tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437232578032388182.post4580220647027789113..comments2024-03-19T14:18:11.852-04:00Comments on Art of Emily Willoughby: 'All Yesterdays' Book ReviewEmily Willoughbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03912270684173200144noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437232578032388182.post-6399284476183803422019-04-23T03:55:01.569-04:002019-04-23T03:55:01.569-04:00I loved your contributions to "All Your Yeste...I loved your contributions to "All Your Yesterdays"! You are an incredible artist! Luca Wighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00809250392796356804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437232578032388182.post-66002925510668561842012-12-02T11:30:37.741-05:002012-12-02T11:30:37.741-05:00Dangit, I really need to nab this once it makes it...Dangit, I really need to nab this once it makes it to print (as I have no fancy kindle and don't like computer versions of books).<br /><br />This is the sort of thing I LOVE, artists depicting paleo critters as animals rather than ideas. I hope it catches on and frees up the realm of paleo reconstruction/art to other folk who might otherwise feel intimidated by the "A/B/C ANIMAL COULD NOT DO/HAVE LOOKED LIKE THAT BECAUSE CLEARLY X/Y/Z OPINION" crowd.Weeburdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03542210129987982413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437232578032388182.post-87621938918499069952012-11-27T10:31:38.999-05:002012-11-27T10:31:38.999-05:00"an internet meme?"
Yep ( http://optimi..."an internet meme?"<br /><br />Yep ( http://optimisticpainter.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/2011-year-of-the-prehistoric-kitteh/ ).<br /><br />"although the shrink-wrapped animal above is described as having not one but FIVE switchblade claws on each foot,"<br /><br />I'm guessing that means it's some kind of felid. I was originally gonna guess dog.<br /><br />-JD-manraptor_044https://www.blogger.com/profile/10538231485096397412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437232578032388182.post-47055196041354196362012-11-26T23:15:12.514-05:002012-11-26T23:15:12.514-05:001stly, what the heck is that thing on the bottom l...<i>1stly, what the heck is that thing on the bottom left</i><br /><br />That thing is "<i>Homo diluvii</i>", a bizarre reconstruction of a giant salamander whose remains were once (in the 1700s) thought to be an actual human drowned in the Biblical flood.<br /><br /><i>What's the reasoning behind the scaly-skinned face?</i><br /><br />I'm not sure if it's intended to reference something more specific, but I took it personally to be a slightly humorous reference to the idea that maniraptoran faces (perhaps <i>Archaeopteryx</i> in particular) were reconstructed as being scaly in paleoart for an extremely long time, with no sensible justification whatsoever (at least 95% of birds have feathered faces, etc). It also may be intended to represent the typical "show every fenestrae in lurid detail" phase that paleoart has gone through.<br /><br />I'm not sure what a prehistoric kitteh is (an internet meme?), but I don't believe the book addresses it, although the shrink-wrapped animal above is described as having not one but FIVE switchblade claws on each foot, which may be a jab at how dinosaurs are typically represented in televsion programs and documentaries.<br /><br /><i>I bet it helped that Naish put in a good word for you. ;)</i><br /><br />I can't say it hurt! I was quite honored by the inclusion.<br /><br /><i>Lastly, IYO, is it more of a casual reader book or an enthusiast book?</i><br /><br />I'm not entirely sure. It's definitely appreciable by the casual reader, since the text is largely not difficult and doesn't rely on a lot of prior existing knowledge on paleontology, nor does it use many terms and references that wouldn't be generally accessible to the laymen. I've no doubt that the casual reader will be able to find it interesting, amusing and very pretty. I also think, though, that the book has some really important messages that might be lost on the casual reader, and which will sink in far more with people who've had some experience with paleontography and with the general depiction of dinosaurs in artwork and media. So in that respect it might be more of an enthusiast book, because it is kind of niche, but I think it definitely can be appreciated by a wide audience.Emily Willoughbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912270684173200144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437232578032388182.post-43476831847874364472012-11-25T22:50:55.889-05:002012-11-25T22:50:55.889-05:00Can't believe I never thought to comment on yo...Can't believe I never thought to comment on your blog posts b-4. In any case, I have some questions.<br /><br />1stly, what the heck is that thing on the bottom left ( http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/tetrapod-zoology/files/2012/11/All-Yesterdays-image-montage-John-Conway-Memo-Kosemen-Nov-2012-600-px-tiny.jpg ), some kind of amphibian thought by future scientists to have been humanoid?<br /><br />"This is how future scientists might reconstruct a very familiar animal - but what is it? Buy the book to find out."<br /><br />What's the reasoning behind the scaly-skinned face? In any case, it reminds me of Hallett's dragon-bear in "Ice Age Cave Bear: The Giant Beast That Terrified Ancient Humans". Also, in the latter section, is there any mention of "Prehistoric Kitteh"?<br /><br />"I would highly recommend this book if for nothing more than the very novel viewpoint it takes on the field"<br /><br />I bet it helped that Naish put in a good word for you. ;) I'm just kidding (mostly), but it still must've been pretty awesome to be grouped w/some of the best paleoartists by 1 of the best paleontologists.<br /><br />Lastly, IYO, is it more of a casual reader book or an enthusiast book ( http://whenpigsfly-returns.blogspot.com/2008/04/paleo-reading-list.html )? I like to hear about this from a few different ppl to get a good idea of what to expect from a new book.<br /><br />Many thanks in advance for your help.<br /><br />-JD-manraptor_044https://www.blogger.com/profile/10538231485096397412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437232578032388182.post-19320364838153750442012-11-25T18:55:38.728-05:002012-11-25T18:55:38.728-05:00Well, the ugliness of Camarasaurus gets a brief me...Well, the ugliness of Camarasaurus gets a brief mention <a href="http://svpow.com/2008/06/15/supercrocs-sidekick/" rel="nofollow">on SV-POW!</a> every now and then, but not a in published paper yet, as far as I recall. Maybe one day.<br /><br />"ARRRGGGHHH! Why can't you be like Brachiosaurus, or at least like Diplodocus? You look fat and stupid!" -- Matt Wedel's reaction whenever he sees Camarasaurus vertebrae.<br /><br />Mike Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06039663158335543317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437232578032388182.post-77062818097081185682012-11-25T18:44:51.408-05:002012-11-25T18:44:51.408-05:00Looking forward to the paper on sauropod aesthetic...Looking forward to the paper on sauropod aesthetics. ;)Emily Willoughbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912270684173200144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437232578032388182.post-54320852324199048572012-11-25T11:35:03.202-05:002012-11-25T11:35:03.202-05:00"Camarasaurus [...] is considered by some exp..."Camarasaurus [...] is considered by some experts to be among the ugliest of all sauropods"<br /><br />I am pretty certain that that line is about me, and my colleague Matt Wedel.<br />Mike Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06039663158335543317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2437232578032388182.post-61196047897695782182012-11-25T04:37:01.995-05:002012-11-25T04:37:01.995-05:00Nice review. I'm looking forward for it ;)Nice review. I'm looking forward for it ;)Elijah Shandseighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15622423593087745170noreply@blogger.com