Oggling the Classics

Penguin Classics, a line of classic literature traditionally published as paperbacks with useful notes for the student, have been redesigning their cover artwork for a few years as part of the "Graphics Deluxe" editions.

Paul Buckley directs the art on these new printings and has been employing some of the best contemporary graphic novel artists and modern illustrators.

Many make the odd choice of putting text or dialogue from the novel on the cover, as is the case with Joe Sacco's treatment for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. It's hard to believe such a busy cover would outlast the simpler aesthetic of a previous version, but then the point of these is to create collector's items.

The more traditional, leaner, cleaner art work best not only as design, but as eye catching art. Seth's work for The Portable Dorothy Parker is great, as is the lithograph look of Tomer Hanuka's NSFW cover of De Sade's Philosophy in the Boudoir.

One exception to the text-heavy look is Tom MacDonald's cover for a collection of Greek mythology retold by Robert Graves. MacDonald makes it look like a Golden Age comic book, and thanks to the nature of the material, it's a perfect match. Check out the wrap-around view to get the full effect.

And speaking of wrap-arounds, Rachel Sumpter actually embroidered a few covers, doing a dense mess of color and texture for The Wizard of Oz, and an impressionistic mural for Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows -- both worth studying.

Farewell to Ralph McQuarrie

Artist and illustrator Ralph McQuarrie died March 3. He was 82.

If his name isn't automatically familiar, then you were never a Star Wars fanatic. But for those who can instantly recall seeing McQuarrie's concept and production art for the first three Star Wars films -- and you know which three we mean -- you'll understand why so many nerds seem more despondent than usual.

We agree strongly with Bleeding Cool writer Brendon Connelly's sentiment regarding McQuarrie's work:

"Some of the designs in the first three Star Wars films are honestly amazing work. The man we have to thank for this is Ralph McQuarrie, the concept artist who really set the tone for the film, much more so than any other individual. And I’m including George Lucas in that ... I’m not being disingenuous when I say that I love these paintings far more than the films they fuelled."

McQuarrie's concept art for Star Wars, before there was any hint of a sequel, let alone a franchise, reach a level of wonder and fantasy that the films could never have matched. His paintings and sketches do exactly what good art and great illustration should: immerse you in someone else's imagination. The lure of the art pulls so strong that you add to it your own tangents and meanings.

His Metropolis-style C-3PO and gear-covered Luke Skywalker reveal much about McQuarrie's understanding of George Lucas' inspiration and references. The hardware looks antiquated, the textures dusty and worn, exactly the type of lived-in universe that makes it seem possible.

Check out the various galleries on the Ralph McQuarrie Website and see the work he did for other films, his book covers, and his personal gallery. Just as Frank Frazetta will forever be linked to Conan the Barbarian, McQuarrie will always be the Star Wars design guy. A fine legacy for sure, but do take a look at what else he achieved.

We'll be right back after these messages ...

It's 1984 and you're Paul Weller. You've disbanded The Jam and have begun the continental-pop/blue-eyed-soul phase of your career by forming The Style Council.

So you make a video to promote The Style Council single "My Ever Changing Moods" and well, this ought to do:

Here Comes Mr. Jones

We were going to post something about Leap Day because why not? Then the news broke that Davy Jones died of an apparent heart attack. The singer and member of The Monkees was 66.

Arguably, Mickey Dolenz was the more appropriate lead singer in that his unusual voice and his delivery seemed to come more from a rock & roll place -- that slight touch of rhythm and blues that makes the music fun.

But Jones was no slouch even if his inclusion in the prefab four implies that he was there to add British Invasion appeal since that's what the teenage girls were into when The Monkees was conceived for televison. His stage-trained voice was the smoothest of The Monkees and well suited to the slicker, pop-oriented hits.

In a June 29, 2011 radio interview on Seattle's KJR, Jones was doing PR for a Monkees reunion tour (minus Mike Nesmith). Though the tour would end abruptly, Jones seemed centered and at peace with his past during the interview.  [Listen here: Jones' portion begins just past the halfway mark.]

Here he is singing lead on The Monkees' "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)"

How Long the Teenage?

Alison Gopnik's Wall Street Journal article "What's Wrong With the Teenage Mind?" was published a month ago, but you should still read it.

The piece touches on numerous recent research in developmental psychology, neuroscience, and other cognitive studies that indicate an increase in the length of human adolescence. That is, puberty starts earlier and adulthood arrives slower than your bus.

Gopnik's piece isn't a unified theory of why 30-year-olds still live with their parents, but she makes an interesting case for a gradual shift in our culture that has triggered a shift in our brains.

[A sincere shrug and heartfelt "whatever" to Arts & Letters Daily]

Another Use for Books

"Brian Dettmer is known for his detailed and innovative sculptures with books and other forms of antiquated media."

That's directly from the artist's bio on his Website. The work is amazing and Dettmer's skill, vision and creativity astounds. Still, it hurts us just a little when books are referred to as antiquated media. Don't worry books, The Typing Monkey still loves you.

[A salute to Andrew Monko for sending us this link, which led too Mr. Dettmer's site.]

29 Days Every Four Years

Last night we had the pleasure of discovering, via the miracle of channel surfing, a really good documentary from PBS's Independent Lens series.

More Than a Month charts the year-long journey of "Shukree Hassan Tilghman, a 29-year-old African American filmmaker ... on a cross-country campaign to end Black History Month"

The film explores all manner of ideas about what our alleged "post-racial" life in modern America means and doesn't mean. Tilghman's analytical and even self-critical approach is ideal for triggering conversation afterwards. Or you can just ask questions directly to the screen. Chances are it won't answer.

Watch the whole thing free online here.