Marrose sends this in: “The penguin throws me. WTH?”
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The consensus in the comments seemed to point to a police-type lineup. My first thought was that the pigeon was hiding among the stuffed birds in a museum display case. Now, I’m buying the lineup explanation.
I thought this was funny, but I think Marrose’s issue is why is the penguin in the line-up? It couldn’t have flown over the statue to commit the ‘crime’. My solution is that he’s a cop who works at the station (working cold cases, perhaps) and they needed another body for the line up.
It does seem to be a police lineup to determine which bird pooped on the statue (a copy of Rodin’s The Thinker, I guess). My problem is the lack of indicia that the statue is alive and will be able to indicate an offender. Maybe The Thinker could have departed from his classic pose and stared at the candidate perps or something.
It’s a common practice in lineups to include people who the police know are uninvolved; these may even be police officers (not in uniform). The idea is that picking someone out of a lineup gives the choice more credibility (although some research suggests that this is not really the case). Here the police have included a penguin, notwithstanding that penguins cannot fly and are mediocre climbers at best and are therefore unlikely to be responsible.
It does seem to be a police lineup to determine which bird pooped on the statue (a copy of Rodin’s The Thinker, I guess). My problem is the lack of indicia that the statue is alive and will be able to indicate an offender. Maybe The Thinker could have departed from his classic pose and stared at the candidate perps or something.
It’s a common practice in lineups to include people who the police know are uninvolved; these may even be police officers (not in uniform). The idea is that picking someone out of a lineup gives the choice more credibility (although some research suggests that this is not really the case). Here the police have included a penguin, notwithstanding that penguins cannot fly and are mediocre climbers at best and are therefore unlikely to be responsible.
If the Thinker were in another pose, John, we’d have no way of knowing that it isn’t just a naked guy. I don’t think the statue’s inanimate nature harms the joke, anyway. You clearly understand that the statue is the victim.
The penguin of course is there because it’s funny. Throwaway gags like that don’t require a narrative, possibly by definition.
I think the penguin is there because it’s a recognizable kind of bird without being too ostentatious. IE, a pelican or a peacock would be too complicated and draw more attention to itself.
The point of the joke is “Who crapped on the statue?” and not “What kinds of birds?” The cartoonist just wanted variety.
Actually, it might have been funnier if they were all pigeons.
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The consensus in the comments seemed to point to a police-type lineup. My first thought was that the pigeon was hiding among the stuffed birds in a museum display case. Now, I’m buying the lineup explanation.
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I thought this was funny, but I think Marrose’s issue is why is the penguin in the line-up? It couldn’t have flown over the statue to commit the ‘crime’. My solution is that he’s a cop who works at the station (working cold cases, perhaps) and they needed another body for the line up.
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It does seem to be a police lineup to determine which bird pooped on the statue (a copy of Rodin’s The Thinker, I guess). My problem is the lack of indicia that the statue is alive and will be able to indicate an offender. Maybe The Thinker could have departed from his classic pose and stared at the candidate perps or something.
It’s a common practice in lineups to include people who the police know are uninvolved; these may even be police officers (not in uniform). The idea is that picking someone out of a lineup gives the choice more credibility (although some research suggests that this is not really the case). Here the police have included a penguin, notwithstanding that penguins cannot fly and are mediocre climbers at best and are therefore unlikely to be responsible.
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It does seem to be a police lineup to determine which bird pooped on the statue (a copy of Rodin’s The Thinker, I guess). My problem is the lack of indicia that the statue is alive and will be able to indicate an offender. Maybe The Thinker could have departed from his classic pose and stared at the candidate perps or something.
It’s a common practice in lineups to include people who the police know are uninvolved; these may even be police officers (not in uniform). The idea is that picking someone out of a lineup gives the choice more credibility (although some research suggests that this is not really the case). Here the police have included a penguin, notwithstanding that penguins cannot fly and are mediocre climbers at best and are therefore unlikely to be responsible.
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If the Thinker were in another pose, John, we’d have no way of knowing that it isn’t just a naked guy. I don’t think the statue’s inanimate nature harms the joke, anyway. You clearly understand that the statue is the victim.
The penguin of course is there because it’s funny. Throwaway gags like that don’t require a narrative, possibly by definition.
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Mutts had a flying penguin arc recently.
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I think the penguin is there because it’s a recognizable kind of bird without being too ostentatious. IE, a pelican or a peacock would be too complicated and draw more attention to itself.
The point of the joke is “Who crapped on the statue?” and not “What kinds of birds?” The cartoonist just wanted variety.
Actually, it might have been funnier if they were all pigeons.
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Rodin’s Thinker is ideal for this gag- he’s thoughtfully examining the line up.
Why a penguin? A penguin is an absurd bird and always good for a chuckle.
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Maybe its Feathers McGraw in disguise?
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“Actually, it might have been funnier if they were all pigeons.”
Agreed!
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“May I beg the Court for headwind?” — Opus the Penguin
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