingly. He finds ways to please his customers. Or he gets out of the kitchen. He doesn't go on a rant against people who find his food unacceptabe. It only points to his ineptness.

An artist has to, at some point, come to grips with the fact that his creations might not be accepted by some people. That's just the way it is.

So, yes, you are a cartoonist who creates cartoons. I am a viewer (knowledgeable or not, makes no difference) who finds that they don't work for me in any way. To further have them published in what is considered a magazine of a certain stature for sumo means that the artwork should be up to that stature. I find them not to be. In fact, I find that the inclusion of the cartoons somewhat lessens the overall essence of the magazine. But that's my opinion and I'm entitled to it.

If you give to the public through your artwork, and you're unable to accept what that public gives you back, good or bad, I suggest that you get out of the business until you find the maturity to benefit from the criticism, and upgrade what is, I think, your chosen profession.

[Kuroyama]

Your average amusement park caricature artist does a better job of capturing a subject's essential features than this Loh person. The work doesn't even rise to the level of a hack, and it's not funny.