Comments for The Abbeville Manual of Style

Comment on Regarding Snark by Michael Krugman

Michael Krugman — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:33:59 +0000

I don’t think connecting the word “snark” to Lewis Carroll’s poem is a stretch at all. The cuttingly sardonic tone of the poem comes about as close to a definition of snarkiness as I can imagine. When one engages in snark, one is simply attempting to equal or surpass that tone so masterfully epitomized by “The Hunting of the Snark.” As in:

He brought them a map representing the sea,
Without the least vestige of land ;
And the crew were all glad when they found it to be
A map they could all understand.

‘What’s the use of Mercators, North Pole and equators,
Tropics, zones, and meridian lines?’
So the captain would cry, and the men would reply,
‘They are only conventional signs.’

That’s snark!

Comment on Dear Abbeville: Ireland, “Growing” by Julie Weathers

Julie Weathers — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:52:31 +0000

Ah, thanks for the advice. I will be buying The Military Father when it comes out.

This gives us a good starting point.

Thanks to you and Megan and thanks for starting this column.

Julie

Comment on Design Corner: Tea Jacket by michaelann

michaelann — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 18:16:55 +0000

hahahaha, well i did enjoy this explanation of the cover, especially the connection between the font and the tea leaves. however, i still maintain it looks a bit too much like beer. But beer is good so it’s ok. maybe not hot beer though.

Comment on Inaugural Style by Libby

Libby — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:52:04 +0000

President Obama stumbled because the Chief Justice messed up the order of the oath. The President was saying it correctly, but stumbled because he was supposed to be repeating what the Chief Justice said.

Comment on Secretary of the Arts Petition by Bradley Robb

Bradley Robb — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:21:17 +0000

Oh, I'm completely with you on that count. The burden of proof lays wholly on the state to prove why the plan would be worthwhile. My point was rather that I'm interested in seeing a plan, or plans, and then making my decision. I am in solid agreement that it is foolish to blindly agree to the plan before seeing it.

Comment on Secretary of the Arts Petition by abbeville

abbeville — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:59:48 +0000

Bradley–we’re wary of completely rejecting a proposal that hasn’t been spelled out yet, but we’re even warier of signing a petition on behalf of a proposal that hasn’t been spelled out yet. Given the current state of the economy, the burden of proof right now–proof of necessity, feasibility, cost-effectiveness–seems to rest with those in favor of the large new federal expenditure, not with the skeptics. And making that case will involve putting to rest the fears Julie has articulated: fears of swollen, lobbyist-infested bureaucracy with little measurable impact on the quality of American art.

That said, we’d be happy to learn more about the WPA FAP II and what it would entail. If we could be persuaded that it would play a worthwhile role in fostering arts education, we’d be all for it. Funding adult art is another, more vexed matter. The government doesn’t owe artists an audience, a lifestyle, or a living (as an artist specifically), and for the most part the market is a fair test of ideas and talent–even if some take longer than others to be “discovered.” We say all this very much as members of the young, creative underclass–let’s see if our feelings change as the recession tightens!

Comment on Secretary of the Arts Petition by Bradley Robb

Bradley Robb — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:21:35 +0000

So I take it you’re against the notion of “WPA Federal Arts Project II – This time, it’s digital!”

Without seeing an actual plan on the table, I think it’s unwise to speculate on whether the decision would be good or bad. Speculation sans merit is likely to lead to the dreaded slippery slope.

I think a government program that focused on putting introduction to art classes in schools, that exposed students to the tools to discover art, would be a good thing.

I think that a government program like the WPA FAP could work out well, but would need a very steady and sure hand to helm it.

And I think that should the government attempt to co-op and declaw art, they would quickly learn that this is a mistake. After all, art is one of the oldest forms of insurgency. Creating a de facto artistic counter culture could do wonders for inspiring the youth of today to become the artists of tomorrow.

A bit backwards, I know.

Comment on Secretary of the Arts Petition by Julie Weathers

Julie Weathers — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:28:47 +0000

Exactly what we need in these financially difficult times. Yes! Let’s form another office to spend millions of dollars to study the arts and then millions more to promote whomever lobbies most effectively to get handouts.

What we need is less government, less handouts and more freedom to create or not.

Comment on New Feature: “Dear Abbeville” by abbeville

abbeville — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 19:21:26 +0000

Good questions, thanks to both! Keep them coming, stylish readers–we will do our first response column next week.

Comment on New Feature: “Dear Abbeville” by Marta

Marta — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 19:04:06 +0000

Question: When did saying ‘grow your business’ become proper vs. ‘ help your business grow’?