Ben Katchor's comics of bygone New York

http://www.ted.com In this captivating talk from the TED archive, cartoonist Ben Katchor reads from his comic strips. These perceptive, surreal stories find the profound hopes and foibles of history (and modern New York) preserved in objects like light switches and signs.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Watch the Top 10 TEDTalks on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

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Entertainment

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• Katchor
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• comics
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[DaVeej]

I love how he talks.

[hairbird]

his language is unique -- this guy is currently blowing my mind

[jimbrown257]

Wtf?

[MellumFellum]

This is actually one of the more brilliant, creative, and insightful TED talks out there, and I've seen almost all of them. It's a bit stunning that it hasn't been rated higher. Pay attention to the actual message, and see how many startling and new connections he makes (Christ and ventriloquism!). Now compare that to, say, the TEDtalk "Felix Dennis' odes to vice and consequences," where the poetry is invariably trite and only occasionally 'new.' The difference? Dennis has a badass voice. Deep.

[runescape332]

I thought that was john malkovich talking at first.

No Joke.

[MrCrammer]

Monotone story telling. Polite applause. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

[ashtray45]

This is some jackass trying to sound smart, but really everyone can see that in his desperate attempt to be unique, he lost all reason. Almost as pathetic as abstract drawing, a 2 year olds brain fart. No talent and no place on TED.

[MysteryManoLove]

Better than Eve Ensler, god she made no fucking point at all, I tore her up in my video.

[cihge]

I need a translator here... or maybe two.

...srsly tho, wtf?

[Juggernaughty824]

He's just sharing his idea to the world... and it's TED... can't blame him for that. Moreover, if you think the same as i am that his voice was mind-blowing, just switch it off like I what I will do in 15 seconds...

[cihge]

This guy is on TED?!? EXCUSE ME?!

[niniomigrania]

It reminds me a little bit to the voice of Jhon malkovich, but less entertainment, and pretty boring to be honest, i almost fall asleep.