Attitude Quote by Chris Ware
“I do worry that beginning cartoonists could feel somewhat strangled by the increasing critical seriousness comics has received of late and feel, like younger writers, that they have to have something to "say" before they set pen to paper. Many cartoonists feel even more passionate about this idea than I do, vehemently insisting that comics are inherently "non-art" and poop humor or whatever it is they think it is, but that attitude is a little like insisting that all modern writing should always take the form of The Canterbury Tales.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 2015
Emerging cartoonists feel pressured to embed deep messages, fearing criticism if they don’t.
In simple terms: Cartoonists fear needing a serious message.
Key Takeaway
Allow creative freedom without forced seriousness.
Themes
creative pressure
artistic integrity
industry expectations
Mood
anxious
reflective
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- comic workshops
- art school curricula
- self‑publishing
- independent zines
Key Concepts
cartooning
seriousness
art vs. entertainment
Questions to Reflect On
- How can creators balance personal expression with audience expectations?
- What defines “art” in comics?
A Different Perspective
Not all comics need heavy themes; humor and play have value.
![“There's a rhythm to the words combined with the pictures [in a comic]. Whenever I'm working on a comic strip I re-read it, probably hundreds of times through to pay attention to how all of those things work. Sometimes even changing the angle of a character's eyebrow can really, seriously alter the…” quote by Chris Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dec/chris-ware-8123_angle_there-s-a-rhythm-to-the-words-combined-w_506554.jpg)
