Tag: humor

August 20, 2014

James Thurber and The Thurber Prize

When I was around six or seven, I was home sick from school and in an effort to make me happy, my mother gave me a pencil, a stack of paper and a book of cartoons. She knew I loved to draw, and knew this would help me get through the sick days. The book of cartoons she gave me was called Thurber Carnival, a collection of work by the renowned New Yorker writer and cartoonist James Thurber. His drawings are very simple, almost childlike, and I took to them immediately. I started tracing them. Soon, I realized this made my mother smile. I was hooked. From there, I started to draw my own cartoon characters. This is how I became a cartoonist.

So it is especially wonderful for me to be a finalist for the Thurber Prize this year for my book Women On Men (Narrative Library). It is the sole award in America for written humor, and is annually given out by Thurber House (the birthplace of James Thurber and an active literary center in Ohio). Thurber was a master humorist in both the written word and the cartoon, working primarily for The New Yorker in mid-century 1900’s. Past winners have included Jon Stewart, Calvin Trillin, Christopher Buckley and David Sedaris. The other finalists that were nominated along with me are David Letterman and Bruce McCall for their book “This Land is Made For You And Me” and John Kenney for “Truth in Advertising.” We will gather in New York City at Caroline’s Comedy Club on September 30th, where we will all do a reading and then they will announce the prize.

James Thurber

Ironically for me, one of the things that made some of Thurber’s cartoons so notable with the public were their misogynistic tone. Thurber was married twice to strong women, and had a daughter, but his cartoons sometimes betray befuddlement and often hostility towards women, as did his wonderful humorous essays. Who knows if he personally was a misogynist (some say he was), or that he just used it as a comedic tool, not uncommon in the humor of his time.

As a child, I remember that his cartoon women perplexed me and scared the heck out of me. I thought, is this what I have to be when I grow up? A hag, an angel, a delusional waif, a love object…and nothing in between?

Maybe deep down, this is why I wrote Women On Men, a book about women relentlessly making fun of men. Lovingly. My tribute to James Thurber.

March 3, 2014

Women On Men

This is the cartoon that started it all. I began drawing snarky women, women who are funny and sarcastic, in The New Yorker in the 1990?s, and while it’s not all that I draw, it is a favorite topic of mine. In fact, I have a whole book of cartoons and commentary on this subject, called Women On Men. You can take a look at it and order it here. Or contact me and I offer a personally signed (with drawing inside) soft cover hard copy for a discount! liza@lizadonnelly.com

January 30, 2014

Being On The Radio At WNYC

I love radio, particularly news radio. The interviews, analysis, call-ins about issues in the news, local or national are all great, and what I listen to while I work. My favorite station is the New York City station WNYC, and in particular the afternoon show, The Leonard Lopate Show. I also like the Brian Lehrer Show in the mornings, too. The station loves New Yorker cartoonists, and have had them on the show numerous times over the years. I have done a lot of radio, usually connected to any new books I have. But I have never been invited to be on WNYC….until now. I was very lucky to be asked to be a guest on the Leonard Lopate Show to talk about my book, Women On Men, with guest host Anna Sale. It was great fun– Anna is a skilled interviewer with a devilish streak and great sense of humor. One New York friend said to me when she heard that I was to be on WNYC, “You’re really famous now!” Such is a true New York attitude.

Here is the interview:

January 15, 2014

Women On Men = Women Are Funny

Below is a selection of cartoons from my new book Women On Men, published by Narrative Magazine

I think women are funny. We know that loud and clear from watching the Golden Globes the other night, when Amy Poehler and Tina Fey killed as hosts. They were so funny in a perfect way–just enough snark and intelligence. There is not a special kind of funny that women do, they are just funny. Like men are funny. Things are changing for women in many regards, and sometimes I think the outrageous idea that women aren’t funny is an old topic. But like so many things–it is and it isn’t. Famous comedians may be breaking the glass ceiling of humor from time to time, as well they should, but Hollywood is slow to recognize women creators, directors and actors who are funny. And in the day-to-day lives of ordinary women, humor is not an easy option. There are still misogynists out there who don’t want women to be funny, so let’s keep talking about it until it’s totally equal!

You can purchase my ebook here, or write me if you would like a paperback hard copy, signed with a drawing inside. liza@lizadonnelly.com

December 28, 2013

Let’s Retire “Battle Of The Sexes”

I draw a lot of cartoons about what some have called the “battle of the sexes.” But that’s an old phrase. I am not sure where it originated so I looked it up and see the phrase is a Peter Sellers movie, a radio contest, an album by Ludacris, and of course it was the famous tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. But I would like to suggest we retire this phrase. Why does it have to be a battle? It doesn’t. We need communication (in all forms, see above cartoon) and laughter to bring us together.

This is what I try to do in my book. Yes, I make fun of men, but do so lovingly. If we can’t make fun of each other, then it is a battle. So clearly, laughter is the better way to go.

My new book of cartoons is called “Women On Men,” published by Narrative Magazine. It can be purchased here, and here for kindle, and if you email me, I will send you a signed-with-drawing inside copy at a discount! liza@lizadonnelly.com

December 10, 2013

Women On Men, My New Book Is Out!

I am excited to announce that my new book of cartoons and writing, Women On Men is available as a ebook (buy here). The book is a collections of over 200 of my cartoons. The theme is primarily about women being funny, women who have snark and who love to tease the men in their lives. I have published many such cartoons in the New Yorker, starting with this one in 1993. The editor at the magazine then was Tina Brown, and while I had been publishing with them since 1982 (when William Shawn was editor), this sort of idea/cartoon/caption was kind of new for me. Ms. Brown eventually bought a lot of my work like this, and subsequent editors have as well. While I do cartoons on a variety of subjects, I think I found a voice that is very true to me. Along with the 200+ cartoons, you can read more of my musings (in my handwriting) on women and humor in the book.

If you want to purchase the book for whatever kind of reader you have, even a computer, here is the link. Write me if you have questions, or if you want a discounted special edition hard copy, signed. It is beautifully published by Narrative Magazine.