Things I enjoy tend to make me interested in whatever they are about. For instance, I'll start looking at a popeye cartoon, and end up wondering how to build a sailing ship.
"Daria" is a great cartoon, because it always gets me interested in something new every time I watch it. It's cartooning, comedy, high school, family, relationships of all kinds, pride, hypocracy, alienation, cleverness, art, sports, authority, money, childishness, maturity, and a hundred other things.
I think that when Daria gets curious about something, she probably reads a book about it. I suspect that if she were reading alt.tv.daria these days, she would probably be reading the books listed below.
What books do you think Daria would be reading this Summer?
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Ayn Rand, "The Fountainhead," Novel about an Architectural genius who battles against business clients who insist upon compromises that destroy the value of his Architectural designs. ... shorter and more clearly written than Atlas Shrugged -- it presents a clear illustration of Rand's philosophy as it stood in the late '40s. Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwick starred in the 1948 Hollywood movie.
Sinclair Lewis, "Main Street," Nobel prize-winning author writes the definitive novel about Lawndale -- except that it's called "Gopher Prairie" in the novel. Lewis also wrote 'Babbitt,' 'Dodsworth,' 'Arrowsmith,' and 'It Can't Happen Here' -- all interesting novels. I think 'Main Street' is the best.
Steinbeck, "The Grapes of Wrath," ... Nobel prize-winning author writes a great novel about a family of what we might call 'rednecks' today. The Joads are caught in a world they never made (Just like Daria). Pulled between their innate sense of decency and the stress of the tragedies that befall them, they make some mistakes, do some things right, and ultimately prevail. It's a great book.
FL Carsten, 'The Rise of Fascism." A brief, readable overview of Fascist History and ideology -- who Mussolini was; where Hitler came from; why Fascist ideas failed.
Scott McCloud, "Understanding Comics," ... this is a great book on how Cartoons play with our minds. This book gives me new things to look for and appreciate whenever I see a 'Daria' episode. As a bonus, it explains how to become a really, really good cartoonist on page 172.
Pinker, "How the Mind Works," ... Cognitive Scientist Pinker explains how the mind works, how it evolved, and how it allows us to see, think, feel and interact with other minds. Pulitzer Prize finalist -- a fascinating read.
DSM-IV. The DSM-IV is a manual that describes every psychological disorder that the American Psychiatric Association recognizes. It is a rogues' gallery of twisted wierdness where you meet yourself on every third page. Daria would open this handbook at random and read it for some sly fun.
Hernandez Brothers, "Love and Rockets," Fantagraphics Press. 'nuff said.
L&R