Tying into the "perverted cartoons" discussion at the end of the KIKI episode, I nominate Terry Zwiggof's CRUMB

[Pooka 4]

Towards the end of the KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE episode, talking about anime, Devin says "I'll never get past the idea that cartoons that are not for kids are a little perverted ... I think about that a lot, that there's a guy with a boner drawing that over and over going 'those are hot tits' ... I would watch a movie about the guy who drew that, rather than watch the movie the guy drew."

 

Well here you have it: Terry Zwiggof's classic 1994 documentary CRUMB about the life and work of pornographic(?) cartoonist Robert Crumb. Easily one of the best documentaries of the decade, and some say one of the best ever.

 

The debate about the morality of pornographic cartoons comes up in the film. One group of critics argues: "It's very irresponsible to put dangerous sexual fantasies on paper and make them available to the public ... it's important for women to immediately run in horror from these images and think that they represent oppression and the power of men to degrade women."

 

Another says: "It is not intended as an apologia for rape or anything like that, but it is an acknowledgement that these kinds of fantasies do dwell in homo-sapiens ... He depicts it in its purest form, the dark side of human nature."

 

In response, Crumb can only say: "Sometimes I think it's a mistake, that I should never have let it out ... but it's in there, and it's very strong, and it ruthlessly forces itself out of me onto the paper, for better or worse ... I have to do it ... Maybe I should just be locked up and my pencils taken away from me. I just don't know."

 

It's also about madness, art as therapy, parenting, American society, and sex.

[ThomasRobertLee 3]

Crumb is one of my favourite docs ever, and would make for great discussion between Amy and Devin. Great suggestion!

[groovy-guy 24]

I love this documentary, Crumb is every bit as great a subject as he is an artist

Idon't know if Devin or Amy have ever expressed interest in R Crumb but if one or both are into his work I think it could be a great episode .. maybe a hard argument for film canonicity but fuck it

[ZZZ 63]

Nope. Ghost World first. Line in the sand. Sorry.

 

Then this though because, this is awesome.

[NathanGordon 1096]

Ghost World is really not all that amazing, especially when compared to its source material. It's a well done coming of age story.

 

Crumb is quite special though, not only for its ostensible subject, but for the story it uncovers through the lense of "biography about counter culture cartoonist".

[WilliamMendoza 3]

Crumb changed my life. I would love to hear it discussed.