Local Comic Makes (Unintentional?) DL Reference

[animagusurreal]

A political comic in our local newspaper made reference to a charter school, Mark Twain Academy, that was supposed to open here in town, but is now being delayed for various reasons. The comic showed a steamboat in drydock that said "Mark Twain Academy" on it, with the caption, "Still in drydock".

I was wondering if they knew about Disneyland's Mark Twain being in drydock, or if they were even thinking about Disneyland's Mark Twain at all, possibly just referencing the link between Mark Twain the author and steamboats.

Still, my first thought when I saw it was "Disneyland reference!"


EDIT:

Click here to see the comic:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...TwainComic.jpg

[GhostHost2]

What does drydock mean?

[Diznyfan]

Amazing! I can't believe this actually happened.

[krystledm]

What does drydock mean?

post below gave a better answer, lol

[3rdshiftCM]

What does drydock mean?

A drydock is basically a dry maintenence area for boats, can't do much work to the hull of a boat if it's sitting in the water.

Fowler's Harbor at DL is the drydock for the Twain and Columbia, it can be block off to keep the water out.

[GhostHost2]

A drydock is basically a dry maintenence area for boats, can't do much work to the hull of a boat if it's sitting in the water.

Fowler's Harbor at DL is the drydock for the Twain and Columbia, it can be block off to keep the water out.

So the Mark Twain is going through maintaince? When will it be running again?

[Sweetie]

A political comic in our local newspaper made reference to a charter school, Mark Twain Academy, that was supposed to open here in town, but is now being delayed for various reasons. The comic showed a steamboat in drydock that said "Mark Twain Academy" on it, with the caption, "Still in drydock".

I was wondering if they knew about Disneyland's Mark Twain being in drydock, or if they were even thinking about Disneyland's Mark Twain at all, possibly just referencing the link between Mark Twain the author and steamboats.

Still, my first thought when I saw it was "Disneyland reference!"

where is local to you? Could you scan/photograph the cartoon and show us?

[animagusurreal]

Here you go, Mr. President

CLICK HERE:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...TwainComic.jpg


The paper is the Santa Maria Sun, of Santa Maria, CA.

This is also the paper that I do freelance writing for, but I don't have anything to do with the comics. In the same issue as the comic is my review of a production of the musical "Kiss Me Kate".

I once did a "daytripping" story on DL for this paper, centering around the opening of Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and the then-upcoming 50th.

Also, the paper's humor columnist, a sort of sitcom-dad-type, once did an article about going to DL with his kids, being more disappointed than his son at not being chosen to be in the Jedi Training Academy, children crying for him to buy stuff, spending too much money, etc. The funniest part was the tagline, which went something like, "Rob was planning on going to Disney World next year. However, to save time, instead he'll just stay at home, yell at the kids until they cry, and set $3,000 on fire." All in jest, of course .

[Ranger Rick]

So the Mark Twain is going through maintaince? When will it be running again?

It came out several weeks ago, after very extensive repairs.

[DisneyIPresume]

That steamboat definitely bears resemblance to the Mark Twain at DL.

[Steve DeGaetano]

That steamboat definitely bears resemblance to the Mark Twain at DL.

That's a little like saying a Ferrari bears a resemblance to a Ford Taurus.

Yes, they both have four wheels, a steering wheel, seats, a windshield and engines.

The Mark Twain features several typical design elements that were common to Mississippi and Missouri steamboats of the 19th century: Two tall, decoratively capped smokestacks; pilothouse, several decks, and a stern wheel. More than likely, the artist was merely influenced by the common presumptions of what a Mississippi steamboat looks like.

[chadb14]

I don't think that this comic had/has anything to do with DL. I think it is purely a coincidence.

[Sweetie]

I think it is a reference to DL's Mark Twain. Especially considering the location of the paper.

If this was a paper in Indiana, sure, they might just be making a reference to Mark Twain and the Mississippi river.

But the Mark Twain at Disneyland is very famous. It's probably the only steamboat that the average person could name... except Ricky the Dragon Steamboat of course.

[k_peek_2000]

That's a little like saying a Ferrari bears a resemblance to a Ford Taurus.

Yes, they both have four wheels, a steering wheel, seats, a windshield and engines.

The Mark Twain features several typical design elements that were common to Mississippi and Missouri steamboats of the 19th century: Two tall, decoratively capped smokestacks; pilothouse, several decks, and a stern wheel. More than likely, the artist was merely influenced by the common presumptions of what a Mississippi steamboat looks like.

Okay well how many steam boats are out there that are named "Mark Twain" He didn't HAVE to be identical.

[penguinsoda]

It is a very definitive use of symbolizm. I think most people in this country, even if they haven't been to Disneyland are familiar with the Mark Twain paddle boat. Of course just the term "Mark Twain" is synomous with riverboats, so you could argue both ways if this is actually the Disney Mark Twain or a generic riverboat named the Mark Twain.

Using the term "still in dry dock" in the cartoon, refers to the fact that the school has not yet opened for business, hence is "drydocked" and still being worked on.

So he's using the symbol of a riverboat with the same name to identify the school, and using the nautical term "dry dock" to refer to the pending opening and continued building of the school.