Am I a guy who writes about himself in a comic book, or am I just a character in that book? If I die, will that character keep going, or will he just fade away?
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the relationship between the creator and their creation, questioning identity and legacy.
Harvey Pekar's quote delves into the complex interplay between the artist and their work, raising existential questions about personal identity and the permanence of artistic expression. It suggests a contemplation of whether a creator's influence persists after their demise and how they are perceived in their own narrative versus that of their creations. Pekar's musings prompt us to consider how much of ourselves we invest in our work and the implications of that investment on our legacy.
In practice
In a panel discussion about personal storytelling and graphic novels.
It dawned on me that comics were not an intrinsically limited medium. There was a tremendous amount of things you could do in comics that you couldn't do in other art forms - but no one was doing it. I figured if I'd make a try at it, I'd at least be a footnote in history.
I started being interested in acting when I heard the voices of Sir Laurence Olivier and Sir John Gielgud and Sir Alec Guinness. Ive had the great privilege of working with Sir Derek Jacobi and Sir Anthony Hopkins. These are people who inspire the work that I do.
I need to go where people are serious about acting.
Music happens to be an art form that transcends language.
It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.
But in Hiroshima, some people were wiped clean away, leaving only a wristwatch or a diary page. So no matter that I have inhibitions to fill all my pockets, I keep trying, hoping that one day I'll write a poem I can be proud to let sit in a museum exhibit as the only proof I existed.
I'm not in any rush. I'm not somebody who, if I write a song, I get it out. That's not something I've ever really quite done.
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