I'm totally late for work this morning, but I have to take time to blog because today is one of the most momentous and historically significant events ever in this comic strip: Dawn attends an actual class!
After years of claiming to attend Local U, we finally have the proof. A class. A psychology class. Which we didn't need our narrator to point out for us, given the psych lingo on the white board, and that vest.
She's studying psychology, which explains how adept she is at interacting with Jim. And after reading panel 2, I think we can look forward to a lot more stalking on Dawn's part. Thanks, professor!
Exactly how does this stray comment from her teacher apply here? Dawn is the one who set up the "wall" ("Our relationship can only go to this point but no further.") Jim is the one who made the advances but was too lazy or emotionally screwed up to persue her.
ReplyDeleteAny psychologists out there who can explain?
@Mike in Cleveland, sorry, nope, I'm a historian. (And this is, as Wanders remarks, a truly historic moment in MW annals.) However, I can speak to the professor. After spending the greater part of my life on college campuses, I've gotta back Uncle Joe on this one. I've met some who dress exactly like that, down to the beard and the vest. I could introduce you to one right now (heckuva nice guy). What bothers me is the stuff on the board. They should be heading into the last week of the semester, and he's still doing the elementary basics? Or perhaps Dawn is in the remedial section for people who are just getting around to attending?
ReplyDeleteI had an American Lit professor who looked & dressed exactly like this psych prof.
ReplyDeleteAnyway.
Poor Jim. Now he is nothing but a one-armed torso, angrily radiating light.
Also, perhaps Dawn's daydreaming about her own life during class lectures is why she cannot get out of college in a more timely manner.
That, and her hours-long lunches and dawdling by THE PIER.
Historic indeed, Wanders! Maybe someday we will see Dawn in Professor Chinbeard's class, with "William Shakespeare," "Robert Burns," and "Jane Austen" scrawled on the board. BTW, Mary must have donated some of her dull gray books to Local University. I do wonder what that random monitor is doing on the desk - Joe Giella's attempt to convey that newfangled computer technology?
ReplyDeleteI nominate the second panel for a Worthy Award. Jim's torso emerging from/sinking into a puddle (take your pick) is brilliant, just brilliant!
This twist could be awesome - maybe turning into Misery with Dawn breaking down Jim by first breaking his ankles so he can't get away from her.
ReplyDeleteDawn seemingly hasn't noticed Jim sitting right there beside her. (He must be behind one of those walls).
ReplyDeleteSo now comes the deep psychological explanation for "just wanting to be friends." Remember, Ms. Moy, a little learning is a dangerous thing.
ReplyDeleteSee! I knew Jim was really Aquaman!
ReplyDeleteDo your self a favor Jim: hang ou with the dolphins instead. They'll give your life porpoise.
(yes bad, but can you say it is worse than the writing in this strip?)
Panel 2 is a definite Panel of the Year Candidate! I saw one of these one-armed legless torsos on The Walking Dead.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, that second panel of Jim’s melting nether regions and Dawn's dopey face is priceless! That is not to say that I don't admire all that panel 1 has to offer. What a treasure trove of information/entertainment. Love the fact that not only is there such "diversity" among the student body, as Wanders’ secrete message already mentioned, but they are also dressed and groomed ever so nicely. I know we are treated to only two of Dawn's classmates, but judging from previous experience, I think we can safely conclude that they are fully representative of the student body of RSCC. I have a 20-year-old son in college. The day he goes to class in a dress shirt with his hair all pomaded and slicked back is the day I stop reading this blog. Which is never, of course. Hahahahaha, as my good friend Jill would say!
ReplyDeleteLes Moore from Funky Winkerbean makes a guest appearance as the professor.
ReplyDeleteGood call @Kathyo.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous--your panel of the year candidate draws on the same artistic qualities as last year's (or has it been two--I lose track of time in the Worthiverse) with Mary's creepy floating window reflection.
I like the mention of Carl Jung on the board, he of the 'Colective Unconcious"--exactly how Dawn lives her life, and what the strip is lulling us into.
Id, Ego, and DREAMS? Pretty sure the last one is Super Ego, professor. Then again if the professor um... "attended college" the way Dawn is, I'm positive he didn't learn anything.
ReplyDelete"I'm pretty sure Jung and Freud are important people. I don't know what they did, but I'm going to underline the HELL out of them!"
It's really gotta be tough for the bots out there these days.
ReplyDeleteIf I ever do manage to find my way to a tenure-track position (fingers crossed), I have decided to dress like this guy on my first day of classes.
ReplyDeleteThat should weed out all non-hackers all by itself.
- spencer
The reason Dawn doesn't attend class more often is that the professor stands off to the side instead of in front of the students. In order to see the board, Dawn has to turn her neck 90 degrees, which is an ergonomic nightmare which will cause chronic pain if she has to do it too often.
ReplyDeleteI once saw one of those radiating shrill person things, but it was just the mescal talking.
ReplyDelete@Mike in Cleveland, I think the implication is that Jim has set up a wall by jumping to the conclusion that Dawn is turned off by his missing arm, becoming extremely angry, refusing to listen to her explanation, and not answering her phone calls. The professor's theory (which I've never heard before) would encourage Dawn to keep trying to break down that wall. Jim wasn't lazy, he was too aggressive, IMO.
ReplyDelete@heydave You made my day.
ReplyDeleteAnother Panel of the Year contender!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if this is one of those dreams that so many people have...where you don't realize you've enrolled in a class until the last week or so, and it's too late to withdraw, and you have to take the final. That might explain the list of names on the board. And the professor's vest.
--Beagle Vet