I've been thinking a lot lately about the old Do-It-Yourself Beanworld contests.
We'll talk about that later but in the meanwhile, once again, it's time for me to share
The Larry Marders Do-It-Yourself Halloween Costume For Procrastinators!
It's a simple, yet effective costume for people in need of a last minute awesome costume.
I'm not quite sure how many times I've concocted this particular two-phase costume over the years but it's been several times a decade. Because I've moved around so much and drifted in and out of social circles, both personal and professional, over the years, there has always been a fertile new audience for my subtle yet powerful one trick-pony of a costume.
A little bit of History:
It started at Hartford Art School of the University of Hartford.
The Art School had the reputation the best Halloween Bacchanal on campus.
It was legendary really.
This epicness (as some might say nowadays) was based on two things:
First, the quality of the costuming from art students from 1969-1972.
The second was some sort of punch that was mixed up with god-knows-what in it but I'm quite certain its main ingredient was pure grain alcohol This punch had a campus wide notoriety somewhat akin to Four Loko today.
I discovered right away in art school that when it comes to masquerades (and what is now known as cosplay) that I stink.
People always ask me how come I never try to make some sort of Beanworld costume.
Cuz I'm not creative enough in that way.
Personally I have absolutely no idea how one might do that.
Zero.
But I do like minimal costumes.
And this is mine.
Frame from "Ducks Yas Yas" (c) Robert Crumb
Truthfully I'm not quite sure where the idea came from.
Over the years, I've settled on it being influenced by a frame of a Robert Crumb comic called "Ducks Yas Yas."
I really liked the guy with the third eye.
Decided to do one myself.
Minimal but memorable.
And give it a little bit of sequential art punch line.
Stage Directions for
Larry Marder's World Famous
Third Eye Halloween Costume.
Part One.
Affix third eye to your forehead.
Go to the party.
Take the ribbing that is inevitable for having such a lame costume.
"Hey you're a creative guy. That's the best you can do?"
Sheepish smiles and a lot of shrugging are the proper responses.
Part Two.
Let the festivities settle in.
Wait until everyone has seen everyone else's costume.
Then wait more until the fun-seekers are getting appropriately loose (inebriated, medicated, whatever one's poison is).
Wait further still until folks are starting to shed various pieces of their burdensome, uncomfortable costumes and falling out of character and starting to look more and more bleary eyed
Then you strike!
Go to the bathroom and affix Third Eye #2.
Start circulating.
Say nothing.
It generally takes a while but at some point someone will notice that you have switched eyes. There will be a moment of recognition/comprehension as to the absurdity of what you have done.
They will giggle.
They will laugh.
Depending on what some have been up to they might guffaw.
Like Beanworld itself, it's deceptively simple bit of theater but full of meaning.
It works.
It wll be a hit.
Try it sometime.
You have my permission to download my drawings, print 'em out, cut 'em out and use mine.
Or make your own!
HALLOWEEN BONUS!
The greatest Halloween anthem of all time by the Shaggs!
