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Fergus, Quondam Happy Face's Reviews > Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, #1)
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I don’t think we can judge this graphic novel along traditionalist lines. The world is changing so dramatically that - admit it - it is impossible to say wherein our identities really lie.
In a bank account? In our good names? Those things are in constant flux. And advertising misinformation and newspeak have pretty well cleaned us out of our selfhood. Admit it.
Oh, sure, I know we adults tend to use a kind of tunnel vision to negotiate the world. We have to. If we don’t we’d be like the Kid’s creator, Jeff, who admits he’s still back with these kids in freshman year, outclassed by all the big boys. Personally, I see nothing wrong with that!
I for one believe our identities are as variable as our moods. I, too, am with these kids. Sure, we may have fixed beliefs, but so do these kids. And I think the reason we all dig this book to some extent is… because these kids are our Authentic Selves. They haven’t grown outer armour.
It seems scary, but it’s as if Jeff is exposing ourselves to ourselves.
The chuckling release we feel in reading this series is, as Freud says, a cathartic release from our self-imposed adult repression of our real, insecure self. We all goof up all the time like these kids. But Freud says our superegos repress that fact.
Comedy - and these comedies of the wimpy kid - take that lid off.
And suddenly we’re young again.
We can BREATHE.
Isn’t that GREAT?
And so, fellow wimpy kids, why continue forever in overdrive when your foot is tapping that Brake Pedal?
Grow DOWN, for a change!
In a bank account? In our good names? Those things are in constant flux. And advertising misinformation and newspeak have pretty well cleaned us out of our selfhood. Admit it.
Oh, sure, I know we adults tend to use a kind of tunnel vision to negotiate the world. We have to. If we don’t we’d be like the Kid’s creator, Jeff, who admits he’s still back with these kids in freshman year, outclassed by all the big boys. Personally, I see nothing wrong with that!
I for one believe our identities are as variable as our moods. I, too, am with these kids. Sure, we may have fixed beliefs, but so do these kids. And I think the reason we all dig this book to some extent is… because these kids are our Authentic Selves. They haven’t grown outer armour.
It seems scary, but it’s as if Jeff is exposing ourselves to ourselves.
The chuckling release we feel in reading this series is, as Freud says, a cathartic release from our self-imposed adult repression of our real, insecure self. We all goof up all the time like these kids. But Freud says our superegos repress that fact.
Comedy - and these comedies of the wimpy kid - take that lid off.
And suddenly we’re young again.
We can BREATHE.
Isn’t that GREAT?
And so, fellow wimpy kids, why continue forever in overdrive when your foot is tapping that Brake Pedal?
Grow DOWN, for a change!
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Reading Progress
November 12, 2019
–
Started Reading
November 12, 2019
– Shelved
November 12, 2019
– Shelved as:
to-read
October 6, 2020
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-6 of 6 (6 new)
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by
Conner
(new)
Dec 30, 2022 12:59PM
Wonderful analysis, Fergus. I grew up with these books and they still hold a special place in my heart and mind
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I can well imagine! Reading it took me right back to my beginnings in the fifties. Thanks for liking this!
Hi Fergus! I think it’s great you’re expanding your reading into these children’s books. While I don’t like these I do appreciate that it makes kids want to read that don’t usually like reading. I love that GROW DOWN comment! Excellent review, Sir
Thanks very much indeed, Karina! You know how to make a septuagenarian smile.
hey! Fergus, thats are reallt nice perspective on your comment! Also please friend me :-) :-) :-)
Okey dokey, D! Thanks.
