True Stuff from Old Books | David Malki | Talks at Google | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

David Malki's talk discusses the creation of his comic strip, Wondermark, which uses illustrations from old Victorian books to create humorous stories.

Key Insights

• 💢 Wondermark is a comic strip that utilizes illustrations from Victorian-era books to create humorous stories.
• 🕰️ David Malki's unique method of creating comics involves piecing together different illustrations to create characters and scenarios.
• 🥶 Malki's perusal of old books led him to discover interesting articles and stories from the past, providing a glimpse into the cultural and scientific interests of the Victorian era.
• 💢 The humor found in Victorian-era content often relied on puns, wordplay, and absurd scenarios.
• 😑 The Victorian era was a time of great technological advancements, but some individuals expressed concerns about the negative consequences of progress.
• 👶 Victorian children's literature often focused on moralistic teachings and discouraged active or adventurous behavior in children.
• 🙂 Tobacco and alcohol consumption were commonly portrayed in a negative light in Victorian society.
• 🍼 The popularity of milk punch, a concoction of brandy and milk, highlights the Victorians' interest in medicinal beverages.
• 💢 Scientific American was a prominent publication during the Victorian era that covered various topics of interest, including inventions, scientific advancements, and humorous columns.
• 🫷 Aeronauts like Hiram S Maxim and Washington Harrison Donaldson pushed the boundaries of flight, often putting themselves in dangerous situations.

Transcript

Read and summarize the transcript of this video on Glasp Reader (beta).

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the concept behind David Malki's comic strip, Wondermark?

Wondermark is a comic strip that uses illustrations from Victorian-era books to create humorous stories. Malki pieces together different illustrations to form unique characters and scenarios, making it a distinct form of comic creation.

Q: How does David Malki find the illustrations for his comic strip?

Malki sources illustrations from catalogs, magazines, and books from the Victorian era, particularly from the 1860s to 1890s. He also receives contributions from people who send him boxes of old images.

Q: What are some examples of the interesting facts and stories David Malki has found while exploring old books?

Malki shares an article from the 1870s about the beard movement, which argues that shaving is ridiculous and violates nature's laws. He also highlights a failed invention called the glossograph, which aimed to record speech by measuring movements in the mouth.

Q: How did David Malki accidentally stumble upon his unique comic-making technique?

Malki explains that his technique of using pieces of different illustrations to create characters came about through experimentation. He notes that others had used similar methods, but he believes he is the best at this style of comic creation.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• David Malki describes his comic strip, Wondermark, which uses illustrations from Victorian-era books to create humorous stories.

• He explains how he pieces together different illustrations to create unique characters and scenarios.

• Malki shares interesting facts and stories he has discovered while perusing old books, such as articles on the beard movement and failed inventions.