@@AudioPervert1 the irony of it all is that a poor feeble flacid man depicted life exactly as he was capable of seeing it and not a smidge better.... and he is celebrated for it
I’m pretty sure hateful radicals will watch this and imagine a lot of clues and dog whistling, within his comments. They should just stick to less talented bottom feeders like the Elites hacks in Hollywood who _think_ they’re doing the same level of work this guy has done. It’s an insanity when you try to confirm biases based on the view from nowhere. It’s a type of madness. It’s not that something is sexist or racially coded, _it’s what it communicates._ And those things are ephemeral too, anyway. There’s no material constant. It’s odd watching edgy Hollywood celebrities fume at strawmen and women (like internet radicals) while literally drawing their world view from the _view from nowhere_ based in the same media they work in. That’s usually the moment when these sorts _miss the mark_ and they get dragged or their sycophant’s no longer show up to bail them out. People get exhausted from the anti social bad boy or bad girl mentality with expletives without purpose or meaning _from wealthy politically motivated bigots and politically motives sex offenders with substance abuse issues._ One might think or say, _”Why are you dumb celebrities or comics or whatever subjecting the working child raising public to nonsense that doesn’t connect to the average person’s constantly evolving experience?”_ It’s about reading a room. Which Crumb did. Because there was no celebrity status with his work, especially not early on. Bad people (edgy celebrities/comics) are trapped in a time capsule and imagine time itself, to be trapped in a singularity. It’s gotten worse. Embracing nihilism is not a good excuse to be bad for the sake of being bad, and these celebrities are only in it for their enablers. Edit: if, in his own words, here in this video, _”had to be done (said),”_ then it was _meaningful_ to do it. That’s not the anything, say anything bullsh*t from angry low-lives who have no ability to the audience they punch down towards. Not at all the same.
As a black kid I loved Crumb I understood what he was doing by illustrating the underlying thoughts (and not always underlying) of American culture it emboldened as a young artist to not be conventional and illustrate what is but not often articulated . Yes people will be hurt yes racist and extremist of all stripes will misinterpret your intentions . Continue the work. Ultimately I see Crumb and artist in general as a type of mirror for society and no one likes the image so they want to shatter the mirror.
That's exactly what makes Crumb great. Yes, he's very imaginative and a wonderful cartoonist, but it's his honesty about what's going on, both within and outside him, that makes him stand out.
Whenever I comment on a black rap artist or singer or actor or what have you...I never start out by saying "as a white kid".... What the fuck is your problem?
@Doug Bevins I think you may be referring to the Fabulous Furry Freak brothers comic book. that was not Mr. Crumbs work. it was artist Gilbert Shelton.
@@GauntLife Calm down guy. There is a relevant justification to disclose identity in his comment, because he's trying to explain how despite his identity, and despite the natural inclination for any of us to take offense at material which may demean our identity, he realized there was more to the substance of Crumb's work than the surface. He did not just state his identity apropos of nothing. Did you watch this whole video? Near the end it goes into the controversy about perceived racism.
He's a distinguished gentleman on the outside a demented genius on the inside. This guy spent the earlier part of his life trying to justify his existence. He didn't have to do it then and he doesn't have to do it know. Fck everyone else's opinion.
Incredible opportunity to hear Robert Crumb, and even more incredible that he has anything to say, after all he has said through his art. Thank you very much.
I'm 72, and I've totally loved R. Crumb's art for as long as I can remember. What now even more endears me to his work is hearing him describe a desperate childhood so extremely similar to my own as his impetus for cartooning. I can relate.
Crumb had a horrible abusive father and a narcissistic mother. You can see their family in gory detail in Terry Zwigoff's Crumb from 1994. Both of his brothers are totally insane and Charles committed suicide not long after the making of the film, and Max may have died also for all I know. Crumb is a pretty sick dude himself but managed to cobble together a respectable career in comics despite this. His sisters never speak publicly which is interesting also.
This guy is so awesome...he just takes all of the bizarre, unsavory, dark, kinky and jacked ideas/feelings/thoughts that he has (and by extension, other as well) and puts them down on paper. And when some people don't like this, he says, "I know you don't like it...I don't like some of it myself, but still...I have to do it." The guy's an original.
@@2degucitas Though they both depict strange things, Bosch comes from a completely different mindset than Crumb. Crumb is autobiographical and often depicts himself involved in kinky sexual things. Bosch never did this. He may have once painted himself into one of his landscapes (though scholars aren't sure if it's him or not), but as an observer, not a participant in the action. That's telling. Crumb draws to confess to the world about who he is; Bosch painted to warn people about the dangers of sin.
Crumb has many antecedents. He mentioned George Grosz and Otto Dix in this very interview. Another who comes to mind is Honore Daumier, but there are many, many others. What I think is striking is his courage and willingness to put himself on the line, for us, in our era. He clearly makes a sacrifice in popularity. Being a contemporary Otto Dix means, as for Otto Dix nowadays in bookstores, not being well-represented on the shelves.
Ha h ha h aaaaaa,,, That was Rich in yo Poverty Young Foolllll. I Once too was Young... Now I am so Very old... There are But Two Kinds of a Fool in This World Child... One Seeking a Truth in Justly all of us... The Other a Liar fo Hire... What do we See when we Look into our Own Mirror... is Never a Question yet always The Answer... What is a Bad Child but a Good Childs Job What is a Good Child Other Than a Bad Childs Job. Water yo Flower Child. Peace. Darkness was Always Before Light... Before Darkness was... Tao.
Who needs this stupid objective reality crap when we have a much better product custom tailored to our own specs, and no there is nothing alternative about them, they are double plus super facts!
He never mentioned his illustrated version of the bible. I was excited to add it to my collection, can't recommend it enough. No sarcasm or humor, he just did a great job. I don't know how many other people have Fritz the Cat & Heavy Traffic on DVD or his old 'Mr. Natural' comics on a shelf but I have loved that proud weirdo forever.
It wasn’t exactly the Bible, just the book of Genesis! It’s great. And the oddest thing about it is it’s a pretty straightforward depiction of the book of Genesis! I suppose Genesis is mad enough, Crumb didn’t need to add anything to it!
I'm with you: I love his illustrated Book of Genesis. My favorite part is the story of Joseph. As an aside, over the years, many illustrated Bibles have been produced - mainly to aid (largely) illiterate populations - as the saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words". How true!
@@TheExtremeCube John's Old Time Radio Show... I thought they exhausted his collection a few years back but apparently not. eastriverstringband.com/radioshow/?p=3348
Wow, just wow. I've never seen anyone more honest, intelligent, and forthright as Crumb. This guy is not only an artistic genius, he is likely the most truthful and sincere human on the planet. Awesome work.
“People want to be thrilled.” - People like “Happy talk”. I never understood that either. Crumb is brilliant. He puts a mirror up - and many don’t like what they see. Some of us can laugh at the absurdity of life, and all our flaws. It’s the truth, after all. Love you, Robert, and all your gentle neuroses. Thoughtful interview w/all its uncomfortable, imperfect moments. Thinking out loud, as usual. No questions asked.....an interviewers dream.
That's exactly the impression I get. There will always be problems when individuals of his demographic use their privilege to "put it out there" or "expose" harmful ideas. Zappa does it also, positing himself as a messenger who needs to reveal something under the veneer. This will always be a dangerous space, and I'm glad Crumb occupies it--and that his work has always found a way to seep out. It's a shame that Charles' work was destroyed. As volatile as it was, it would have been done so much to round out the ultimate contribution of the Crumb Family writ large. Robert's happiness seems founded in a healthy detachment that age has afforded him. He can identify his own work without pointing at himSELF exactly.
Thank you Robert. This is giving me the opportunity to thank you, even though you’ll probably never read this....I remember finding your art, and being wowed because you spoke to something inside me, and intelligence and humor I thought was something no one else under stood. There was an edge, I couldn’t stand Archie, and Superman, I thought they were stupid...you, you have an insight that made me realize that May em I wasn’t alone. So, thank you...really. Thank you for not getting pushed under by the forces of our society that didn’t get you.
Crumb's artwork helped me get over my own social awkwardness and ambivalence towards my "normal" peers. It made me feel good about being a freak. For that I thank him.
those 2 strips he spent too much time apologizing for at the end, i wish he had just said it's the seething tribalism in human DNA we all can feel and have learned to suppress that he illustrated. he is correct as no one can verbalize it without being taken to task. it's the elephant in the room. look at gaza for a current example. 2 groups of people who share the same exact DNA AND religious practices just killing each other for the tribe which they belong. just like salvadoran gangs, same people doing atrocious things to each other because they are in a diff gang. it never stops and crumb illustrated it which offends the folks trying to keep it from view.
Crumb's work, especially that involving thick women and sexual anxiety, did more to help me and thousands of other young men get through adolescence than 10 years of therapy could have done. Thank you, brother.
Sometimes... Things appear ass Backwards... I do believe The Value of Humanity is Our self... our Deepest Desire to Be Loved and Never Hated by Others is Primary Mover of Self. Even our very Lives become worthless as Empathy Rises from our Heart so Powerful Beyond our very Last Measure we Give to Spare Harm From Our own caused Fate. Why Would He Evade His Harm to Directly Share His Personal Life with anybody... if Not for The Love He Seeks of Humanity. His Flower cannot Bloom with out Holy Water from His Family... Water His Flower Guardian. Peace.
@@minkman99 I thought he didn't hence why he should do a special of them. I've not looked at his work of followed him for a decade now. I think he retired to the South of France or something.
I was incredibly fortunate to have lived in San Francisco in the sixties. Everyone I knew was blown away by having our deepest fantasies being revealed in a comix book. Thanks for being a nice little part in my life.
The doco on Crumb is one of the best docos I’ve ever seen. The part regarding his brother who ended up committing suicide started out amusing and ended up very sad.
@@storyinternships9636 Crumb did reconnect with son later on -- His son (Jesse) was drawing with his father in a documentary made in 1994 -- Tragically his son passed away 3 years ago in a car crash.
Yeah, idk much about the individual but time mellows out a lot of people. When you are young you have something to prove, be it to the world or just yourself. When your old you don't have to prove anything to anyone, you just know what you are and role with it.
“Art should comfort the disturbed & disturb the comfortable.” Cesar A. Cruz Mexican poet & academic. Robert Crumb is an artist in this very essential and healing sense of the word. Put it out there, shine a light on it. Without self-censorship. Expose the paranoia inherent in modern cancel culture. A mind at play is a wonderful thing, creative imagination is our only defence against the suppressing tendency of conformist socially constructed norms of supposed over-simplified reality. Thank you Robert Crumb for your unfettered illustrative creativity over many decades. This is a fabulously open and revealing interview. Humble, human and humane. Thank you for putting it out there. Namaste.
So happy to see RC again..when last we saw him in in the bio Crumb he was packing up his stuff for a move to France...for years I thought "well that's the last we'll see of him .I guess we will read his obit one day"...but no.. here he is ...ascerbic as always ....one of my all time favorite artists and influences .Thank you for this post ... nice Xmas gift
Yeah, but he should be going after PC culture. He always had a problem with early feminism and they went on to control American leftist culture. He should go after them but they’d have him banned.
Barbara Mulvaney Well, that was never Robert Crumb’s idea of freedom of expression. It was whatever came out of him. I don’t know if you remember Crumb in his early days of comics.
"Question everything. Humans have a lot of trouble with the truth, there are just so many layers of deception & delusion." I always found his cartoons to be a lurid glimpse into something true, my first taste of art as a coping mechanism. #RobertCrumb
This man is one of the last true warriors of art ever - he is the real deal - the real thing. any1 who rly looks into his work will know this. Thank u for a beautiful video - the words of Robert Crumb here are jam packed to the brim with wisdom.
I, too, was an alienated kid. Awkward, anxiety ridden and clinically depressed. I wish I had found Mr. Crumb when I was young. But, I did find my path. One that existed outside the normies world. Crumb is an inspiration!
@@Heopful I spent much of my life guiding in the backcountry, both winter and summer. So I lived on the edge of designated wilderness. As the world went on its merry way, I lived in nature. It was a great life!
I was given my first mr Natural in 1979, as a christmas present. I was 9 and loved it at first sight! Crumb has been part of my growing up and I’m very thankful for it.
He's my favourite cartoonist by far and I'm amazed how much his youth parallels mine even though I don't have an artistic bone in my body (apart from the one through my nose). The honesty in his cartoons is such a comfort to me - you know: The one who says out loud what others only dare to think.
I think a lot of people can relate to, what Robert Crumb was questioning and revealing, with his comics. They made me feel like, hey! there is another human being that gets it (and/or is trying to). And the quality of the imagination, and drawing skills, made them a real treat to read. I'll always be grateful for what you share with us R.Crumb. Oh, and the music too.
Through Crumb I found my alter ego. I listen to myself when I listen to him. He brings it all up - everything - with no regrets or hesitation. He helps me make peace with my subversive, honest dark side. He validates. He has courage for openly walking through his past and sharing all of it. I listen to this and don't want it to stop. It feels right. It's an ongoing dialogue with myself and everything.
Thank you for highlighting one of my long time heroes. I was bemused by how women protested the way they were drawn but many men find those body types attractive and he drew equally as many men as pigs and dogs etc He's an American treasure
One of my all time favorite artists. In a way, this man invented a whole new genre of pop art, and I just can't get enough of it. Like flipping through a painting where you can turn a page, and the painting changes and it has so much more to give. So many new angles. New revelations. For me, this is all about the superb visual arts, but then there is, of course, the storytelling too, but I am not that much into books or words. It is all about the visuals for me, and this is as good as it gets.
@ No, I was talking about my experience, not yours. There are plenty of songs too, where I could not quote more than a word or two from the lyrics, or perhaps only the chorus at best. And I still like them, sometimes even for the lead vocals. I sometimes simply like the way they sound. Example: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-sOmuFTk1tLk.html by Ryouchi Sakomoto and with lead vocals by Iggy Pop. I could not even tell you a single word from that song, except for the name - "Risky". Glad you like Crumb for other reasons than mine, Jan.
@@bebop54 Yeah, and have you ever watched him WHILE he is drawing? He STARTS with the details, and work from there. I do it the other way around, otherwise I get the proportions all wrong. I do not know how on earth he pulls that off, but to me this man is pure genius.
Thank all the gods for Robert Crumb. Someone’s got to stand up against the sanctimonious idiocies of the world. When the images came up from his adventure with “Big Kate,” I remembered reading that very comic in 1974. I was 23, I’d quit drugs and was feeling my way. I laughed so hard at that comic the neighbors came over to see if I was all right. God I needed that!!! Robert said “All the women left...” Not all of us, Robert!!
A heavenly interview. Besides the wise content, there is just Mr Crumb talking with no interviewer ego at all and nice long 10 - 15 second edits. NOTHING is more entertaining than being able to see and hear another person talk.
This is such a great interview; really what an amazing character, what a bent and beautiful national treasure Crumb is. Such honesty, insightful wit and originality is so rare.
I love listening to Crumb talk. Actually he's my favorite artist. And I completely agree about the lurid, cheap appeal of early comics. I love that cheap swarmy appeal.
Crumb masterfully captured the essence of ‘hell is other people.’ The flow of conversation that opens up in ones’ mind while viewing his work reflects the Monkey Mind in all of us. The limitless greed, tireless fear, and impassive dominance of people’s Monkey Mind is more than disturbing as represented in His cartoons. And yet we endure!
A couple of years ago, for closure, I emailed Crumb the obituary of Charles's main bully, "Skutch." Skutch used to bully Robert too. He died after covid.
Duterte Fan No because Jack Kirby did his most influential work in the 60s! Despite being much older than Crumb and depicting superheroes his work was arguably more admired by the counterculture, psychedelic acid tests for instance depicted Jack Kirby's Thor.
Incredible "interview" without the usual dopey questions by an interviewer. Amazing soliloquy. I am an artist (not cartoons!) and very long time admirer and collector of Crumb. I spent 30 years in the hub of the Art World in NYC, and never met anyone as interesting and talented as R. Crumb. I was especially pleased to be able to hear his recent thoughts here, and to see that he is still the same as always. Great artist, and all around fascinating observer of humanity. I'm sure I will return to watch this again...
"Crumb" is my favorite documentary. We get to see into the lives of some unusual, brilliant, and hilarious people, and perhaps realize the line between a famous artist and a virtually homeless man sitting on a bed of nails, passing a ribbon of linen through his bowels, can be very very thin. Odd persons have some solace in this world.
Honestly - it can sometimes be very challenging to read Crumb's work (my tastes are admittedly too "soft" for much of his material). That being said, what a great talent, and listening to the man speak is a pleasure.
Stereotypical 1970 East to West on the Trans Canadian highway to Vancouver in a 36 horsepower vw bus. Big weekend event right on the beach, found a Crumb comic while tripping. As a first time reader I couldn’t get my head around what I was looking at. Best day ever and a great fan since!
all of me old friends still get a big laugh from his works. they guys is so down to earth, only snobs wouldn't get the twisted humor. our fave is Free Wheelin' Franklin.
That’s not a Crumb character. Gilbert Shelton created Freewheelin’ Franklin, one third of the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers. Shelton wasn’t as prolific as Crumb, but the Freak Bros. are true classics.
@Tim Mentzer nonetheless his illustrations and story telling are tops. episode "Fat Freddie gets the munchies", the candid camera story with a royal BELCH!
@@DanFrizzell Gilbert Shelton's nephew is collecting material in hopes of making a film of Gilbert's art and life. Gilbert's old pals are providing him with material from Austin, NYC and SF, art and photos spanning many years.
In 1972 I took a commercial art class at a community college. I thoroughly enjoyed Zap Comix and was influenced by R.Crumb and my teacher didnt like my taste in my choice of art. I would copy Flakey Foont drawings and Mr. Natural, but my teacher hated it and it discouraged me to the point that I quit college. And I continued to draw Absorbine Jr. and Eggs Actly on my cars and any other surface I could find. I just loved Crumb's characters and their inexperienced sexual adventures.
My friend sent me this today, I can't be anymore impressed ❤ I'm so happy. Crumb understands life/art is not linear and does a lot more that just lines and color for the world and cultural.
I've always loved his art. Being very young in the "hippy years" I was sometimes shocked at the sexual content but learned a lot from it anyway. I always thought his big-ass women were unreal until I went to the usa, where I saw they did exist in the flesh! Crumb is one of my favorite artists ever. He makes wonderful shadings with cross-hatching. He drew a very old village in France painstakingly; where every cobblestone and every detail has the ring of truth and of love.
Love this. One of the best memories of my life is hanging out with Don Donahue on his rooftop in Oakland drinking beer eating pizza. Don was good friends with Robert, showed up in the documentary.
Went to a party above Scoobie's Toys where Don Donahue lived with Dori Seda. Since I worked for Last Gasp and Rip Off Press, I bumped into Donohue many times. Donohue wasn't just a friend, he published Crumb's early work.
I'm sorry I'm just in stitches listening to him because he's so matter-of-fact and depressing and self-deprecating, so self-loathing that it's hilarious because we all are to some extent. It's just that Mr. Crumb has to a huge extent and he really shouldn't. He's one of the greatest artists of the 20th century! Get real.
I loved him. I was a young naive Federal Drug Investigator in the late 70s and eventually embraced the bright side. My colleagues were mostly unimaginative hypocrites. He drew what we imagined and often salaciously desired.
I remember seeing the documentary "Crumb" in a Kansas City Indie Theatre in 1995... I've never forgot his fascination with large women... and he has this insane vinyl collection.
I remember seeing Crumbs work at a very young age. Probably about 12 or so. I raided my dads ‘adult’ comics and National Lampoon mags. I’ve been a big fan since that day! May have helped turn me into the semi-warped but fan of ‘off’ humor dude I am today! Lol! Thanks R. Crumb!!
Crumb is a genius! Imagine where he would be without our 1st Amendment! His original thought provoking humor would have been quashed as Hate Speech when it never was.
I believe at least some of his work was banned in my country. I remember reading one larger compilation book of his comics as a teenager that a friend had imported and it was unlike anything I'd ever seen. Sick, twisted, beautiful and strange as Homer Simpson once said.
... Robert crumb is truly one of our great artists. I am 80, and have Kept track of him through the years. I'm glad that you have too.... I am going to be recommending Louisiana Channel to everyone. Thank you so much.
Wow, he's describing exactly my experience with comprehending humanity.. layers of delusion and all that. This is pretty amazing, I thought I was alone.
Crumb is without any doubt one of the great artists and social critics of the 20th century. I do think his influence has become a bit oversized though (not that it’s his fault); the result being many people have made him into THE paradigm of underground comix as a medium. And bc of this, so many of the other extraordinary artists who brought ug comix to their apogee have gotten short shrift: folks like S. Clay Wilson, Victor Moscoso, Gilbert Shelton, Robert Williams, Jay Kinney, Skip Williamson, George Hansen, Bobby London, Gary Hallgren, Spain Rodriguez, Dave Geiser, Rick Griffin, Kim Deitch, etc. Many of those deviants and their styles are far dearer to my heart than Crumb, and I can’t help feel like so much of the attention given to him has overshadowed many of his most brilliant peers.
Mr. Crumb is such an amazingly authentic, thoughtful, creative, curious, considerate and insightful man who's has struggled fitting into society specifically because he is an authentic, thoughtful, creative, curious, considerate and insightful man. I wish people like him were the norm rather than the exception.
I used to get stoned and me and my friends used to read all of the R. Crumb Comic Books. They were outstanding. We used to get stoned 24/7 in the 60's and 70's Mr. Natural was the first one I read. I was hooked on the Gross humor and the Art was fantastic. Being stoned or on Acid reading this stuff made life so much different and I never wanted to really be around anyone who wasn't tuned in.
Somehow I received a copy of “The Sad Book” as a small child. I’d like to think it had some impact on forming my warped sense of humor into what it is today.
What a great Christmas present! Thanks for uploading! I can certainly relate to Bob, and am always amazed how far "out there" he went with his art, yet managed to keep himself humble and comfortable. I'd like to think I've achieved his ethos, without having to go as far "out there" with my music and all. (some may say differently. LOL)
A hero of my youth I thought long gone. Almost rejuvenating just hearing him talk about the old days. Everyone today thinks comics are Marvel but there was a counter-culture back in the past.
