FA+
Shop
800
Views
Views
25
Favorites
Favorites
Category
All / Fantasy
Species Wolf
Size 851 x 800
File Size 126.5 kB
Report this content
More from lionus
In December of 1843, “A Christmas Carol”, written by Charles Dickens, was first published. This was a time when the British were examining and exploring Christmas traditions both of the past as well as new customs such as the exchange of Christmas cards and Christmas trees (surely looked upon as perhaps “commercialization”). Carol singing also took on a new lease on life during this time.
“A Christmas Carol” has remained in print for the past one hundred and seventy-one years and been adapted many times to television, film, stage, opera, and other media including animation.
I must admit to a life-long love of the story … and yes, Christmas too.
This digital greeting card is based on the scene in the first Act of the story where Nephew Fred, full of good cheer, explains the reason for his visit to his cold miserly Uncle Ebenezer Scrooge -- the exchange of what to Scrooge was a “politically incorrect“ well wish.
“A Christmas Carol” has remained in print for the past one hundred and seventy-one years and been adapted many times to television, film, stage, opera, and other media including animation.
I must admit to a life-long love of the story … and yes, Christmas too.
This digital greeting card is based on the scene in the first Act of the story where Nephew Fred, full of good cheer, explains the reason for his visit to his cold miserly Uncle Ebenezer Scrooge -- the exchange of what to Scrooge was a “politically incorrect“ well wish.
Category All / Fantasy
Species Wolf
Size 851 x 800px
File Size 126.5 kB
Aside from my three DVD copies (the 1951 Alastair Sim version, the George C. Scott version, and the Patrick Stewart version), I will still watch any broadcast of any version when I can catch it on TV.
And he was as good as his word, and infinitely better. He kept Christmas in his heart every day of the year.
Merry Christmas Red.
And he was as good as his word, and infinitely better. He kept Christmas in his heart every day of the year.
Merry Christmas Red.
Dickens was a very astute observer of human behavior. He was also keenly aware of some of the social problems of his own time. That he was able to weave it skillfully into the stories and myths that surround this dark and inhospitable time of year into an entertaining and up-lifting ghost story is a mark of his timeless genius.
Christmas still rings true today since along with the promise of a reawakening from the darkness & cold of Winter to the eventual warmth and sunshine of a Spring, Christmas is the perfect time for each of us to stop and appreciate the warmth and support that we daily receive from our friends and family -- and perhaps reflect some of that warmth and support out to our larger “family“.
PS> Thanks for noticing me in the role of Scrooge's under-paid, over-worked clerk, Bob Cratchett. You'll see more of me/him in up-coming editions of my annual Christmas Card.
Merry Christmas
Christmas still rings true today since along with the promise of a reawakening from the darkness & cold of Winter to the eventual warmth and sunshine of a Spring, Christmas is the perfect time for each of us to stop and appreciate the warmth and support that we daily receive from our friends and family -- and perhaps reflect some of that warmth and support out to our larger “family“.
PS> Thanks for noticing me in the role of Scrooge's under-paid, over-worked clerk, Bob Cratchett. You'll see more of me/him in up-coming editions of my annual Christmas Card.
Merry Christmas
*nods* I much more prefer the traditional Christmas carols and only a very few of the Christmas songs. When Christmas songs are “sung“(?) by modern singers it seems like a “Look at how different I can sing this song’ than any meaning that is generally associated with the words of the song -- or even proper pronunciation of the words. I think that "Last Christmas" is one of these.
[Comment Hidden (above) is mine. Doubled words. ]
[Comment Hidden (above) is mine. Doubled words. ]
Actually my Christmas was very nice -- and I was given some very nice gifts that I like.
I spent a quiet New Years Eve and New Years Day that was bright, sunny cold (so far no major snow storms).
How was your Christmas and New Year’s Day? Anything unusual or remarkable happen to you for your family?
I spent a quiet New Years Eve and New Years Day that was bright, sunny cold (so far no major snow storms).
How was your Christmas and New Year’s Day? Anything unusual or remarkable happen to you for your family?
As I go about the house setting up the Christmas tree, or wrapping gifts, or drawing my Christmas Card, I have some version of Christmas Carol playing on the television or on my computer (Orson Welles’ radio broadcast) and so I get to relive Scrooge’s “reawakening” again and again -- and am made the better for it.
Merry Christmas NeoLatios. May your New Year be filled with an overabundance of smiles and happiness *hug*
Merry Christmas NeoLatios. May your New Year be filled with an overabundance of smiles and happiness *hug*
As in Jeopardy - here is the answer - "It was the first animated holiday program ever produced specifically for television, originally airing in December 1962." And the question is?
One of my favorites that I enjoyed so much growing up in the 1960's (I am ancient, yes!)
Nice work, and I hope you have the best of Holidays!
One of my favorites that I enjoyed so much growing up in the 1960's (I am ancient, yes!)
Nice work, and I hope you have the best of Holidays!
Christmas is for the kid still inside each of us, even if we express our kid’s wonder by mounting a tiny crepe and wire just-under-5-inch tall “tree” designed for display in a mantel Christmas village scene on our cluttered bureau top or atop our small apartment television while in towns and cities their Christmas trees are towering.
What brings us Christmas doesn’t have to be monumental. In fact, like age, they both spring from what is inside us. We truly can be as old as we believe we are and … tonight, when you are laying in bed, spend a couple of moments as you fall asleep to listen for the sound of sleigh bells and the thumpity-thump of hoof beats on the roof. That’s what Christmas is all about.
A merry Christmas to you, Jvanankat, filled with happiness and smiles.
What brings us Christmas doesn’t have to be monumental. In fact, like age, they both spring from what is inside us. We truly can be as old as we believe we are and … tonight, when you are laying in bed, spend a couple of moments as you fall asleep to listen for the sound of sleigh bells and the thumpity-thump of hoof beats on the roof. That’s what Christmas is all about.
A merry Christmas to you, Jvanankat, filled with happiness and smiles.
"A Christmas Carrol" has got to be one of the most beloved
Holiday stories of all time. It's theme of redemption through
supernatural themes is so powerful, that it's even influenced
one of my stories. Thank you for posting this Lionus. I look
forward to your Christmas drawing, every year. And for some
reason, I think this one will find an especially fond place in
my heart. Merry Christmas, Lionus. *hugs*
Holiday stories of all time. It's theme of redemption through
supernatural themes is so powerful, that it's even influenced
one of my stories. Thank you for posting this Lionus. I look
forward to your Christmas drawing, every year. And for some
reason, I think this one will find an especially fond place in
my heart. Merry Christmas, Lionus. *hugs*
It truly is a gift to me when one of my little picture strikes some echoing response in a viewer. I am glad that you and other of my viewers are not put off by my borrowing of Mister Dickens’ ghost story, but take it in the spirit that it is offered. A gift that like Nephew Fred’s, is not in exchange for anything, but merely my way of saying Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas Serath, and may it’s warmth extend for you all year long.
Merry Christmas Serath, and may it’s warmth extend for you all year long.
rankin/bass did one in the 70s called "The Stingiest Man In Town". Roommate wants a tshirt of the scrooge character with the words "Humanity? Insanity!" a line from the song. Considering how the holidays have been for years and steadily seem to be getting worse, it is appropriate.
Though the holiday colors still work. Red and Green. Though now it is red for blood and green for money.
Though the holiday colors still work. Red and Green. Though now it is red for blood and green for money.
Now see, I tend to disagree with the popular opinion (that was popular even in Dickens’ time) that the day is over-commercialized.
Who of us is eloquent enough, or bold enough, to express our true feelings to each and every person in our lives? Rather, a simple gift hopefully can serve as a token that expresses our feelings instead.
That some folks become competitive in that pursuit and try to “beat” other gift-givers … or shallow gift-receivers who measure and compare what they are given against that received by others says something more about the selfishness of some (not all) people than it does about the state of human society in general. This might serve as the basis for another “Christmas Carol” to be written by a latter-day Dickens among us.
Merry Christmas, Rabbit_Chaser
Who of us is eloquent enough, or bold enough, to express our true feelings to each and every person in our lives? Rather, a simple gift hopefully can serve as a token that expresses our feelings instead.
That some folks become competitive in that pursuit and try to “beat” other gift-givers … or shallow gift-receivers who measure and compare what they are given against that received by others says something more about the selfishness of some (not all) people than it does about the state of human society in general. This might serve as the basis for another “Christmas Carol” to be written by a latter-day Dickens among us.
Merry Christmas, Rabbit_Chaser
I say it is commercialized not basing it on the individuals. When I use the term commercialized, I am talking about businesses. They hype christmas months in advance, they try to sell products to so many people. To me the term "commercialized" means like a commercial, to sell something. To so many businesses they care more about getting people to buy what they have, than they do the customers. I can see alot of people think commercialized means something else entirely.
And I have not said that everyone is like that, but just going out and about into stores one can see that more and more people are becoming the same when it comes to christmas.
I have books by William Horwood, who did a wonderful job in keeping Kenneth Grahame's Wind in the Willows characters alive. In one of his book is a christmas tradition called "The Uninvited Guest". which I think is a wonderful tradition to bring back.
And I have not said that everyone is like that, but just going out and about into stores one can see that more and more people are becoming the same when it comes to christmas.
I have books by William Horwood, who did a wonderful job in keeping Kenneth Grahame's Wind in the Willows characters alive. In one of his book is a christmas tradition called "The Uninvited Guest". which I think is a wonderful tradition to bring back.
While there are nobler reasons and traditions to Christmas, gift-giving and gift-receiving are FUN.
In choosing a gift for someone else, we spend large amounts of time THINKING about that particular person (and what they may or may not like to receive). Do we spend that much time and effort thinking about them and what they like or dislike at any other time of the year?
Receiving a gift changes us in a way. We see ourselves through the receipt of the gift as a new and different person -- a neat new toy or video game to play, clean new unworn socks to wear, or perhaps a silly “gag gift” that gently rubs our funny bone and makes us smile. All evidence of someone having thought of us -- and for a brief moment, we understand that we are not ALONE in life.
Now I will agree that the continual advertising to encourage us to buy gifts for giving can and does become annoying (how many brand new automobiles can one buy for one’s friends and family?), I also understand and accept that there is a commercial side to almost every aspect of civilized life in a society and the folks who provide that side should be paid for their efforts and labor. Why should they not?
[CH is mine -- misspelled critical word )
In choosing a gift for someone else, we spend large amounts of time THINKING about that particular person (and what they may or may not like to receive). Do we spend that much time and effort thinking about them and what they like or dislike at any other time of the year?
Receiving a gift changes us in a way. We see ourselves through the receipt of the gift as a new and different person -- a neat new toy or video game to play, clean new unworn socks to wear, or perhaps a silly “gag gift” that gently rubs our funny bone and makes us smile. All evidence of someone having thought of us -- and for a brief moment, we understand that we are not ALONE in life.
Now I will agree that the continual advertising to encourage us to buy gifts for giving can and does become annoying (how many brand new automobiles can one buy for one’s friends and family?), I also understand and accept that there is a commercial side to almost every aspect of civilized life in a society and the folks who provide that side should be paid for their efforts and labor. Why should they not?
[CH is mine -- misspelled critical word )
Why do we need the speech balloon, I wonder?
See, I wish I knew why this story was so GOOD. Not beloved, but good. It is beloved, of course, but we come back because it worries us... We all know a Scrooge of some sort...
It also doesn't hurt that it's one of the easiest stories to set around your cast, innit?
Now you've gotten me wondering how furries grow bald. We're like fairies, everyone's full of glamour. Perhaps it simply darkens and grows pungent, like dogs do...
See, I wish I knew why this story was so GOOD. Not beloved, but good. It is beloved, of course, but we come back because it worries us... We all know a Scrooge of some sort...
It also doesn't hurt that it's one of the easiest stories to set around your cast, innit?
Now you've gotten me wondering how furries grow bald. We're like fairies, everyone's full of glamour. Perhaps it simply darkens and grows pungent, like dogs do...
There are some stories, fables or myths that are passed down through the years (even through the centuries) because readers or listeners both then and now can identify with them.
The stories, fables and myths are more about the human condition that we all share as human beings rather than any particular person place or time. Aesop’s fables for instance. The return of life from the dead or winter to the reawakening of spring. Retribution and the cry for Justice as another.
Joseph Campbell dealt with these recurring connections that exist in certain stories, fables and myths down through the ages in his book, “Hero of a Thousand Faces”. “Connections” which sometimes help us see ourselves better than we might perceive the characters in the story. I think “A Christmas Carol” is one of these stories and explains it’s enduring popularity.
As to the speech balloon, two reasons. First, not all furry viewers may be familiar with Dickens’ story, and secondly, I wanted to direct the viewer’s particular attention to Nephew Fred pointing out TO Scrooge that all gestures of Christmas goodwill are not motivated by the expectation “getting something” but towards the simple intent of sharing goodwill which is surely the spirit of the day.
As to Scrooge’s baldness, until a “bible” is published of what characteristics and in what proportions those characteristics should be to constitute an anthropomorphic character (part human and animal), who is to establish how much of one species and how much of the other is “right“?
From a purely artistic standpoint, baldness is merely one of the easily associated visual symbols that an artist might use to portray the aged character of Scrooge. After all, why can't furries grow old?
The stories, fables and myths are more about the human condition that we all share as human beings rather than any particular person place or time. Aesop’s fables for instance. The return of life from the dead or winter to the reawakening of spring. Retribution and the cry for Justice as another.
Joseph Campbell dealt with these recurring connections that exist in certain stories, fables and myths down through the ages in his book, “Hero of a Thousand Faces”. “Connections” which sometimes help us see ourselves better than we might perceive the characters in the story. I think “A Christmas Carol” is one of these stories and explains it’s enduring popularity.
As to the speech balloon, two reasons. First, not all furry viewers may be familiar with Dickens’ story, and secondly, I wanted to direct the viewer’s particular attention to Nephew Fred pointing out TO Scrooge that all gestures of Christmas goodwill are not motivated by the expectation “getting something” but towards the simple intent of sharing goodwill which is surely the spirit of the day.
As to Scrooge’s baldness, until a “bible” is published of what characteristics and in what proportions those characteristics should be to constitute an anthropomorphic character (part human and animal), who is to establish how much of one species and how much of the other is “right“?
From a purely artistic standpoint, baldness is merely one of the easily associated visual symbols that an artist might use to portray the aged character of Scrooge. After all, why can't furries grow old?
Trust me, I'm going over another piece with Joseph Campbell's stuff, I love anything you'd have to say about it. <3
I was just in a conversation with my hairdresser about some people that are famous because they play to our fears to the human condition. Marilyn Monroe was wonderful and glamorous, but we still tell her story because, on a basic level, she speaks to a very modern fear (that fame and fortune and shagging presidents and everything you're supposed to hope for won't actually fix the hole in yourself and will probably rob you of your humanity when you turn into an icon). Ryan Larkin, all the artists know of his sad fate, because he's what we all fear - finding you have nothing to say, losing your power to create, an awful relationship torpedoes your life, and you go from Oscar nominee to homeless panhandler?
So while sometimes we try to be sad, usually it's from something we're afraid of ourselves.
I think this story is the same thing - we all remember how much Christmas stopped feeling like Christmas since we were kids, and worry we'll turn into humbugs. Set any other time of year the story wouldn't have the same impact. We're afraid of being him. And, on a second level, if we're confident that we're NOT him, we're heartwarmed at the man who changed. So here's the question - do you identify with Scrooge or with Cratchit, or are you a distended observer? I'm convinced that we start off as the latter and move to the former as we grow up, as it were, and that's why no one ever gets tired of it. "Blind Man in the Bleachers" and Dickens' own Little Nell are risible now because there's heartstrings aplenty but nothing that can hold an uncomfortable mirror up to you. The reason the monomyth persists is that we see some truth in its structure - the monomyth is how it feels to learn something and grow up
Still skeptical - who isn't familiar with the story? - but I see your reasoning. I'd have done a caption, but this works just as well!
It's something I've never seen before, don't mistake my surprise for disapproval! It's actually kinda neat. I'm trying to wean myself off the habit of relying on stock traits for things like oldness...
I was just in a conversation with my hairdresser about some people that are famous because they play to our fears to the human condition. Marilyn Monroe was wonderful and glamorous, but we still tell her story because, on a basic level, she speaks to a very modern fear (that fame and fortune and shagging presidents and everything you're supposed to hope for won't actually fix the hole in yourself and will probably rob you of your humanity when you turn into an icon). Ryan Larkin, all the artists know of his sad fate, because he's what we all fear - finding you have nothing to say, losing your power to create, an awful relationship torpedoes your life, and you go from Oscar nominee to homeless panhandler?
So while sometimes we try to be sad, usually it's from something we're afraid of ourselves.
I think this story is the same thing - we all remember how much Christmas stopped feeling like Christmas since we were kids, and worry we'll turn into humbugs. Set any other time of year the story wouldn't have the same impact. We're afraid of being him. And, on a second level, if we're confident that we're NOT him, we're heartwarmed at the man who changed. So here's the question - do you identify with Scrooge or with Cratchit, or are you a distended observer? I'm convinced that we start off as the latter and move to the former as we grow up, as it were, and that's why no one ever gets tired of it. "Blind Man in the Bleachers" and Dickens' own Little Nell are risible now because there's heartstrings aplenty but nothing that can hold an uncomfortable mirror up to you. The reason the monomyth persists is that we see some truth in its structure - the monomyth is how it feels to learn something and grow up
Still skeptical - who isn't familiar with the story? - but I see your reasoning. I'd have done a caption, but this works just as well!
It's something I've never seen before, don't mistake my surprise for disapproval! It's actually kinda neat. I'm trying to wean myself off the habit of relying on stock traits for things like oldness...
Wow! Your reply was an after-Christmas Christmas gift. I really enjoyed reading it.
I think Campbell’s identification of the Monomyth is a landmark discovery in both Literature and in human behavior. I have found it as the spine in so many books, movies, ancient myths and actual biographies that I think he gave us a useful thumbnail of individual human existence since it symbolically describe the life of the individual, no matter when or where.
We grow up (the Adventure) with the help of others, parents and teachers (our wizards) and friends (our companions), set out in search of our Golden Fleece (or One Ring of Power), are recognized (or not) when he gain our goal, then hopefully become mentors (wizards) in the last third of our lives for other young heroes and heroines setting out on their own Life Adventure.
As for fame and celebrity status, the Monomyth gives us something to consider. What does the Hero/Heroine do once they have returned from their Adventure, brought the Boon back to the Common Everyday World, been celebrated, only to be ignored and forgotten? What do heroes and heroines do after the audience gets up and leaves the theatre after “The End” appears on the screen? How many people stay to see all the credits giving acknowledgement to the heroes and heroines that gave us the “boon” of the motion picture?
I think what Lincoln said at the end of Robert Sherwood’s play, “Abe Lincoln in Illinois” sums it up nicely -- “And this too shall pass away.” Hollywood celebrities, the feature-lucky particularly, are just as flawed as the minimum wage high school drop-outs destined for homelessness, particularly after they have passed between the bright lights of celebrity status. How much darker is their life-path after they have passed through that short brilliance of celebrity status? The Monomyth touches on it.
As for an artist having nothing more to say, and their artistic pilot-light going out, I think that happens when the artist’s youthful love affair with themselves comes to an end (with the arrival of maturity) and their egoistic habit of illustrating and being interested solely in what they like or dislike eventually becomes boring even for their creativity.
Everyone’s life is littered with “might-have-beens”. The moral behind Christmas Carol is that Scrooge’s life would have been better if he had been a little more sensitive to the lives of those around him instead of being so focused and isolated in his personal pursuit of success.
Lastly, one might list commonly used symbols and representations as ‘stock traits’, but communication itself, whether literal or graphic, consists of the skillful use of specific “stock” words and symbols recognized and understood by the majority of one‘s audience.
To use different words or symbols that carry little or no connotation to the idea in the minds of the audiience runs the risk of confusing or even alienating one’s audience -- to what purpose? Novelty for the sake of the creator of the communication being perceived as novel?
I think Campbell’s identification of the Monomyth is a landmark discovery in both Literature and in human behavior. I have found it as the spine in so many books, movies, ancient myths and actual biographies that I think he gave us a useful thumbnail of individual human existence since it symbolically describe the life of the individual, no matter when or where.
We grow up (the Adventure) with the help of others, parents and teachers (our wizards) and friends (our companions), set out in search of our Golden Fleece (or One Ring of Power), are recognized (or not) when he gain our goal, then hopefully become mentors (wizards) in the last third of our lives for other young heroes and heroines setting out on their own Life Adventure.
As for fame and celebrity status, the Monomyth gives us something to consider. What does the Hero/Heroine do once they have returned from their Adventure, brought the Boon back to the Common Everyday World, been celebrated, only to be ignored and forgotten? What do heroes and heroines do after the audience gets up and leaves the theatre after “The End” appears on the screen? How many people stay to see all the credits giving acknowledgement to the heroes and heroines that gave us the “boon” of the motion picture?
I think what Lincoln said at the end of Robert Sherwood’s play, “Abe Lincoln in Illinois” sums it up nicely -- “And this too shall pass away.” Hollywood celebrities, the feature-lucky particularly, are just as flawed as the minimum wage high school drop-outs destined for homelessness, particularly after they have passed between the bright lights of celebrity status. How much darker is their life-path after they have passed through that short brilliance of celebrity status? The Monomyth touches on it.
As for an artist having nothing more to say, and their artistic pilot-light going out, I think that happens when the artist’s youthful love affair with themselves comes to an end (with the arrival of maturity) and their egoistic habit of illustrating and being interested solely in what they like or dislike eventually becomes boring even for their creativity.
Everyone’s life is littered with “might-have-beens”. The moral behind Christmas Carol is that Scrooge’s life would have been better if he had been a little more sensitive to the lives of those around him instead of being so focused and isolated in his personal pursuit of success.
Lastly, one might list commonly used symbols and representations as ‘stock traits’, but communication itself, whether literal or graphic, consists of the skillful use of specific “stock” words and symbols recognized and understood by the majority of one‘s audience.
To use different words or symbols that carry little or no connotation to the idea in the minds of the audiience runs the risk of confusing or even alienating one’s audience -- to what purpose? Novelty for the sake of the creator of the communication being perceived as novel?
Comments