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| | ==Explanation== | | ==Explanation== |
| − | [[Megan]] is telling [[Cueball]] about some of her literary opinions: She believes that {{w|William S. Burroughs}}, {{w|Hunter S. Thompson}}, {{w|Chuck Palahniuk}}, and {{w|David Foster Wallace}} are different names for the same person. Many authors write under {{w|pen name|pen names}} for some of their works, or even several different pen names. Sometimes people come to believe that different people are actually a same person, which is known as the {{w|Fregoli delusion}}; the person is usually believed to change appearance. | + | {{incomplete|Hunter S Thompson was high while writing it. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} |
| | + | [[Megan]] is telling [[Cueball]] about a literary opinion she has: She believes that {{w|William S. Burroughs}}, {{w|Hunter S. Thompson}}, {{w|Chuck Palahniuk}}, and {{w|David Foster Wallace}} are different names for the same person. She then says that {{w|Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas}} (by Hunter S. Thompson) and {{w|Fight Club (novel)|Fight Club}} (by Chuck Palahniuk) are the same book with different covers. This could be the case, as some books have different covers and titles in different regions, and some have changed titles. |
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| − | She then says that ''{{w|Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas}}'' (by Thompson) and ''{{w|Fight Club (novel)|Fight Club}}'' (by Palahniuk) are the same book with different covers, probably because the title and promotional images for both hint at fighting taking place in a big city (i.e., she is literally {{w|Don't judge a book by its cover|judging the books by their covers}}), when in reality the books are vastly different. Books sometimes have [https://www.rifflebooks.com/list/170553 different covers and titles in different regions]. That said, ''Fight Club'' does contain a plot twist where two "different" things turn out to be the same thing (see [[109: Spoiler Alert]] for more information).
| + | However, when Cueball says that he has both books and asks Megan if she wants to check, she says she does not, and continues by trying to tell Cueball another one of her opinions. This prompts Cueball to interrupt her, telling her that she should start a book club for discussing books she refuses to read. This implies that all her opinions are baseless, as she hasn't read any of the books she has opinions on. |
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| − | Cueball's attempt at a reality check (proposing to actually open the books she is talking about) is met with disinterest. It becomes clear that Megan just wants to share her weird beliefs and does not care if they can be proven false - a theme that previously appeared in [[1717: Pyramid Honey]]. | + | Megan finishes telling him her opinion, which is that {{w|E.B. White}} and {{w|T.H. White}} are the same person. This is apparently an opinion that Cueball can agree with, as he tells her that he believes it. This is likely a joke that the two names are hard to distinguish due to the having the same last name with only initials instead of a first name. In reality, the books they authored are very different, with E.B. White writing children's books (Charlotte's Web, etc.) and T.H. White writing books about King Arthur (The Sword and the Stone, et al). |
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| − | As a last resort, Cueball humorously proposes she should start a {{w|Book discussion club|book club}} to discuss the books she has not read. This may be to congregate all people who criticize books without reading them, or in hopes that it will be attended by people who have read the book and can prove to Megan her opinions are baseless.
| + | The title text continues with this, with [[Randall]] saying that he can distinguish between {{w|John Steinbeck}} and {{w|John Updike}}, as well as between {{w|Gore Vidal}} and {{w|Vidal Sassoon}}, but he can't do so simultaneously. Again this is likely due to the similarities in their names. Additionally, this could be a nod to the {{w|heisenberg uncertainty principle}}. |
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| − | Megan finishes telling him her opinion anyway, which is that {{w|E.B. White}} and {{w|T.H. White}} are the same person. This is apparently an opinion that Cueball can agree with, as he tells her that he believes it. This is likely a joke that the two names are hard to distinguish due to the having the same last name with only initials instead of a first name. In reality, the books they authored are very different, with E.B. White writing children's books (''{{w|Charlotte's Web}}'', ''{{w|Stuart Little}}'', etc.) and T.H. White writing adult books about King Arthur (''{{w|The Sword in the Stone}}'' and its sequels), although his works ''were'' adapted into a {{w|The Sword in the Stone (1963 film)|Disney movie}} so they could, to some degree, be considered children's books.
| + | To believe that different people are actually a same person is known as the Fregoli delusion; the person is usually believed to change appearance. |
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| − | The title text continues with this, with Megan saying that she can distinguish between {{w|John Steinbeck}} and {{w|John Updike}}, or between {{w|Gore Vidal}} and {{w|Vidal Sassoon}}, but she can't do so simultaneously. Again this is likely due to the similarities in their names. However, John Steinbeck and John Updike are also easy to confuse because they are both giants of 20th century American literature, whereas Gore Vidal has almost nothing in common with Vidal Sassoon (see chart below).
| + | ==Transcript== |
| − | | + | {{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} |
| − | Additionally, the mention of simultaneity could be a nod to the {{w|Heisenberg uncertainty principle}}, which states that there is a trade-off in precision when simultaneously measuring position and momentum. It could also be a nod to how the brain cannot simultaneously interpret two different things at once, similar to looking at the {{w|Rabbit-duck illusion}}; at any moment, one can only see a duck or a rabbit in the image, but not both at exactly the same time.
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| − | ===Explanation of people mentioned===
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| − | {| class="wikitable"
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| − | ! Name
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| − | ! Description
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| − | | {{w|William S. Burroughs}}
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| − | | (1914–1997), American writer and visual artist. Wrote many semi-autobiographical works, best known for ''{{w|Naked Lunch}}'' and ''{{w|Junkie (novel)|Junkie}}''.
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| − | | {{w|Hunter S. Thompson}}
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| − | | (1937–2005), American journalist and author. Founder of the {{w|Gonzo journalism}} movement. Best known for his novel ''{{w|Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas}}''.
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| − | | {{w|Chuck Palahniuk}}
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| − | | Born 1962, American novelist and freelance journalist from Pasco, Washington. Best known for his novel ''{{w|Fight Club (novel)|Fight Club}}''.
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| − | | {{w|David Foster Wallace}}
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| − | | (1962–2008), American writer and university professor for English and creative writing. Best known for his novel ''{{w|Infinite Jest}}''.
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| − | | {{w|E.B. White}}
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| − | | (1899–1985), American writer. Co-author of the English language style guide ''{{w|The Elements of Style}}''. Also known for his children's books, including ''{{w|Stuart Little}}'', ''{{w|Charlotte's Web}}'', and ''{{w|The Trumpet of the Swan}}''.
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| − | | {{w|T.H. White}}
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| − | | (1906–1964), English author. Known for his Arthurian novel series, ''{{w|The Once and Future King}}''.
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| − | | {{w|John Steinbeck}}
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| − | | (1902–1968), American novelist. Known for his novels set in Central California, including ''{{w|Tortilla Flat}}'', ''{{w|Cannery Row (novel)|Cannery Row}}'', ''{{w|East of Eden (novel)|East of Eden}}'', ''{{w|Of Mice and Men}}'', and ''{{w|The Grapes of Wrath}}''.
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| − | | {{w|John Updike}}
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| − | | (1932–2009), American novelist, poet, short-story writer, art critic, and literary critic. Known for his prolific career and for his "Rabbit" series, chronicling the life of {{w|Rabbit Angstrom}}.
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| − | | {{w|Gore Vidal}}
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| − | | (1925–2012), American writer and public intellectual. A political commentator and essayist, as well as a novelist.
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| − | | {{w|Vidal Sassoon}}
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| − | | (1928–2012), British-American hairstylist, businessman, and fashion icon. Founded a worldwide chain of hairstyling salons as well as a line of hair treatment products. A philanthropist later in life.
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| − | |}
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| − | ==Transcript==
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| | :[Megan is walking with a finger raised toward Cueball, who is seated in a chair with a book.] | | :[Megan is walking with a finger raised toward Cueball, who is seated in a chair with a book.] |
| | :Megan: Literary opinion: | | :Megan: Literary opinion: |
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| | :[Megan puts down her hand.] | | :[Megan puts down her hand.] |
| − | :Megan: ''Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'' and ''Fight Club''? Same book with different covers, I bet. | + | :Megan: '''''Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas''''' and '''''Fight Club'''''? Same book with different covers, I bet. |
| | :Cueball: I have both. Want to open them and check? | | :Cueball: I have both. Want to open them and check? |
| | :Megan: I do not. | | :Megan: I do not. |
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| | :Megan: --is that E.B. White and T.H. White are the same person. | | :Megan: --is that E.B. White and T.H. White are the same person. |
| | :Cueball: Ok, ''that'' I believe. | | :Cueball: Ok, ''that'' I believe. |
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| − | ==Trivia==
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| − | *The much earlier comic [[923: Strunk and White]] from 2011 also mentions E.B. White and ''The Elements of Style'' writing style guide.
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| − | *Also the earlier comic [[1087: Cirith Ungol]] references Charlotte's Web by E.B. White in the title text.
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| − | *The title text of the earlier comic [[1277: Ayn Random]] plays with several people with similar names.
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| | {{comic discussion}} | | {{comic discussion}} |
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| − | [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
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| − | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
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| − | [[Category:Fight Club]]
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