Saturday, July 26, 2008

In 1979, Elly Wasn't Perfect, But I Understand

Today's For Better or For Worse contains a number of elements showing why the strip grew in popularity:

1. The lead character is not perfect. Elly Patterson is presented as a little nutty when something goes wrong, and the reader is allowed to see how the nuttiness grew. In fact, watching the progression from worry that is reasonable to unreasonable is a classic example of how "Show and not Tell" story-telling works. The reader may think Elly is a little crazy for drawing the conclusions she draws, but they can understand it. Perhaps they can even empathize with it.

2. Background action is included to good effect. Elly Patterson is shown working herself up into a frenzy but also we have a panel of little Elizabeth emptying her cup onto the floor without any reaction from Elly. This helps to illustrate the state Elly has gotten herself in. One of the things that I have realized from examining several of these reprint strips carefully over the last year, is that Lynn Johnston used to regularly include background action which complemented the point of the story and rewarded the reader who took the time to look at the strip instead of rushing through it to the punchline.

3. An apple-shaped clock. Here is something in the background which adds to the characterization of the Patterson family without making a big deal about it. It says that Elly Patterson is the type of person who would have an apple-shaped clock openly displayed in her house. I would take this over an elaborately drawn background any day, because it says more to me about Elly, than generic tables and chairs drawn with a straight edge ever will.

4. A story told with a physical gesture. Elly looks at the apple-shaped clock to determine that John is late, but then she also checks the time on the watch on her arm as confirmation. Ultimately this is going to be a story about Elly's paranoia, and right off the bat, we see Elly second guess her clock just before she is about to second guess John. That is one of the little points as an artist which really makes a strip for me.

As for why this strip was chosen for reprint, I am afraid the hint of John being unfaithful is probably the cause. Lynn Johnston has done this before and even confessed in an article in the Chicago Tribune her motivation for picking an "Elly irrationally assumes John is unfaithful" strip to reprint was because of her divorce. I had hoped after a year of this, we would see signs she was getting better (like reprinting some of the happy strips from 1979); but sadly, this is not the case.

6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

howard,

Background action is included to good effect. Elly Patterson is shown working herself up into a frenzy but also we have a panel of little Elizabeth emptying her cup onto the floor without any reaction from Elly.

This is another way in which Show-don't-tell storytelling is superior. It reminds us that despite everything, the concerns of a particular Patterson aren't all-important. Lizzie and Mike know something is wrong but that something has nothing to do with them. All they're taking away from this is that Elly just yells for no reason.

2:55 AM  
Blogger April Patterson said...

FYI, this strip originally ran on August 24, 1980. (More Than a Month of Sundays includes dates. :) )

I agree about being able to see the actual progression of thought that leads to the irrational outburst. These days, I suppose the whole event would have been recounted to Connie over coffee.

6:52 AM  
Blogger howard said...

dreadedcandiru2,

It reminds us that despite everything, the concerns of a particular Patterson aren't all-important.

True. 3 characters appear and we can see the reactions of all 3. I am not sure when Lynn got into the mode of showing only one person and putting the other persons in silhouette or showing only the back of their head, but it has been to the detriment of her story-telling.

8:14 AM  
Blogger howard said...

aprilp_katje,

These days, I suppose the whole event would have been recounted to Connie over coffee.

Or we would just go from being late to shrieking, as Elly did when April pointed out her curtains needed to be replaced and Elly responded with a shriek.

8:21 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

howard,

I am not sure when Lynn got into the mode of showing only one person and putting the other persons in silhouette or showing only the back of their head, but it has been to the detriment of her story-telling.

That's for sure. It gives you the impression that the Patterson's world is narrower and more closed in than it used to be. Instead of them being look upon as just another family with average hopes and dreams, they look like the only people who matter in a sea of faceless drones.

9:18 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It says that Elly Patterson is the type of person who would have an apple-shaped clock openly displayed in her house.

Okay, this is me showing my age, but in the 70s, EVERYONE had apple-shaped clocks. Like polyester and naugahyde, they were the in thing. Lynn likes to draw from models--she may well have had one in her own kitchen.

As for why this strip was chosen for reprint, I am afraid the hint of John being unfaithful is probably the cause. Lynn Johnston has done this before and even confessed in an article in the Chicago Tribune her motivation for picking an "Elly irrationally assumes John is unfaithful" strip to reprint was because of her divorce. I had hoped after a year of this, we would see signs she was getting better (like reprinting some of the happy strips from 1979); but sadly, this is not the case.

It would be nice if Lynn could completely separate her personal life from her professional life, but she's only human. Divorce can be devastating, particularly if you didn't see if coming and when infidelity is involved. My mother went through the same thing 10 years ago. After a year of watching her struggle to come to terms with it, I often wished she'd just get over it too. Unfortunately, it takes as long as it's going to take, and there's not a whole lot you can do about it.

I think it's likely that Lynn has been battling at least some level of depression for the past year. Perhaps that's why her strips haven't been "inspired" lately.

9:46 AM  

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