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Post by patapin on Sept 15, 2016 9:04:17 GMT
Hello comics fans, here are txo strips speaking of "low" characters. The first one with Linus: And the second with Snoopy: Having searched ont he web, I found an expression with "the low man on the totem pole": someone who has the least important position in an organization. It could be all right for Linus. But why would Snoopy be (a) low beagle? Is there a pun?
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Post by Dil Bert on Sept 15, 2016 10:58:57 GMT
Having searched ont he web, I found an expression with "the low man on the totem pole": someone who has the least important position in an organization. It could be all right for Linus. But why would Snoopy be (a) low beagle? Is there a pun? Yes, the first strip is a reference to the totem pole phrase; someone who gets the worst of everything, or sometimes as in this case, nothing. Low beagle is like the first strip a substitution, in this case for low man. Googling, it looks like low man is someone in bowling who has the worst score in a competition, which fits with the story in the cartoon.
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Post by dancelover on Sept 15, 2016 14:26:14 GMT
reply at bottom - D. & Welcome back, Patapin! Having searched ont he web, I found an expression with "the low man on the totem pole": someone who has the least important position in an organization. It could be all right for Linus. But why would Snoopy be (a) low beagle? Is there a pun? Yes, the first strip is a reference to the totem pole phrase; someone who gets the worst of everything, or sometimes as in this case, nothing. Low beagle is like the first strip a substitution, in this case for low man. Googling, it looks like low man is someone in bowling who has the worst score in a competition, which fits with the story in the cartoon. There are some competitions in which points are negative, low scores are good, and high scores are bad. But I deem Snoopy's reference to be to "place value" in which First Place wins, and higher numbers are progressively worse. Snoopy is competing against other beagles only. He wants the lowest-numbered place among them. It is not likely that there will be any other beagles in the bowling tournament so Snoopy can reasonably expect to have the best score among them. Dancelover
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Post by patapin on Sept 16, 2016 8:10:59 GMT
Hi Dil Bert and Dancelover! It's OK for Linus, I guess, thank you for having confirmed this. Now, I am still wondering about Snoopy's reflection. First, he is engaged in a junior competition. Then, he doesn't care to win. And he wants to be low. In the last two cells, we see Snooppy about to throw his ball, then Woodstock flying. I now imagine that: Snoopy is mischievous, and wants to be the "school bully" (he tries to hit Woodstock for example). Is this possible?
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Post by Dil Bert on Sept 16, 2016 10:31:28 GMT
Now, I am still wondering about Snoopy's reflection. First, he is engaged in a junior competition. Then, he doesn't care to win. And he wants to be low. In the last two cells, we see Snooppy about to throw his ball, then Woodstock flying. I now imagine that: Snoopy is mischievous, and wants to be the "school bully" (he tries to hit Woodstock for example). Is this possible? I'm afraid I misread the last panel in my haste, taking it as "I don't want to be...." So I still think it's a play on low man, but perhaps as Dancelover says the scoring is lower == better. The humor is in "low beagle" -> "low man", I'm sure of that. WRT the Snoopy throwing the ball and Woodstock flying, perhaps it is just to add some visual excitement to the strip. If Woodstock had a reason to be angry at Snoopy, Woodstock would probably be looking at Snoopy, wearing a different expression, and perhaps have some lines radiating from him indicating agitation or quick movement.
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Post by dancelover on Sept 16, 2016 19:53:22 GMT
at bottom - dancelover Now, I am still wondering about Snoopy's reflection. First, he is engaged in a junior competition. Then, he doesn't care to win. And he wants to be low. In the last two cells, we see Snooppy about to throw his ball, then Woodstock flying. I now imagine that: Snoopy is mischievous, and wants to be the "school bully" (he tries to hit Woodstock for example). Is this possible? I'm afraid I misread the last panel in my haste, taking it as "I don't want to be...." So I still think it's a play on low man, but perhaps as Dancelover says the scoring is lower == better. The humor is in "low beagle" -> "low man", I'm sure of that. WRT the Snoopy throwing the ball and Woodstock flying, perhaps it is just to add some visual excitement to the strip. If Woodstock had a reason to be angry at Snoopy, Woodstock would probably be looking at Snoopy, wearing a different expression, and perhaps have some lines radiating from him indicating agitation or quick movement. I don't see it as Snoopy throwing at Woodstock. I see it as a perspective picture, with Woodstock standing back, out of the way. Dancelover
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Post by patapin on Sept 17, 2016 8:57:41 GMT
I believe you're both right. Woodstock is not angry at Snoopy, it was a fine remark. So, Snoopy wants to be the low "man", let's keep it that way. He will be even cuter! Thanks to you.
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