May 11, 2007

Caricature and handwritten notes from the 7th Circuit conference.

Last Monday, at 3 in the afternoon, at the 7th Circuit conference in Milwaukee, Professor Geoffrey R. Stone and Judge Richard A. Posner had a debate on the subject constitutional rights and the War on Terror. I'm sure Simon is writing up his elaborate notes and that he will tell you what they said in precise detail, but I was in an impressionistic mode -- it must have been that glass of wine at lunch -- and I alternated between scribbling words and caricatures. From my first page of notes, I got both Stone and Posner:

Handwritten notes with caricature

Later pages focused on Posner, who, in proportion to the rights he was describing...

Handwritten notes with caricature

... kept getting tinier and tinier.

Handwritten notes with caricature

24 comments:

Fred said...

This is why I subscribe to the Althouse blog,.. for the pictures! Most people wouldn't admit that. Instead they'd mumble something about the quality of blog articles and community. *rolls eyes*

As Randy of American Idol would say: Hey, I'm just trying to keep it real, dawg!

Brad V said...

Before I read the text, I thought you had drawn caricatures of Chris Matthews, Rehnquist, Ginsburg, and Cheney.

Posner must have some real plasticity to him.

PeterP said...

Will you marry me Ms. Althouse?

Thought I'd better ask.

We could co-habit, but it's not really my thing.

hdhouse said...

Simon who? sorry Ann. never figured out who you meant by Simon. Not the Simon who blogs here?

Simon said...

I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not, but those made me chuckle. The look on Stone's face in the first one is great. :)

Surprisingly enough - it surprised me, at least - I thought Stone had the best of the argument, and as you surmise, I'll have more to say about it in the next few days. :)

Maxine Weiss said...

Someone feels left out. Someone's on the periphery. A kid with her nose pressed up against the candy-store window.

And so the only way to deal with the rage at not being part of that circle--that exclusive coterie....is to insult them with unflattering drawings.

Simon said...

Maxine - I don't think so.

Maxine Weiss said...

Oh, I see, so the unflattering drawings are revenge. Tit for tat. How immature.

Love Maxine

Simon said...

Maxine - Keep flinging different charges and I'm sure that sooner or later something'll stick.

donohue2 said...

I knew the first picture was Stone w/out reading any of the post, so, spot on!

Palladian said...

When did Maxine become so bitter and angry?

PeterP said...

Phew.

Knew I asked someone to marry me last night.

Just couldn't quite recall who.

Sober now and prepared to take sealed bids only.

Ann Althouse said...

Thanks, all.

Peter: I'll think about it.

Maxine: Why are you assuming these drawings are unflattering? Did you see these men in person?

Hdhouse: You're revealing you haven't read other posts on this blog today, but maybe you read top down and this is your first visit of the day.

Steve: Thanks. Really, anyone who was there and saw Stone as projected on the screen when he was being introduced should get this caricature. I only decided to do drawings in this session because of how distinctive his features were with the expression on his face right then. Then, Judge Posner is very easy to draw. Start with the big glasses and the drawing draws itself.

Bissage said...

(1) Thanks for the caricatures. Ever since I can remember, I've admired people who can draw. I dabbled in cartooning a little bit in my salad days but I threw away all my pens, pencils and sketch books the day I set off for law school. That was probably a mistake. Just about anyone can take notes but not too many people can make them look good.

(2) Judge Posner should beef up his diet with more protean. This would prevent his rights from shrinking so much.

(3) Palladian, IMHO, part of Maxine’s special charm has always been the teasing glimpse she offers us of her hostility, as if it were cleavage. Usually, though her décolletage has frills on it.

PeterP said...

Peter: I'll think about it.

A reasonable response, but then look what that did for Descartes.

Ruth Anne Adams said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Maxine Weiss said...

Ann, a Characturist draws to pay homage, in an atmosphere of delightful humor, and spirit of love.

I doubt that was the context in which you drew these men, at least from your written notes about the Panel.

Love, Maxine

Simon said...

Maxine - even assuming that your characterization of the caricaturist's art is accutate (I think Gerald Scarfe, for example, might take issue with it) I see no editorialization in those notes. They say only what was being said. So what about them are you resting this supposed context on? Moreover, all those notes are from Posner's comments - so how does the presence of a caricature of Stone fit into your view?

Fling on, you crazy diamond. ;)

Mortimer Brezny said...

Hey, waitasecond. Peter gets to marry you before I do? That's no fair.

Ann Althouse said...

I'm collecting offers at this point...

Bissage said...

Remember guys, it's black letter law: You can withdraw your offer at any time before her acceptance, unless she pays consideration or changes her position in justified reliance.

Double Ha!

Maxine Weiss said...

A caricature is, by definition, supposed to be a loving, humorous tribute.

Ann's drawings might be humorous, but they certainly aren't loving.

Those drawings are worse than a Rorschach inkblot, and they show a lot of rage, hostility and agitation.

Peace, Maxine

Mortimer Brezny said...

Well, I'm a merchant, so my offer is good for three months and it need not be in writing...

Chip Ahoy said...

Excellent.