New Yorker - First Cover 2014

[kpete]

COVER STORY: “ALL TOGETHER NOW”
POSTED BY CHRIS WARE


This is the first cover of 2014. I drew the first of 2013 after chaperoning my daughter’s school class to a production of “The Nutcracker” and hearing about the Newtown shooting shortly after the school bus pulled into the parking lot. Like the other parents, I followed the story, listening to the radio and, hands shaking, scrolling through the news reports on my iPhone, all the while making sure my daughter heard about none of it. Now, a year out, it’s absolutely shameful that the certainty with which we all believed national gun-control legislation would be enacted has been met with nothing. Just this morning, I heard one of the Newtown families interviewed on the radio—they’d lost their only daughter that day—and they spoke of the foundation they’d established in her name, invoking the chilling phrase “so that no other parent would have to go through what they had.” And all they had left of her were their memories, and their pictures.

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2013/12/cover-story-all-together-now.html

[Quantess]

1. I'm a bit confused.

What does this cover have to do with the Newtown school shooting?

[TwilightGardener]

2. This cover looks like a commentary on how we're all just focused on

ourselves and our own children and their achievements and stardom, instead of the big picture of the children's success together as a whole...I don't know how it directly relates, either. Edit to add: it also looks like a statement about being in the moment vs. looking at it through a gadget. Either way, I don't get it.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

8. Wow. Really? You don't get it?

The school play to a disinterested party is a cut assemblage of little ones having the opportunity to perform on stage for family and friends. Quite naturally, each parent is most focused on their own child--wanting to document this moment for the future as "a good memory".

This cover is more poignant when artist reveals this was drawn right after Newtown shooting.

Now those photos and videos and memories are all this parents have left of the precious innocence that was gunned down in that place where little ones are sent to grow and learn and be safe.

Hope that helps.

[Ms. Toad]

5. The commentary is about drawing the first cover for 2013,

in the wake of the Newtown school shooting. The cover pictured is the first cover for 2014.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

16. The commentary is also about what thoughts went into

Creation of 2014 cover.

[Ms. Toad]

18. Yes - but the specific point of confusion seemed to be

about the connection the Newtown shooting (discussed in the context of the 2013 cover) had to do with the image (of the 2014 cover). I was just responding to that piece of it.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

20. Got it! :)

[Pretzel_Warrior]

7. Perhaps you should read the text in the post

The person who drew this wrote why exactly they drew it.

[Logical]

13. But someone just seeing it without the commentary would not pick that up. n-t

[Pretzel_Warrior]

14. Understood. We all carry our own history and definitions

Into any image we see.

[Quantess]

22. I read the commentary, and it was still not at all clear to me,

which is why I asked. Thanks.

[JI7]

19. "And all they had left of her were their memories, and their pictures. "

[JaneyVee]

3. The play seems to be focused on togetherness & unity, while the parents seem only

Focused on their own children. Seems metaphorical. Like the message is being lost.

[Voice for Peace]

12. "And all they had left of her were their memories, and their pictures."

I think the cartoon is far simpler than many are seeming to interpret.

[1000words]

4. Captures our culture of self-absorption beautifully

We are not a well society.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

9. Not the point at all

[Voice for Peace]

10. I see parents focused on their child, the most important thing.

I heard one of the Newtown families interviewed on the radio—they’d lost their only daughter that day—and they spoke of the foundation they’d established in her name, invoking the chilling phrase “so that no other parent would have to go through what they had.” And all they had left of her were their memories, and their pictures.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

15. +1

[adirondacker]

21. +1000. nt

[Pretzel_Warrior]

6. Exellent

[Berlum]

11. wow

The New Yorker does it. Again. As always.

[JI7]

17. it is something that we should be ashamed of, kids were shot and killed in their classrooms

and nothing happened.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

23. Agreed