Before I announce the winner of this week’s Sunday Caption Madness (and you guys made this one a really difficult decision!), I’d like to say something about how I go about picking these pictures. Several commenters were apparently unhappy that I chose a picture of a beautiful woman in a designer gown for our snarking pleasure.
I did pick a beautiful woman. The gown is by a designer I admire greatly not only for his tremendous talent, but also for his frankly groundbreaking decision to include plus-sized models in his shows. I even happen to think the gown in question is a technical masterpiece. I knew all these things when I picked the picture.
So why did I pick that picture? Therein lies the key: while the woman is beautiful, the designer is important, and the gown is technically spectacular, the picture strikes me as hilarious. The combination of that gown, the Amy Winehouse bedhead hairstyle, the straw catwalk, and the requisite ‘fierce’ model expression tickles my funnybone in a big way.
I do not believe that beauty earns one a snark-free existance any more than I believe that failing to be beautiful should earn one a lifetime of abuse.
I do not believe that talent is sufficient protection from a bit of humor about what you produce.
And ultimately, I believe that Sir WS Gilbert was correct when he put these words into the mouth of Jack Point from his operetta The Yeomen of the Guard:
For look you, there is humor in all things, and the truest philosophy is that which teaches us to find it and to make the most of it.
That means the next Sunday Caption Madness picture has an equal chance of being of a beautiful woman, an important designer’s work, or just some random person doing something ridiculous. The choice is determined by my sense of humor, and not by the worthiness of the subject as a human being.
And now, on to the winner.
Last week I hit you guys with this priceless image:
and you came back at me with a record number of great captions. But there can be only one winner, and this week it’s Jennie for this fabulously silly yet positive spin on the photo:
Eve decided if she was getting kicked out of the garden, at least she was going in style…
Congratulations, Jennie! And thanks to everyone who played!
YAY, Jennie! I knew that was going to win hehehe
Comment by teteatete — March 15, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
Congratulations Jennie! She really does look so defiant! I am so happy that the Twistie shares my affection for the works of Gilbert and Sullivan. No one has ever before or since cavorted so pleasurably with the english language, imho.
Comment by gemdiva — March 15, 2008 @ 8:16 pm
I am humbled that I won in spite of a wonderous plethora of snarkiness! Thank you, thank you!
Comment by Jennie — March 15, 2008 @ 8:57 pm
I sent a big Thank you! but it went away! I am humbled yet proud that I won against so many worthy snarkistiness or would that be snarkinesstic bits of prose…
Comment by Jennie — March 15, 2008 @ 9:08 pm
Third time is the charm. I will keep this simple…Thank You!!! Won’t take my posts..
Comment by Jennie — March 15, 2008 @ 9:56 pm
“I do not believe that beauty earns one a snark-free existance any more than I believe that failing to be beautiful should earn one a lifetime of abuse.
I do not believe that talent is sufficient protection from a bit of humor about what you produce.”
Well said, Twistie! I believe one of the biggest mistakes a person can make is to take oneself or one’s world too seriously.
Comment by Cat — March 15, 2008 @ 11:08 pm
Not everyone finds the same things snarkable. The comments people made did not suggest they lack a sense of humour, just because they found this one picture un-snarkable. Nor that you need to defend yourself. It’s your feature and pick what you find funny. Some things I find hilarious (Monty Python) and others don’t; everyone has different taste in humour.
Comment by Christine — March 17, 2008 @ 10:03 am