Editing 2252: Parenthetical Names
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
+ | {{incomplete|Created by a PARENTHESIS. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | ||
− | + | The use of parentheses is commonly used on {{w|Wikipedia}} to distinguish between different articles where the subject has the same name. Typing "Stealth", for example, would lead to suggestions such as {{w|Stealth (film)}}, {{w|Stealth (video game)}}, and {{w|Stealth (roller coaster)}}. In this comic, Randall depicts the humorous overuse of this disambiguation notation in conversations with friends. Part of the humor in this comic is imagining that Randall's social circle have lots of discussions about things named Sonic, Jack, Popeye, and a battle, which are nevertheless not the Hedgehog, the Ripper, the Sailor Man, or Midway, respectively. | |
− | + | ''{{w|Sonic the Hedgehog (film)|Sonic the Hedgehog}}'' is a movie scheduled for release in February 2020. The film stars an anthropomorphic hedgehog named {{w|Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic}}. When the first trailer was released, the public reacted with shock and horror at the movie's design of Sonic, who was said to fall into the "{{w|uncanny valley}}" by being too anthropomorphic and not cartoony enough. The design was hastily re-developed, which was received much more favorably; evidently, Cueball has warmed to the movie and is asking his friends if they want to go see it. | |
− | + | Sonic is also the name of a {{w|Sonic (train)|train}}, a {{w|Sonic Drive-In|restaurant franchise}}, and a {{w|Sonic (ISP)|Californian internet service provider}}, among other things Randall is trying to avoid confusing the movie with. Perhaps Randall's friends often go to see the restaurant. | |
− | {{w|Jack the Ripper}} is the name attributed to a {{w|serial killer}} active in {{w|London}} in 1888. His true identity has never been confirmed, and he has been featured in {{w|Jack the Ripper in fiction|hundreds of works}}. {{w|Jack (given name)|"Jack"}} is one of the most-common given names for males in much of the Anglosphere. | + | {{w|Jack the Ripper}} is the name attributed to a {{w|serial killer}} active in {{w|London}} in 1888. His true identity has never been confirmed, and he has been featured in {{w|Jack the Ripper in fiction|hundreds of works}}. {{w|Jack (given name)|"Jack"}} is one of the most-common given names for males in much of the Anglosphere, so it is understandable that Randall would need to disambiguate which Jack he is referring to. There are lots of things named Jack, as it is a popular name (''the'' most popular name, in some countries and years), and so in this case it is quite reasonable to clarify which Jack it is that Randall has been reading so many books about. |
− | {{w| | + | American actor {{w|Robin Williams}} played {{w|Popeye the Sailor}} in the 1980 musical-comedy film ''{{w|Popeye (film)|Popeye}}''. Popeye the Sailor is the best-known character named "Popeye", so it is a little unusual that Randall would have to clarify ''which'' Popeye he is referring to. Other Popeyes include {{w|Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle}} from ''{{w|The French Connection}}'' and the criminal {{w|Popeye (Faulkner character)|Popeye}} from {{w|William Faulkner|William Faulkner's}} novel ''{{w|Sanctuary (Faulkner novel)|Sanctuary}}''. Like "Sonic", there is a restaurant chain named "{{w|Popeyes}}", which is the second-largest fast-food chicken restaurant chain in the world (after KFC). The founder of Popeyes claimed he named the restaurant after the ''French Connection'' character, and not the sailor, but from 1971 to 2006, Popeyes did license the cartoon characters and used them in promotions. |
− | The title-text alters the pattern slightly by discussing the {{w| | + | The title-text alters the pattern slightly by discussing the {{w|battle of Midway}} (i.e. the X '''of''' Y). This case has additional humor because Randall clarifies which battle he is talking about, but not which of the several movies depicting the battle (although he was most likely referring to the film released in November 2019, simply called {{w|Midway (2019 film)|''Midway''}}). |
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+ | == Trivia == | ||
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+ | Randall has previously illustrated the awkward use of disambiguating syntax in [[1917: How to Make Friends]]. | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | + | {{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | |
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− | + | [Cueball stands, holding his phone. Text message boxes are above him.] | |
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+ | Do you want to go see Sonic (the Hedgehog)? | ||
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+ | Why are there so many books about Jack (the Ripper)? | ||
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+ | I didn't know Robin Williams once played Popeye (the Sailor Man) | ||
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+ | [Caption below the panel:] | ||
− | + | My Hobby: | |
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+ | Whenever I mention anyone called "<Name> the <X>," I like to put "the <X>" in parentheses, like I added it as a clarification | ||
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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