One of the greatest comic book series of all times: Maison Ikkoku. It is a story that was serialized from 1980 - 1987 in monthly "to be continued..." installments. It's a romantic comedy, a long drawn out story of two people falling in love. But the whole time, you are on the edge of your seat as the two deal with their own reservations, insane misunderstandings that take place, characters that enter into the story to threaten their union, or maybe you've just fallen off your seat from laughing too hard. Heh heh heh
You can click on the photos to enlarge the pics from these two scans.
The artwork is very beautiful and each panel stands alone. The artist, Rumiko Takahashi adds thoughtfulness to every element of sequential art. Often, in one panel, I spend time thinking about what is going on, what is being said or acted out, then noticing the choice of background for instance. She is great at using secondary details symbolically to deepen the experience of what is happening in the foreground. All of the little choices she makes are so good. She is not just the artist, but also the writer - and this is a long, complicated story, but funny and light at the same time. The breadth of talent it takes to create this series can by no means be mistaken as low art for anyone who gives this a lookin' at. These books make me very happy.
Other things I've been up to while trying to keep warm: reading poems by Rumi, going to the store called "Junk" and staying in there for a long time looking at their old photographs and slides and loose papers, watching movies with Reed, recording some spouts of new music on my computer only to discover I cannot convert the files to a desirable format, looking for other recording programs, selling some items on craigslist to make my move lighter, thinking about qualities of human excellence and vice and virtue.
Here are the seven deadly sins and their contrary virtues. How to avoid the former: practice the latter.
1. Pride vs. Humility
2. Wrath vs. Forgiveness
3. Envy vs. Kindness/Admiration
4. Lust vs. Chastity
5. Gluttony vs. Moderation
6. Laziness vs. Diligence
7. Greed vs. Generosity
Some collected notes on these:
Pride - "Love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for one's neighbor" -Dante. Failing to give compliments to others though they may be deserving of them. Vainglorious.
Humility - A humble person is generally thought to be unpretentious and modest: someone who does not think that he or she is better or more important than others. "Humility is a virtue, and it is a virtue innate in guests" -Max Beerbohm
Envy - "Love of one's own good perverted to a desire to deprive other men of theirs" -Dante.
Kindness - The act or the state of charitable behavior to other people.
Wrath - "Love of justice perverted to revenge and spite" -Dante. Feelings of hatred, revenge or even denial, as well as punitive desires outside of justice.
Forgiveness - The mental, and/or spiritual process of ceasing to feel resentment, indignation, or anger against another person for a perceived offense, difference or mistake, or ceasing to demand punishment or restitution.
Lust - Disordered or unrestrained seeking of sexual pleasure. Unfulfilled lusts sometimes lead to sexual addiction, adultery, force.
Chastity - Sexual behavior acceptable to the ethical norms of a certain culture, civilisation or religion. Embracing of moral wholesomeness and achieving purity of thought through education and betterment.
Gluttony - "excessive love of pleasure" -Dante. Overindulgence in food, drink or intoxicants.
Moderation - Finding the middle ground, avoiding excess, feeling centered and secure.
Laziness - Absence of caring. "Sluggishness of the mind which neglects to begin good... it is evil in its effect, if it so oppresses man as to draw him away entirely from good deeds" -Thomas Aquinas
Diligence- Constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind.
Greed - A desire to possess more than one has need or use for.
Generosity - Pleasure in giving things to others. Guards against becoming too attached to possessions.
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