Have you voted?
Good.
Now check out this deep analysis from Robert:
Doug Skinner’s vision reflects Mark’s self-image brilliantly, looking from the inside out, so to speak. The Dreamland model, on the other hand, depicts more of an outside-looking-in vantage point; an impartial observer’s perception, one might say.
Both models are excellent, each depicting a view from a distinct vantage point, and with impressive insight and clarity. However, I suppose the model one selects as the most accurate tells us more about the observer than the observed. It says more about the degree to which that person senses Mark’s self-image (or cares to) than it does about which model best reflects reality.
I selected the Dreamland model because the vantage point from which I choose to view Mark is somewhere in the neighborhood of that which the Dreamland crew shares. It’s a view shared by those who either by circumstance or by choice have maintained a certain distance from Mark, emotionally and otherwise.
I am particularly struck by the look of helplessness in those offset eyes, looking permanently stunned and simple.
The thin frame seems to me less flattery than the depiction of frailty.
14 Comments
As of right now, there are 9 votes and it’s about even between the 2… My hope was that an overwhelming majority of people would see me as the angelic man-boy, and not the sweaty lump of flesh, but I guess that’s not the case.
It was 60/40 before. Now it’s 50/50.
How do I vote?
I see a little poll under the photos. You might have to have Flash to see it, though. So far 31 people have voted, so it’s working for some.
Doug Skinner’s vision reflects Mark’s self-image brilliantly, looking from the inside out, so to speak. The Dreamland model, on the other hand, depicts more of an outside-looking-in vantage point; an impartial observer’s perception, one might say.
Both models are excellent, each depicting a view from a distinct vantage point, and with impressive insight and clarity. However, I suppose the model one selects as the most accurate tells us more about the observer than the observed. It says more about the degree to which that person senses Mark’s self-image (or cares to) than it does about which model best reflects reality.
I selected the Dreamland model because the vantage point from which I choose to view Mark is somewhere in the neighborhood of that which the Dreamland crew shares. It’s a view shared by those who either by circumstance or by choice have maintained a certain distance from Mark, emotionally and otherwise.
I am particularly struck by the look of helplessness in those offset eyes, looking permanently stunned and simple.
The thin frame seems to me less flattery than the depiction of frailty.
That’s some heavy analysis, Robert. I wish I’d read it before I voted. I picked the one where he’s half pig.
I’ve got to move your analysis over to the front, Robert. As Damn said, it’s some heavy shit.
And thanks to the 59 of you who voted in this, our first poll.
If you have ideas for further polls, let me know.
We were sitting next to each other at a party — the same one where we kept talking about a groundhog fest — and somehow you got on a one-man tangent about vampire clams. I think you even wrote it on a napkin, you seemed very pleased with yourself for the idea. Anyway, you tickled your fingers up my right arm (you were seated at my right), to imitate a vampire clam traveling up my arm to bite me. Well, I am not what you would call a “touch” sort of person in the first place, and I didn’t know you personally well enough to attain that level of familiarity… Especially because you’re supposed to be all socially anxious or OCD or whatever. I was taken aback by how easily and innocently you touched me like that.
What I’m trying to say is that the puppet hands give me that same deer-in-the-headlights, creeped-out feeling.
Somehow, puppet Mark seems like he should be narrating “This American Life” on public radio.
I voted for the fat one, because he is much cooler.
The puppet just looks like a little kid. Always looking up at you, underfoot, wanting you to recognize how cute he is.
I prefer fat, greasy, lumpy, grown people to attention-starved youngsters.
I must point out that my picture does not show Mark as himself, but in the role of “Jack Perkins,” a zealous nudist, in a storyboard for a proposed sitcom tailored to Mark’s talents. The puppet probably comes closer to showing the real, non-fictional Mark. What does the puppet Mark do in the show, by the way?
Doug, I think you just don’t want to acknowledge how well you know Mark. None of us do. The zealous nudist thing sounds right-on if you ask me, but like the rest of you, I don’t want to talk about it.
Now, if we can get somebody from Dreamland to deny that their Mark puppet is an accurate depiction and say the Skinner one is.
Neither are disgusting enough.
I asked my mom, who is in an assisted living complex, which one looked the most like you. She pointed to the one on the left and said “pig”.