Art Spiegleman Lecture

[Nicole R]

This pains me to say, but I was seriously disappointed in the lecture last night. First of all, it was supposed to be 50 minutes and he spoke for 90. And, in an effort to squeeze in as much as possible, he spoke extremely fast. So fast that I had had trouble understanding him at points, and I am a fast listener.

If I would have been more engaged by the lecture, I wouldn't have minded that he went over by 40 minutes. But I wasn't engaged. I was hoping he would speak about his life and his experiences, but it was a history lecture on the advent and evolution of comic books/graphic novels.

I did learn some interesting things about framing comics and common themes through illustration, but I felt like I was in a college classroom listening to a professor speak about icons in the field as opposed to listening TO the icon/Pulitzer Prize winning author/prolific New Yorker cover designer. He didn't even talk about his 9/11 New Yorker cover.

I felt like it was too detached, too clinical, too academic. Bummer.

[Jen]

That's too bad although now I feel ok about missing it.

[Nicole R]

Jen wrote: "That's too bad although now I feel ok about missing it."

I would have felt personally bad if you would have come as I was the one who invited you.

[Anita]

Nicole R wrote: "This pains me to say, but I was seriously disappointed in the lecture last night. First of all, it was supposed to be 50 minutes and he spoke for 90. And, in an effort to squeeze in as much as poss..."

Oh darn!

It is interesting because I attend a Speaker Series here in Baltimore, and each year we get to vote on who attends. And they vet the people super carefully for great speakers (because a subscription is very expensive) . . .and I don't think Spiegelman has ever been an option we could vote for. I think I now see why . . .

What a shame. I really thought he would be excellent.

[Nicole R]

I will say that he pulled a huge crowd! It was standing room only. But, when he went over the 60 minute mark some people up and left. I thought that was a bit rude, he wasn't that bad, but it also should have been a signal to him to wrap it up.

[LibraryCin]

Oh, that's disappointing. :-(

[Regina Lindsey]

Awwww! I'm so sorry; that's thoroughly disappointing. I've been fortunate with all of the speakers I've attended (including one with you). He has ample material to make his talk an awesome presentation. Too bad he chose not to take full advantage of the opportunity before him!