Nicole Tersigni

This book is based off of social media memes pairing famous works of art with snarky social commentary. Specifically, the author looks at scenarios where men talk down to women by mansplaining, patronizing, or just generally dehumanizing and delegitimizing women's experiences. That sounds depressing, but this lands in the 'funny-so-we-don't-cry' end of the pool, with the author's comedic background making it humorous while being relatable.

There's not much more to say about this title. It's a slim volume and since it's just captions and images, it reads very quickly. The backmatter lists all the works of art, their artists, and where you might find them (e.g., the Metropolitain Museum of Art). The foreword by comedian Jen Kirkman very succinctly explains the reasoning behind the book for anyone still not getting it:

"If you're a dude, you may be tensing up right now and wanting to put this book down and tweet at Nicole, 'Not all men mansplain!' But then you'd be the guy who is mansplaining to a woman who ostensibly knows men, is related to men, has worked with men, is friends with men, that not all men are bad. She's probably come to this conclusion on her very own, and she trusted you to understand that she meant this 'type' of man -- one who still hasn't shaken off the subtle vice grip that the patriarchy has on his brain."

For myself, this was not a book I'd consider worth purchasing as I read it quickly and have no need to re-visit it. However, it is definitely worth reading if you can borrow a copy from a family member, friend, or local library.… (más)

I love getting new Nicole Tersigni books, because they are fresh, smart and fun. Not to mention comic relief from my daily grind. Her trademark style is to take old world paintings, or portions of them, and attach modern day captions, attributing them to the characters in the artwork. Only she does it well.

This latest one is titled Parenting Advice to Ignore in Art and Life. It is, as usual, a small collection of full page prints, with captions overlaid. It can be read in 10 minutes.

This one is very focused, which means the audience will be narrower. It is clearly aimed at young, upper middle class urban mothers, for whom the whole book is a vast in-joke. There are references to helicopter parenting, breastfeeding advice from strangers, the latest in parenting theories, and back talk from children. Young mothers will smirk while reading it. Occasionally, one will burst out laughing at one plate that really strikes home for her.

Sometimes, the captions will refer to bad painting, such as when babies are hugely outsized compared to others in the scene. Mostly, the paintings are a bad reflection of 18th and 19th century European art, with forced poses and postures, resembling nothing in real life. One annoying stylistic tic is to make babies appear to be adult midgets, properly proportioned tiny adults, as opposed to real children. But Tersigni doesn’t comment on that. She doesn’t have to.

Over all, it was fun, but on the forced side.

David Wineberg… (más)