I see it a different way; a Kafkaesque tale in which Gargamel has eaten all the Smurfs and he's left feeling sullen and unfulfilled after having spent so many years of his life trying to capture Smurfs. The thrill of the chase is gone. Sometimes wanting something is better than actually having it. And all of that.
An actual EPIC about Gargamel? In which we plumb the depths of his character and journey through life? Oh, nevermind, he means "epic" as an adjective for "cool."
"How in god's name can 'Smurf' be noun, verb, adjective, adverb, occupy every case and genetive and apply to both past and present situationals?! It's like an entire language made of 'The'!"
(okay, that's obviously Gargamel channeling me, but I think he'd agree, probably. Rhymes with tree)
"Epic" has become the internet age equivalent of "groovy," "far out," "bad," and yes, "cool." Personally, I only use the adjective form for something I truly do find epic.
Ex: An actual Lantern Corps. ring appearing before me with a message that I am the new defender of sector 2814. Or, failing that, seeing someone do something unbelievable.
Language is living - words and meanings change. In fact, it's only these modern contexts that have salvaged certain words - it's not like people but academics were using "epic" and the like (well, maybe Hollywood) before it got folded into hipster speak. Personally I try to make a game of it - grab literally any scientific term of size and use it at will.
I see this more as a "Garfield without Garfield" thing...the exploration of the tragic figure of Gargamel as a psychotic, wherein the Smurfs are all figments of imagination.
Yeah, Scruples. It was in the later seasons when they dropped the knight and squire guys that helped the Smurfs and introduced a whole bunch of new smurfs, like the Smurf kids, Grandpa Smurf, Wild Smurf, etc. This was right before the Smurfs started, I kid you not, their Quantum Leap time travel phase.
It's already been done, it's called 'American Splendor'
ReplyDeleteIt's already been done, it's called 'Batman'
ReplyDeleteIt's already been done, it's called "Moon Knight".
ReplyDeleteIt's already been done, it's called "Akira"
ReplyDeleteSo it's a comic about a lonely shut in who talks to his cat? (and wasn't that called "Sandman"?)
ReplyDeleteNo it's called garfield.
ReplyDeleteI see it a different way; a Kafkaesque tale in which Gargamel has eaten all the Smurfs and he's left feeling sullen and unfulfilled after having spent so many years of his life trying to capture Smurfs. The thrill of the chase is gone. Sometimes wanting something is better than actually having it. And all of that.
ReplyDeleteSo all in all, we all agree it's a good idea :D
ReplyDeleteI think I saw something like that on Robot Chicken, actually.
ReplyDeleteThat would make it really hard to contextualize their language if he finds any of their left-behind literature or pottery.
ReplyDeleteAn actual EPIC about Gargamel? In which we plumb the depths of his character and journey through life? Oh, nevermind, he means "epic" as an adjective for "cool."
ReplyDelete"How in god's name can 'Smurf' be noun, verb, adjective, adverb, occupy every case and genetive and apply to both past and present situationals?! It's like an entire language made of 'The'!"
ReplyDelete(okay, that's obviously Gargamel channeling me, but I think he'd agree, probably. Rhymes with tree)
As long as they left out Gargamel's sidekick form later seasons, I'd watch it. I did not care for Scruples the Apprentice.
ReplyDeleteIt's already been done. It's called "Warren Ellis."
ReplyDeletewhy is that people use the word epic to describe the stupidest fucking shit?
ReplyDeleteI feel that the t-shirt is 100% appropriate.
ReplyDeleteGargamel had a sidekick named effing SCRUPLES?
ReplyDeleteI gotta admit, I do like the "no smurfs" part.
ReplyDelete"Epic" has become the internet age equivalent of "groovy," "far out," "bad," and yes, "cool." Personally, I only use the adjective form for something I truly do find epic.
ReplyDeleteEx: An actual Lantern Corps. ring appearing before me with a message that I am the new defender of sector 2814. Or, failing that, seeing someone do something unbelievable.
"Scruples"?! Wow.
ReplyDeleteLanguage is living - words and meanings change. In fact, it's only these modern contexts that have salvaged certain words - it's not like people but academics were using "epic" and the like (well, maybe Hollywood) before it got folded into hipster speak. Personally I try to make a game of it - grab literally any scientific term of size and use it at will.
Smurfing smurf, that would be smurfing smurfsmurfular!
ReplyDeleteNothing is epic until there's a fish flapping around on the floor at the end.
ReplyDeleteI see this more as a "Garfield without Garfield" thing...the exploration of the tragic figure of Gargamel as a psychotic, wherein the Smurfs are all figments of imagination.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Scruples. It was in the later seasons when they dropped the knight and squire guys that helped the Smurfs and introduced a whole bunch of new smurfs, like the Smurf kids, Grandpa Smurf, Wild Smurf, etc. This was right before the Smurfs started, I kid you not, their Quantum Leap time travel phase.
ReplyDeleteI stopped watching after they phased out Cobra Commander and brought in Serpentor. That Snake Eyes Smurf was cool, though.
ReplyDeleteGargamel, Gilgamesh, to-may-toe, to-mah-toe.
ReplyDeleteI'm still holding out hope that Gilgamesh will be in the Avengers movie. He'll make that film box office gold!!!
ReplyDelete