Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson
(2008-2009)
(March 2013)
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Coincidentally, I read these over the
weekend of St. Patrick’s Day, or ‘St. Paddy’s Day’ as an American colleague referred
to it when we were saying our goodbyes on the Friday. He was hoping I had a
good one, and while I appreciated the sentiment the only reason I know it’s on
March 17th is because I googled it just before writing this.
I’m English, you see. There’s what you
could call ‘a bit of history’ between the English and the Irish, which means
that big nationalistic celebrations don’t really travel all that well across
the Irish Sea. It reminds me of the time a Japanese colleague asked me if I
could do a Thanksgiving lesson; “Well, not really. A lot of what they give
thanks for is the fact they successfully got away from England.”
On that note though, the ‘St. Paddy’s Day Effect’ is a big reason why I don’t get too upset about the more ridiculous
aspects of Japanese (mis)appropriation of Western festivals: the apocryphal ‘Santa
on a cross’ christmas displays or the thumping assault of confectionary
advertising in the run up to Halloween and Valentine’s. I’ve never experienced
St. Patrick’s Day in either Ireland or America (or anywhere, in fact), but an
Irish friend who’s done both assures me that the American urge to dye their
beer green is just as innocently misguided as the Japanese predilection for
queuing up outside KFC on December 25th. Both represent a reaching
for something from outside that isn’t normally available within their
respective cultures.
I’m not going to expand on that here,
though feel free to pitch in in the comments. I’m only mentioning it because
St. Patrick’s Day forms the backdrop to one of the plot strands in We Gotta Go Now. For the record, while I
do slightly play up to the image of the stiff-upper-lipped English gent, I
also have very immediate Celtic forbears. They just come from the North instead
of the West – Wee Hugie’s neck of the woods – and so I’ve had a decent number
of conversations like the one below. With Americans and Japanese both. And, if
I’m being completely fair, with Brits when talking about Japan –
I didn't know they coloured their beer green. St Patrick's day in Australia just seems an excuse for the pubs to put on promotions and for backpackers and whoever to get sloshed.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about the Thanksgiving thing either.
I am glad that I don't have to worry about Easter now. I am always reminded of it by Facebook posts complaining about how they ran out of grog and can't buy any on Good Friday.
The bottle shops close of good Friday?
DeleteThat's one of the things I genuinely love about Japan, that New Year's aside, shops are always open and not shut on randomly assigned days.
Yes, the alcohol laws are pretty strict and it can't be sold in supermarkets etc. Everyone keeps a stash at home and the laws are possibly a good idea as it is a nation full of pissheads.
DeleteI agree with your point though.
That 2nd cover looks like National Lampoons Animal House Movie poster
ReplyDeleteAh, that's what it is. I figured it was a homage/rip-off of something, but couldn't quite place it. Thank you.
DeleteMaybe you should tell them that you celebrate Thanksgiving because everyone in England is thankful that you got us crazies out of your hair?
ReplyDeleteI never celebrated St. Paddy's until I came to Seattle, which would be 30 years without it. Now I only care because corned beef goes on sale and we stock up.
It'd be a few months earlier though, wouldn't it? Wikipedia tells me that Thankchristthey'vegonenow Day would be some time in July.
DeleteI'm trying, but I can't for the life of me see the connection between St Patrick's Day and corned beef. Care to explain?
Uncertain. Apparently we think that all Irish people eat corned beef? All I know is that it was $1.69/lbs, which is insanely cheap for beef, so we bought three. Beyond that I know nothing about this Patrick character.
DeleteYou have a good point - July 4th should be a time of great celebration for you. I wouldn't wish us on anyone.
As long as there's good food and booze involved, I don't feel the least bit guilty about misappropriating holiday celebrations. But, the green beer thing? I mean, just sell pints of fucking Guiness at half price and call it good.
ReplyDeleteAmerica, as a whole, just doesn't seem to understand beer. Sad but true, I feel. Have you ever had a real Budweiser? Anheuser-Busch should get sued for libel.
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