Short one today folks. I’m going to just relax this week, lay back, share a few cartoons, drink a cold one and enjoy the warm weather. Yep, no commentary, no essays or analysis. Just me laying poolside until whoever owns this pool sees me and kicks me out.

This week I’ll be sharing dog cartoons. What makes the dog cartoon so popular, anyway? It’s enduring popularity in the cultural zeitgeist speaks to a—ahh! I almost started writing an in-depth exploration of the dog cartoon. I’m not doing that this week! I’m taking a break! 

That was a close one. Let’s just make it easy and start with this cartoon of mine, which is in this week’s New Yorker:

It’s both a dog cartoon and Machiavelli cartoon. Interestingly enough, Machiavelli has appeared several times in the cartoons of The New Yorker. Like many historical figures, he has been broadly characterized as a way to represent—NO!  STOP IT! 

ENOUGH!

Ahem. Moving on. Here’s a bunch of dog cartoons. If you like any of them and want a print or a mug, let me know!

Phew. I managed to get through that without a deep dive into the history of the talking dog joke, which actually dates back to ancient Sumer, interestingly enough, which I think proves that the trope is intrinsically linked to AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

What Else…

Hey! I’ll be writing about this more in the future, but you fine folks get to hear it first: I’ll be giving a chat with the one-and-only Roz Chast in September at The New York Transit Museum. It’s not until September, but you can register now!

That’s it! That’s all I have in me this week! I’m sorry!