Difference between revisions of "88: Escher Bracelet"
m (Waldir moved page Escher Bracelet to 88: Escher Bracelet: Mass-moving pages to 'number: title' format, per discussion at explain xkcd:Community portal/Coordination#Page names) |
(Added detail, and reorganize description - makes a bit more sense to define the real object before explaining the joke differences (i.e. the WWED and the mobius shape)) |
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== Description == | == Description == | ||
| − | + | This image parodies "WWJD" bracelets, which is an acronym for "What Would Jesus Do?". Christians (primarily) wear such bracelets (or other "WWJD" paraphernalia) as a reminder to act in a way that Jesus would act, which presumably is the "Christian" way to act. It is not entirely clear, but this particular type of bracelet appears to be the rubber type most famously popularized by cyclist Lance Armstrong’s charitable {{w|Livestrong}} yellow rubber bracelets for charity which later became a popular fad amongst all sorts of charitable and non charitable messages. | |
| − | + | In this comic, the "J" has been replaced by an "E" for {{w|M. C. Escher}}, a Dutch graphic artist (1898-1972) best known for for art containing imagery that would be impossible in the real world (often referred to as impossible constructions or optical illusions). Among his most famous works are "Drawing Hands" – two hands which are drawing each other on paper; "Relativity" in which a series of staircases and arches come from the floor, ceiling and the walls in all directions, each having its own "gravity"; and "Ascending and Descending" – a building with a staircase on its roof that is a closed square, which appears to ascend infinitely. Although the Mobius strip is not an impossible construction, it is still an apparently confusing structure which Escher used in his art. Most notably, his work "Mobius Strip II" depicts ants crawling around a Mobius Strip. | |
| − | The | + | The bracelet is printed “WWED”, and replaces the “Jesus” with (M. C.) Escher. Escher was an artist (1898 –1972) who is best known for art containing imagery that would be impossible in the real world (often referred to as impossible constructions or optical illusions). Among his most famous works are “Drawing Hands” – two hands which are drawing each other; “Relativity” in which a series of staircases and arches come from the floor, ceiling and the walls in all directions and people stand on all of the surfaces as if each direction is “down”; and “Ascending and Descending” – a building with a staircase on its roof that is a closed square, which appears to ascend infinitely. Although the Mobius strip is not an impossible construction, it is still an apparently confusing structure which Escher used in his art. Most notably, his work “Mobius Strip II” depicts ants crawling around a Mobius Strip. |
| + | |||
| + | In keeping with Escher's art, the WWED bracelet has a single half-twist in it. This creates what is known as a {{w|Mobius Strip}}, which actually ''can'' exist in physical space. One can create this shape by simply taking a strip of paper (or any bendable material), making a half twist, and taping/stapling/etc. the ends together. If you draw a single continuous line starting down the centre of the strip from the middle of the "W" going left, you will end up drawing on the backside of the strip from the WWED, going around again on the "inside" of the bracelet, before coming back around to the front again and ending up at the "D". In other words, the surface of the strip has only one side (the front and the back are the same side). The phrase "the only downside" in the image-text may be a pun referencing this one-sidedness. As the image-text suggests, the twist in the bracelet might make it uncomfortable to wear. | ||
[[Category:Comics|0088]] | [[Category:Comics|0088]] | ||
Revision as of 19:54, 8 August 2012
Image Text
The only downside is that it would be a little uncomfortable.
Description
This image parodies "WWJD" bracelets, which is an acronym for "What Would Jesus Do?". Christians (primarily) wear such bracelets (or other "WWJD" paraphernalia) as a reminder to act in a way that Jesus would act, which presumably is the "Christian" way to act. It is not entirely clear, but this particular type of bracelet appears to be the rubber type most famously popularized by cyclist Lance Armstrong’s charitable Livestrong yellow rubber bracelets for charity which later became a popular fad amongst all sorts of charitable and non charitable messages.
In this comic, the "J" has been replaced by an "E" for M. C. Escher, a Dutch graphic artist (1898-1972) best known for for art containing imagery that would be impossible in the real world (often referred to as impossible constructions or optical illusions). Among his most famous works are "Drawing Hands" – two hands which are drawing each other on paper; "Relativity" in which a series of staircases and arches come from the floor, ceiling and the walls in all directions, each having its own "gravity"; and "Ascending and Descending" – a building with a staircase on its roof that is a closed square, which appears to ascend infinitely. Although the Mobius strip is not an impossible construction, it is still an apparently confusing structure which Escher used in his art. Most notably, his work "Mobius Strip II" depicts ants crawling around a Mobius Strip.
The bracelet is printed “WWED”, and replaces the “Jesus” with (M. C.) Escher. Escher was an artist (1898 –1972) who is best known for art containing imagery that would be impossible in the real world (often referred to as impossible constructions or optical illusions). Among his most famous works are “Drawing Hands” – two hands which are drawing each other; “Relativity” in which a series of staircases and arches come from the floor, ceiling and the walls in all directions and people stand on all of the surfaces as if each direction is “down”; and “Ascending and Descending” – a building with a staircase on its roof that is a closed square, which appears to ascend infinitely. Although the Mobius strip is not an impossible construction, it is still an apparently confusing structure which Escher used in his art. Most notably, his work “Mobius Strip II” depicts ants crawling around a Mobius Strip.
In keeping with Escher's art, the WWED bracelet has a single half-twist in it. This creates what is known as a Mobius Strip, which actually can exist in physical space. One can create this shape by simply taking a strip of paper (or any bendable material), making a half twist, and taping/stapling/etc. the ends together. If you draw a single continuous line starting down the centre of the strip from the middle of the "W" going left, you will end up drawing on the backside of the strip from the WWED, going around again on the "inside" of the bracelet, before coming back around to the front again and ending up at the "D". In other words, the surface of the strip has only one side (the front and the back are the same side). The phrase "the only downside" in the image-text may be a pun referencing this one-sidedness. As the image-text suggests, the twist in the bracelet might make it uncomfortable to wear.
