April 7, 2006
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Gay comic-guide editor or Editor of gay comic guide?
Here is a puzzle for those grammar skeptics out there that just might convince you that grammar and sentence structure does indeed have a profound effect on the meaning of a sentence.
Question: What is the difference between a “Gay comic-guide editor” and an “Editor of a gay comic guide?”
Answer: the first editor is gay and the second editor is my husband.
This week, Shaun had an article about him in an arts and culture magazine called Time Out Chicago. The article praised Shaun’s recent editorial project, the 2006 edition of Prism Comics: Your GLTB Guide to Comics. For those of you who might not know what GLTB is, it is an acronym for “Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Bisexual.” The Prism Guide is an annual publication dedicated to celebrating and discussing GLTB presence in the medium of comic books and graphic novels.
When Shaun was hired for the job, he was thrilled at the opportunity to lend his appetite for civil rights, his killer editorial skills, and his adoration of comics to a project with such a socially conscious pulse. My partner’s dedication to this project and to gay rights made me proud enough, never mind the fact that the guide turned out to be completely amazing. The press has caught wind of the project and there seems to be a general consensus of “YAY!” from the critics.
Despite all the good press, Shaun is both mildly mortified and hugely humored because as unassuming and—lets face it—cerebral as he is, my husband fails to recognize when interviewers are trying to figure out if he is queer himself. When journalists ask Shaun questions like, “Would a superhero make a good boyfriend?” Shaun thinks not to answer, “I’m not a fag!” Instead he considers the question and constructs a thoughtful, funny statement like, “…they might be off in space half the time. And they get killed every so often—but you know they’ll always be back.” Since my partner doesn’t guard his nuts like a homophobe when asked a question like that, is it any wonder that he receives headlines like, “Gay Comic-Guide Editor” instead of “Editor of Gay Comic Guide?” I think not.
Shaun is used to a life that could have been scripted by Woody Allen; like Woody’s characters, Shaun always has the best intentions but through hilariously unfair misunderstandings and clumsy mishaps, he often achieves quirky, offbeat results. It’s a part of his charm. Especially since he takes it all in stride and keeps on pushing forward with a smile no matter what.
Here is the article for your reading enjoyment. Click on it to make it big enough to read–it should pop up in a new window for you.
In other news, my apologies for being such a slacker-blogger. Work and life have been moving at the speed of light lately. The biggest news is that Shaun and I are taking a weekend trip to NYC soon for Shaun to take a step further into his dream career in the comic world and for me to meet up with the long-time friend who was my “masculine of honor” (as opposed to maid of honor—he is a guy) in our wedding.
The weekend after we get back, I am off to D.C. to train for a job I secured for a few weekends this summer. The job this summer will be for the company I’ve taught weekend writing workshops to underprivileged high school youth in the past for, only this summer, not only will I be teaching the workshops, but I will be training the other teachers, too. So I’m getting trained on how to train.
That’s another thing I’ve been hard at work about—soul searching. I miss tutoring. I need to be teaching. I write better when I teach. I feel better when I teach. My current museum job is all the “right” things and I am completely thankful for it, but my heart is not in it. I’m working on a transition. I’m keeping my eye on the prize and when enough dough is stashed away to go back to school, a certified English teacher I will become.
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What do you dream for yourself?
Have you ever been so misunderstood it was funny?::Random Tangent::
Department of Homeland Security dude solicits sex from teens online.
Bush authorizes CIA leak.
Our government grosses me out. Seriously. Where are the days of good old consensual blowjobs in the White House? Now the place is crudded up with disgusting, pedophile cyber-perverts trying to lay prepubescent kids and whispering traitors. I can’t even express how nauseated I am. Politics aside: these people are seriously criminal and f-ed up.
Comments (11)
love it! I agree with your random tangent too. It’s a big pile of steaming shit.
I hope you find a job that you love.
Congratulations to Shaun! I have to say, I think he handled the superhero question very well… and it certainly makes the interviewer look like an idiot! I mean, really, the dude’s asking him all these questions about the comic industry and then says, “WOULD A SUPERHERO MAKE A GOOD BOYFRIEND?” I mean, HELLO! Of course people fantasize about Superman, but let’s get real, what an absurd thing to ask! The way Shaun handled it is hilarious.
It’s too bad I’m not going to be in NY when you’re there. I hope you enjoy your trip.
Also: you’d make the best freaking English teacher ever. entirely too many of mine didn’t have a quarter of the creativity you have.
I’m not sure a superhero would make a good boyfriend. I would think the superhero would be too hero-centric. For example, pretend I’m dating a superhero. I come home after a long day at work and say, “hi dear, I had a crappy day today because of _____.” And he’d say, “yeah, well I had a hard day, too. I had to save 3 children from a burning building, I rescued an old lady, and I saved the world from evil. And then after lunch …” And then I’d turn to the bourbon and perhaps start dating an ex-addict or someone with herpes. You know, just to feel like I had some self worth, comparatively speaking.
Larry Niven once wrote a very funny essay called, “Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenax” in which he explains why Superman will never be able to reproduce. Among other things, Niven notes that an orgasm has many of the earmarks of an epileptic seizure and wonders how close you’d want to be when the guy having the seizure has been know to *accidentally* leave his fingerprints in hardened steel.
I see Gaiman and Faulkner behind Shaun; I can only assume that Scott McCloud is in there somewhere.
Regarding your comment on BastetMax’s site, thank you for the compliment.
take care,
brad
I totally agree with you on the Random Thought. It’s almost funny to watch the Repugs go down, down, down into the sewer. Family Values, my butt. I only wish the Dems had together to seize this opportunity to look strong and united.
That’s a serious mistake on Time Out’s headline. Assume nothing. That’s the reporter’s credo. That stupid reporter made a very dumb assumption and should get several lashes for that mistake.
One of the funniest mistakes someone made about me happened last week. I was in the elevator with my son, and some guy thought I was Erik’s girlfriend. I told him I was his mother and the guy totally freaked. Very funny, and good for my ego, too.
RYC: Sorry about your migraines. I mainly have been having sinus problems. Weird that when I stopped eating sugar and refined starches I have not had a single migraine. I’m not sure if this is just a coincidence or what. It puts a whole new spin on feeling deprived of chocolate Easter bunnies.
Lynn
That is too funny. I love his answer to whether a superhero would make a good boyfriend. What a weird question to ask someone in an interview. I’ve gotta say – it’s a great title either way
Is that Shakira album good?
L.
Funny misunderstandings are part of a fabric of my life. Not as much as music, but it’s still an ever-present character.
Simple correct use of hyphenation would have solved everything. Had the magazine used Gay-comic-guide editor, it would have been clear that those three words are a compound adjective. It’s fairly easy.
It’s funny that you mention going back to school for an English teaching creditential… Not more than a week ago I was having lunch with my sister about this very thing. Whenever I start to feel bogged down in the corporate games, I start to dream of being an English teacher. Something around 8th grade, I think. Who knows… maybe one day I’ll actually do it. I hope you do.
I think you’d be a fabulous english teacher. I would enjoy having you as my teacher. I actually enjoy my current english teacher. She’s a no nonsense “I’ve been teaching since before you were born so don’t try any crap” kind of teacher. I think I also like her cuz I’m getting an A, I’m not sure. Anywho…best of luck!!! and major YAYs for Shaun!
Where have you been, girl?