Popular cartoonist to discuss her work
Ah, life in the suburbs.
Indoor water parks, malls on every corner, landscaped everything and parents running kids from soccer to dance to Scouts to baseball.
Sometimes you've just got to look at the whole picture and laugh -- which is exactly what cartoonist Julie Larson will be doing when she visits from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Schaumburg Township District Library, 130 S. Roselle Road.
Larson's syndicated comic, "The Dinette Set," appears in the Daily Herald and has quite a large following. Probably because most families can relate to, as she describes it, "the in-depth study of banality and entitlement within American middle class culture."
According to "The Dinette Set" Web site, the comic strip "takes a wryly brutal aim at the world of mindless consumerism and the mentality that fosters it. 'The Dinette' satirizes middle class culture, incorporating thought-provoking observations of the human condition that viewers will instantly identify with. The little notes to self that inhabit the backgrounds via T-shirts, kitchen chalkboards and coffee mugs are priceless."
The comic strip features the Penny family, along with their friends and neighbors. Nearly all of us have encountered the Pennys in some form or another. We work with them, live next door to them, run into them at the grocery store and, every now and then, we are them.
This crazy group of characters is so lovable as they slaughter the English language and basic social graces that Larson has published several "Dinette Set" books. Her newest, "The Entitled," will be available for purchase and autographing after her library presentation.
As with many of us, Julie Larson's childhood played an important role in who she became as an adult. She grew up in a fun family of seven in Lincoln, Ill., a small town surrounded by cornfields.
With only three channels on TV and miles of open space around, Julie and her siblings had ample time and room to create their own fun.
"My family always had a terrific sense of humor and never hushed laughter at the dinner table," Julie says.
Irreverent behavior and pranks amongst the youngsters filled any doldrums. Humor was a daily part of life.
Julie's artistic talent led to her becoming the family member in charge of making birthday cards. Combining her talent and humor, Julie created cards that targeted each person's personality in a way that brought laughs from all who saw them.
During her library presentation, Julie will talk about how she got started, the business of comic syndication itself, and how she developed the cartoon over the years."
"I'll talk about where I get my ideas, the writing and drawing mechanics, and deadlines, and then open it up to a question/answer session. I like hearing from others who have had their own 'Dinette Set' experiences, as well as those who just want to generally comment on the subject of satirizing middle class America itself. It's always fun."
Admission is free. To register for the presentation, call (847) 923-3347.