One that didn't make the grade.
So, I'm making some images for the sole purpose of having fresh stuff for my book. Been really busy, really pushing myself, and after I showed my wife, my brother, and several artist friends the following image, only one person was able to figure out what I was trying to say here. I was depressed. I went out for some coffee. Had to take a break.
I came back and looked at it again. I tred to figure out what I could have done differently. I still liked the photo, but decided this is going into the pile of ones that didn't make the cut. I then told my brother that I was gonna hide this. I'd pretend that it never existed.
Well, it's a bloggers' prerogative to change his mind. So here it is, the little image that couldn't. Why I'm posting this, I don't know. What the heck.
We'll call it-- "The Terrible Story Behind Our Personal Hygiene Needs".
Dateline- Greenland
I totally changed the title and info for this post. Who knows? Maybe it'll make a difference.
Whatever happens, I'm not giving any hints about what it means.
This image is pretty much just an example of how confusing one mans' mind can be.
A new Circus Peanut image late Monday.
56 comments:
I'm guessing it's meant to imply that all toilet papers are brutally clubbed in the wild in order to support our sickening desire to have clean cracks.
Well, my first impression is the tube thingy that you put the paper on. You know, the thing you use to attach it to the space on the wall?
If so...yeah, that puts a new spin on things. Sodomy in everyday objects. If not....I've no idea.
I totally get it...a scathing expose of the illegal trafficking in young and innocent rolls of TP.
breaking off a new chamaine leaf
The clubbing of baby TP rolls seems plausible...but I wouldn't have understood if I hadn't read your comments. Maybe we'll chalk that up to the fact that I'm exhausted mentally and physically and hoping this week will soon be over...
guh?
It is better than rock,paper,scissors...club,TP,shadow.
I like it...I may not get it, but I like it.
Funny, I would've pegged it as wiping the shaving cream off of a razor. But that's because I tend to dry my kitchen knives on the paper towel rolls, so that comes to mind.
What about the roll that's inside rolls of paper towels? Using the innards of the parent to beat the little one?
What about knighting the little one? It could be doing that...?
maybe you had ate something bad?
is it really Sherman's fault?
Well, I also had thought of the stick that you put the role onto to hang it on the wall, but the stick in the shadow is much longer, so that's where I get confused. Still, a "terrible story" indeed, being impaled then your layers slowly peeled away to clean peoples bits... *shudder* Perhaps being clubbed first would not be such a bad thing.
Okay, I'll take a stab at it. It's obvious that the roll of toilet paper is scared in the presence of a much larger person holding over a big stick. I can't tell why someone would whack a roll of toilet paper.. but.. is the toilet paper so afraid that it's about to poop itself? That's all that came to mind!
I think I have it. The toilet paper is being chastised for getting covered in poo. Am I right, am I right?
--KurtRoedeger
Seems like the sodomy theme is the thought for the day. My guess that the rod in the shadow is the toilet paper holder rod. The new roll is being subjected to the cruelest initiation into the bathroom from hell!
Maybe you should have the rod in the picture and the roll running away in fear. Maybe I've said too much.
I think the rod is a shadow of a toilet plunger handle and the tp is watching what could have happened to him if only the person using the plunger had used a little more tp.
Or to be unusually blunt..... pull that stick out of your ___.
Sigh. Don't blame me- I haven't had my coffee yet. Perhaps you had something more profound in mind.
im really surprised so few of your commenters are getting it... the poor roll of tp is about to be skewered up the back side with the rod for the tp roller.
sigh. yes, that is a bit demented. surprised it was posted on this site and not the other...
17 comments about one that didn't work. I never know what people are going to be interested in. It's all just so constantly surprising to me.
Nope, this isn't sick in the way that many are thinking of, it's sick in a different way I guess. I could say who got it right, and who got it wrong, but what would be the fun in that?
Have a good weekend everyone!
normally I connect with your stuff, but totally missed the point on this one. sigh.
Add me to the list of confused people. I thought that maybe the rod was supposed to be the toilet paper holder, but it's WAY too long. Am I letting that distract me from the message here?
My in-laws have a long pole in their bathroom that stores 3-5 rolls of toilet paper where they wait before meeting their eventual demise on the dreaded dispenser.
Kind of like Vlad the TP Impaler meets the grizzly TP Totem Pole.
Is it about how toilet paper is so carelessly "used and abused?"
Although the sodomy/skewering guess seems to work too. XD
Poor toilet paper....
Dude, this image could be the Bent Objects equivalent of Neon Genesis Evangelion. So few understand what it means, but because of the confusion and drive to try making sense of it, it remains a subject for discussion and masters thesises (thesi?) throughout time.
You should totally put it in the book and see if anyone writes a paper about it. XD
Not all art needs to be straightforward anyway. It's okay to have a piece that's difficult to understand and is open to interpretation. Some of the greatest arts (both still and performing) have required hours if not months of occasional contemplation to fully understand and appreciate. If this image proves to be popular despite not being understood correctly, then is it really not worth using?
Besides, what's the point of sharing art with meaning if not to make others think?
And hey, people are still coming up with theories about various aspects of the Mona Lisa.
Sometimes enigmatic art rocks. ^^
It does seem long for a spindle--and if it is, shouldn't the roll of toilet paper be bending over, sort of in resigned horror?
I can't believe I'm writing this.
Hm...I'm thinking human wielding straight-edge razor for shaving purposes, with toilet paper patiently standing by to help staunch any resultant facial wounds?
How about a sword so it can be knighted before the throne?
terry maybe it would help if you told us what the original title was...
all i know is that i'm not going to be able to go to the bathroom without first appologizing to my toilet paper.
think seal hunt and white coats thats all i'm going to say
Annon in Ottawa
I'm going with those who say it's some sort of clubbing of the naive little roll of tp. The "Dateline-Greenland" is reminiscent of a news story, and the "Terrible Story Behind..." make me think of an expose story.
Well, the jpeg is named "Sad Springtime Harvest" if that helps anyone. We also thought the sodomy by tp spindle here- but doesn't fit the title and seems the rod is too long.
reminds me of a dog about to get beat with a rolled up newspaper
Not sure that I get this one and I don't think I would have thought of sodomizing my tp. That's a rather disturbing thought! I rather like Tatman's explanation so that's what I'm going to go with. But I think Anonymous and Apryl probably have it figured out. An innocent helpless baby tp is about to be clubbed by a big ruthless cruel hunter.
On with the blather
Btw Terry, I tried Googling Dateline Greenland and Bent Objects was the first thing to come up. Bet that makes you feel good!
Poor trees.
Poor, poor toilet paper roll....
I find it interesting that the Youtube advert associated with this post is about Oedipus clips, seeing as the Youtube clips are generally associated with the content of the photo somehow.
Say, this TP isn't out to marry its mother, is it?
Shorn like a sheep? How are sheep shorn?
Oh, geeze. I looked at it and the shadow is obviously someone yielding a baton, and the TP is going to sing!
Let's just hope it's not 'My Heart Will Go On'.
Or is it Karaoke Toilet Paper? 'Making Love Out of Nothing at All?'
Whatever. I LIKE it!
Can I get a print for my Research Lab?
.
huh? my brain doesn't work this early in the morning...
I get it.
I think it would work better if you gave it some arms covering its face, though. It seems now as if it doesn't even notice. Then again, I am rambling on about an inanimate object here. :D
I think a possible caption is:
"I'd really like to audition for your orchestra. Yes, the tuba. My previous conductor said I was a real role model. Why yes, I did bring some of my own sheet music to play for you."
I was thinking Terry... I know, don't worry I took it easy until I got used to it so I wouldn't hurt myself... if the pic is a statement on seal hunting maybe it would be more clear if the tp was laying on its stomach with it's feet sticking straight out and the arms at its side.
I watched the movie clip after reading Z-kun's comment. I don't think the clip has anything to do with the tp. BUT it did make me think of celery guy and his bride and that unfinished business. That'd give that story a whole new twist - a sick disturbing twisted story. Wow, I think I'd like to see that!! How about it Terry are you sick enough... ehm, I mean bent enough?
On with the blather
Ok, so here's my guess. The stick is being used to beat the cr*p out of somebody, and the TP is standing by to clean up?
Thanks for all your comments, friends. Very entertaining. I appreciate them a lot.
Brat- sorry, not yet.
Blather- you know I'm more than sick enough.
I'm sorry that I can't comment more about this one. Mondays' Circus Peanut post will make up for any short you may feel though. If I do say so myself! ha!
Agreed Terry, your one sick puppy!! Ok, can't wait until Monday. Is that am or pm?
Blather
Lemme take a stab:
Abuse makes you anal?
:D
OMG!
The TP likes it rough!
Pls tell me that's it because I DREAMT it was.
[Or I really need to see a shrink.]
.
~Brat
The "clubbing the baby seal theme," (or in this case the baby tp) works best for me--although I didn't "get it" until someone else pointed it out. I think I would have gotten it sooner if the tp was facing away from the shadow, all innocent and unknowing of its soon-to-be fate. I'm assuming baby tps grow up to be rolls of paper towels, and that we mercilessly hunt those too.
TERRRRRRRRRY please, you've gotta give! This is driving me nutters. I need to know what it was supposed to mean. Neeeeeed to know. Please? Pleeease? PWEASE!? *puppy dog eyes*
Kara
Hmm.. it's all a bit of a mystery. I initially thought of the "roll of TP about to get spit roasted" and didn't see where the baby seal analogy came from- it looks to me like it's not meant to be "in the wild" because of the pure white background. But maybe it is- it's like the vase/two faces thing but a little more disturbing.
Also, Andrea, I love the idea that TP grows up to be kitchen roll. I've already done one piece of "bent fan art" with a father/son theme and that's just given me an idea for a second.
Something to do with "coming to a 'sticky' (rear) end"?
talk about taking one for the team.....
Bent Objects rocks!
My guess, for what it's worth is.....
**Raunch Alert**
I am going to beat the crap out of you.
Sorry. I'll go back to being quiet again. :)
I was thinking that perhaps that is the stick from a plunger and the little roll of TP is in trouble because it stole the actual plunger end of the plunger, thereby ruining what had caused so much anguish for little TP's friends and elders.
The hand is holding up the stick and possibly saying, "Did you do this? Where is the plunger?! I better not find out you had anything to do with this."
Or maybe it's a backscratcher and the person is saying, "I'll scratch your back, you wipe my..."
Not that's probably not it, either.
I thought the person was holding a ruler, and one wets him or herself in the face of punishment.
but that doesn't make much sense, does it?
Another thought: thermometer? because of the way it's being held....
My thought was, after viewing the picture , is that Mr TP is there to help clean up when someone is handed the dirty end of the stick.
I love your work, Terry. I especially enjoyed your Circus Peanut series.
I see the shadow of a hand holding a stick of some sort. I see the TP looking towards where the shadow's generator would be.
I don't get it.
I don't think it's the baby seal because all of Terry's stuff plays on the materials being used, and there are no seals here. Clubbing baby TP doesn't make any sense.
I think the terrible story is that Mr. TP is about to get speared onto a TP holder. But that fate is still better than the one he's destined for, don't you think? Maybe the setup shold be Mr. TP kneeling at his bed, praying.
LOL
Thanks to Anonymous and Daniel, I think I have it figured out.
The roll is having its paper removed so that the razor edge can be cleaned. The 'springtime harvest' is a reference to farmers shaving sheep's wool after winter ends, as the two scenarios share themes of razors and removable white coating.
very thought provoking picture. great stuff.
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