In this week’s Dilbert, Wally is fired for posting a comic that calls managers drunken lemurs. There’s some background to that story, in case you missed it yesterday on Good Morning America.
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/WaterCooler/story?id=4323900
And here’s the link to the Dilbert series that continues for a few more days.
http://dilbert.com/comics/dilbert/archive/dilbert-20080220.html
One of my ongoing problems in the strip is trying to restore things back to their normal Dilbert universe after something dramatic happens, such as a death or firing or company takeover. Today you will learn, if you don’t already know, a literary phrase that describes how lazy authors resolve this sort of thing.
The phrase is “deus ex machina.” It refers to a bad writer’s trick of having some improbable character arrive at the end of a story and conveniently solve all the problems. It’s considered a cop-out. I use it frequently because comics need quick solutions, and I have plenty of improbable characters to choose from. Look for the deus ex machine to help Wally get his job back in the next few days.
And next time you want to impress someone with your literary knowledge, drop a deus ex machine on them. Act surprised that anyone doesn’t know what it means. More on that phrase…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deus_ex_machina
Since I know you will ask, in the ABC video I am drawing on a Wacom Cintiq 21UX monitor, which is how I create the strip. Here’s a link that shows it:
http://www.wacom.com/cintiq/index.cfm?CMP=KNC-google&HBX_PK=cintiq+21ux&HBX_OU=50&gclid=COGlzZWN2JECFQM7gwodtkMoZg
the link to the series is dead; should read: http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2008-02-20/ after the redesign
Posted by: andorand | May 03, 2008 at 02:05 PM
I just watched the Garfield movie, I haven't seen it in a while but started about the time Garfield was in the castle kitchen with the other animals making lasagna and I got to see it - a drunken lemur - had too much cooking sherry! Excellent!
Posted by: BTTFVGO | March 01, 2008 at 04:42 PM
You should get one of these:
http://www.threadless.com/product/984/Deus_Ex_Machina
Posted by: Annie | February 25, 2008 at 07:50 PM
Haha...that is a complete shame.
Posted by: Daniel Ted Feliciano | February 25, 2008 at 07:21 PM
Patti says:
Scott! I am/was dreaming!
Dilbert, Wally and I just got back from the zoo where we were studying lemurs..alongside our pointy haired boss.
. We threw them some tasty liquor-filled chocolates and they seemed to enjoy those very much. As we studied them, we realized that when drunk, they were more intelligent than we had first thought. Tthe fact that we made a lunch out of those same chocolates, had nothing to do with our findings. In fact, we all believe that we made quite wonderful decisions at the office after watching those drunken li’l creatures. At any rate, Dilbert and the rest of us have decided that drunken lemurs can truly make ..... great decisions.. (I think inspired... pointy haired boss... agreed and will visit lemurs, often)
Now! I believe, I am awake (and "Dilbert-free" for a moment)
And I think of the many good decisions "humans" have made over a glass (or glasses) of wine or liquor.
In fact, isn't that why the casinos offer gamblers those free drinks?
Is it not the reason why they seek to keep us drunk as we gamble?
Don't we actually get much smarter at decision-making.. as we drink?
Just watch the many lunches flowing with drinks (and CEO's rantings) at your local restaurants during lunch and dinner.
Decisions, decisions, decisions! Brainpower is awesome!
SO? Why does management feel they were being mocked?
Maybe, it was not the reference to "drunken" that offended them. Perhaps it was the word "lemur?"
I guess they found that particular Scott Adams “lemur” comparison to be highly offensive.
... Hmmmmmmm .... TOO BAD.
"Oh bartender? Free drinks for all the decision-making lemurs in this place. Okay?"
... (now, excuse me while I get myself ...out of the way .. of this stampede)
Yep, Brainpower is .......firing (oops..) away!!
Posted by: Patti | February 25, 2008 at 03:07 PM
Tarditi,
You got your wish! Bob the Dinosaur is the Deus ex Machina! Good call. Do you also have the ability to see through walls or predict lottery numbers?
Posted by: Mr. Wampus | February 25, 2008 at 02:10 PM
You totally threw in an advertisement and I clicked on it.. sneaky! Luv the series!!!
Posted by: Shalene | February 25, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Great job on the series!
Posted by: pand0ra | February 25, 2008 at 08:53 AM
Slapped with a Suit??... in spite of myself i had too laugh... utterly ridiculous
Posted by: Melony | February 25, 2008 at 06:33 AM
Hi Scott,
This isn't the first time Wally has been let go. All the major characters have been canned or demoted in the past. You've always done a pretty good job of getting them back. Can deus ex machina really exist in a strip with a talking dog a cat running HR, and numerous other creative plot devices? Anything should be expected here. In your case deus ex machina is a Latin phrase meaning "let's move on to a new plot line, before this get stale." Keep up the good work.
Thanks for the post,
dsg
Posted by: dsg | February 25, 2008 at 06:18 AM
The "Grimbledown Down" strips by Bill Tidy were a great source of workplace humour - one of the few I remember before Dilbert. I sneaked a few of these onto office notice boards. G D was a secret government research establishment. Amongst the gems - a dolphin being trained to place bombs had called a senior researcher a "murdering b*stard", Treem the harassed PHB, asks why the dolphin hasn't been told to apologise and is advised that the senior man requires a written apology.... There was also the contraception research group's fury at being placed second in the Christmas tableaux competition, Treem points out the Judge's comments "Could have done with a child in the crib" - and many many more. Not even I will read this comment because it is to an old post - ah well
Posted by: Mike Brown | February 25, 2008 at 02:12 AM
Absolutely LOVE this whole Drunken Lemur business. Sounds like something people in Politics (here in South Africa)would get up to. Wait.. they already do that!
Posted by: RustyRose | February 25, 2008 at 12:37 AM
Slap suit?
Damn that was really funny - took me unawares - I was eating at time - thank goodness there was someone next to me who knew how to perform the Heimlich!
Posted by: Kevin Kunreuther | February 24, 2008 at 11:44 PM
More colloquially, I call it "with one bound, he was free".
Posted by: Andrew Denny | February 24, 2008 at 06:29 PM
don't know what the other drunken lemurs' problem is, but for me the link to your monitor works
http://www.blogdevri.com
Posted by: kursatsenturk | February 24, 2008 at 05:07 PM
You might want to have a look at a UK design at http://www.channel4.com/4homes/ontv/grand-designs/houses/B/berkshire_cruciform.html
It was featured on a program called grand designs. The house is built in a cross design with the kitchen in the middle on the ground floor. Lets be practical here, the kitchen is the UK we have our clothes washing facilities in the kitchen. This design has nothing above the kitchen, so clothes can be thrown down from the floor above. Everybody is happy. Check it out it is a sensible design spoilt by my creativity.
Posted by: iManon | February 24, 2008 at 04:38 PM
I just looked at Saturday's comic and of course Dogbert is perfect to be the "God in the Machine"(Deus en Machina). Scott the arrogance of your inner demon amazes me.
Posted by: Chris | February 24, 2008 at 03:41 PM
Funnily enough, last week there was a letter of complaint in the local newspaper about Garfield's violence towards spiders. You just can't please 'em all.
Posted by: KiwiAtaahua | February 24, 2008 at 02:13 PM
I love how Patti acts really smug about her knowledge of "deus ex machina" when she actually misspelled it in her post.
Posted by: john | February 24, 2008 at 11:32 AM
I absolutely love Dogbert's ultimate pickup line today.
Posted by: Ben | February 24, 2008 at 11:12 AM
The phrase “deus ex machina.” Saw it used here as well http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/magazine/24wwln-lede-t.html?ref=magazine
Posted by: Abu | February 24, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Can't wait to try the unltimate pick up line. Did it work on your wife?
Posted by: Minister of Silly People in Green | February 24, 2008 at 07:05 AM
Why a lemur?
Why not a drunken ocelot? Are lemurs inherently funny? Probably. But is it the animal, or the name? Or both? Inquiring minds want to know...
Posted by: SC | February 23, 2008 at 06:53 PM
Not only will Deus Ex Machina be acceptable in Dilbert, I think it should be a character. Possibly a janitor of some sort. ... erm ... D. S. X Machina. Dave, to his mates.
... anyhoooooo ....
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