“Tiny Update” is a weekly free newsletter that keeps you up to date on the latest news, comic book projects and merchandise offerings from James Tynion IV and Tiny Onion Studios.
Very powerful introduction, thank you for writing that.
Your discussion of Sondheim refusing to stay inside "a box that the rest of the world was comfortable with" is especially resonant, especially since this often seems the case today. Queer people are still only accepted if they adhere to what society deems an acceptable level of queerness, and the same is true of queer art... see how RuPaul's brand of white-washed cis-washed drag has made its way into mass culture, whereas authentic ballroom drag is still marginalised; or how queer characters in movies are often stereotypically 'gay' in a way that is perceived to be 'unthreatening'.
It is always great to see queer people creating authentic queer art and defying these norms, and I feel like you really do that with your stories, so thank you :) Have a great week everyone ! xx
Thank you James for sharing your moving tribute to Stephen Sondheim. I remember growing up listening to the Company soundtrack and then seeing the Raul Esparza-led revival where the cast all played their own instruments. Such a great performance by Raul at the end (Adam Driver's rendition from Marriage Story is a close second, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWengrlMpok). And I was fortunate enough to see the limited run of Sondheim on Sondheim in honor of his 80th birthday. He will be missed but his songs and music will live on.
In 1994 I was a freshman in the Theater program at the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University. It was an exciting time to start my education there as the school was preparing a tribute to Stephen Sondheim. I was aware of him, but not why he was “important.” Musicals had always been a bit presentational to me and I was looking for more grounded, emotional truth in stage performances. Sondheim showed me that it was possible to have both, and it ignited a love and appreciation in me for his work. Thank you for sharing how important his work was to you. It was nice to be reminded of his gifts to theater audiences through your own personal appreciation. Here is a link to one of the performances from from the SMU tribute to Sondheim. https://youtu.be/KOZhmsp6iBQ
Thanks for the Sondheim essay James. I was part of a high school production of West Side Story, and still make it out to watch Musical theatre, and I appreciate knowing how much Sondheim’s work informs your work. I do plan on rereading Dept. Of Truth and SIKTC with these contexts in mind. I would love to see a convention do a panel about comic creators talking about musical theatre.
Dude I am a huge history nerd. It definitely fascinates me. Especially the oddities. The world's fair has some great historical stuff branching from it like the Eiffel tower being an antenna and the secret rooms in it. The ties to freemason meetings that took place at the world's fair. Nicola Tesla's displays and neon lights. The small world ride origin. The link between warner von Braun and Tomorrowland. The ebcott ball that is eerily similar to the Nazi antennas. And all that. Super cool stuff. 🧅♣️
James, I am so glad you shared this part of you in this post. I’m a former musical theater kid who left it behind, but thinks about that world fondly and often. This post gives me a whole new way to absorb all the wonderful stories you write. Thanks so much for sharing it.
Very powerful introduction, thank you for writing that.
Your discussion of Sondheim refusing to stay inside "a box that the rest of the world was comfortable with" is especially resonant, especially since this often seems the case today. Queer people are still only accepted if they adhere to what society deems an acceptable level of queerness, and the same is true of queer art... see how RuPaul's brand of white-washed cis-washed drag has made its way into mass culture, whereas authentic ballroom drag is still marginalised; or how queer characters in movies are often stereotypically 'gay' in a way that is perceived to be 'unthreatening'.
It is always great to see queer people creating authentic queer art and defying these norms, and I feel like you really do that with your stories, so thank you :) Have a great week everyone ! xx
Hey James, just a question I haven’t received any emails and I have been a Onion tier sub since the summer. Any update?
I saw the pillow man at the Cleveland playhouse in 2006. Soooo good!
Thank you James for sharing your moving tribute to Stephen Sondheim. I remember growing up listening to the Company soundtrack and then seeing the Raul Esparza-led revival where the cast all played their own instruments. Such a great performance by Raul at the end (Adam Driver's rendition from Marriage Story is a close second, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWengrlMpok). And I was fortunate enough to see the limited run of Sondheim on Sondheim in honor of his 80th birthday. He will be missed but his songs and music will live on.
In 1994 I was a freshman in the Theater program at the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University. It was an exciting time to start my education there as the school was preparing a tribute to Stephen Sondheim. I was aware of him, but not why he was “important.” Musicals had always been a bit presentational to me and I was looking for more grounded, emotional truth in stage performances. Sondheim showed me that it was possible to have both, and it ignited a love and appreciation in me for his work. Thank you for sharing how important his work was to you. It was nice to be reminded of his gifts to theater audiences through your own personal appreciation. Here is a link to one of the performances from from the SMU tribute to Sondheim. https://youtu.be/KOZhmsp6iBQ
Thanks for the Sondheim essay James. I was part of a high school production of West Side Story, and still make it out to watch Musical theatre, and I appreciate knowing how much Sondheim’s work informs your work. I do plan on rereading Dept. Of Truth and SIKTC with these contexts in mind. I would love to see a convention do a panel about comic creators talking about musical theatre.
Dude I am a huge history nerd. It definitely fascinates me. Especially the oddities. The world's fair has some great historical stuff branching from it like the Eiffel tower being an antenna and the secret rooms in it. The ties to freemason meetings that took place at the world's fair. Nicola Tesla's displays and neon lights. The small world ride origin. The link between warner von Braun and Tomorrowland. The ebcott ball that is eerily similar to the Nazi antennas. And all that. Super cool stuff. 🧅♣️
Did all of the the day one subscriber gifts ship? I received the email that I was on the list but did not receive anything as of yet.
James, I am so glad you shared this part of you in this post. I’m a former musical theater kid who left it behind, but thinks about that world fondly and often. This post gives me a whole new way to absorb all the wonderful stories you write. Thanks so much for sharing it.