95: LOUIS C.K: We don’t think about how we talk
Louis CK (1967-) is a stand-up comedian and is at the top of the comedy world right now thanks to his Emmy-winning show Louie (which he writes, directs, edits and stars in). I’m a big fan and If you haven’t seen any of his specials or his FX show, then you’re in for a treat. You can download his specials for only $5 from his website (all contain very explicit language).
It seems that everyone in my generation know only two adjectives: AMAZING and AWESOME. It’s one of my pet peeves and this quote from Louie’s Hilarious special perfectly sums up how I feel too. (You can listen to the bit in this clip, starts at about 1.50min)
- One of my favourite Louie clips: Everything’s amazing and nobody’s happy. (WARNING: Very offensive and hilarious language)
- Louie pays tribute to George Carlin.
- RELATED COMICS by George Carlin, Bill Hicks and Henry Rollins.
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That was probably the most amusing, disturbing, and vaguely sacrilegious social analysis I have ever read. Bar none. Wow.
Think you blew my mind with that one. Hope you’re ready for angry letters from a few people, of course. Not everyone can laugh at their own religion.
I feel like saying this was another amazing work goes against the whole idea, but nice one as always!
Really? This blew your mind?
What if Jesus actually came down from the sky, made love to you all night long, and left you with the new living in your belly
HAH!
I see what you did there…
My sides!
Ahahah! This comment is hilarious. XD
Hilarious? This is hilarious?
What if Jesus actually… oh to hell with that…
lololol.
It’s funny, because in the same special that this was in, Louis rants about people using the word hilarious as well.
And the special is actually called “Hilarious” haha
I face-palmed when i realized he should’ve named his special Hysterical, when he actually got to the part where he talked about the word hilarious.
Hey Gav, your work is amazing! Better than making love to Christ all night long, that’s for sure
I used to like Louis C.K.’s shows but now I think they are too racist and bigot.
Anyway, “amazing” work, Gavin!
I agree. There seems to be something about shock comics that make them reach further and further into a dark realm, where it appears they’re just saying things to see what they can get away with. Louis C.K. used to be my favorite comedian. Hopefully he’ll be able to step it up and get back to his true creative form.
On a side note, this is one of my favorite bits by Louis. I, too, find myself “correcting” people for using words such as awesome and amazing.
Could guys link me to a bit of his that you find racist of bigoted? I can’t think of any by myself to be honest.
I was once corrected on my usage of “Awesome” by an elderly woman. She said, “No, Jesus is awesome.” I can’t argue with that!
how about Louis Black – much the funniest stand up now!
I love Louis C.K.!! he’s a great comic, so glad you did a quote from him, another good quote from him is “I’m bored’ is a useless thing to say. I mean, you live in a great, big, vast world that you’ve seen none percent of. Even the inside of your own mind is endless; it goes on forever, inwardly, do you understand? The fact that you’re alive is amazing, so you don’t get to say ‘I’m bored.”
Louis C.K.! Offensive with a dash of wisdom, just how I like it! Thanks!
So, Louis, did you bother to taste one of those chicken wings?
Dude! This is amaaaazing!
Eddie Izzard did a similar bit about ‘awesome’. From memory, it went something like this (but funnier):
‘Awesome’ used to mean ‘inspiring awe’. It should be reserved for things like galaxies and the ocean. But Americans use it all the time in everyday conversation, to say things like ‘this hot dog is awesome’.
But if the hotdog really was ‘awesome’, you wouldn’t be able to comment on it! You’d be too busy staggering in awe of its magnificence to be able to speak!
And it means that when you guys go into space and land on Mars, or whatever, you’re not going to have the proper words for it. The first American on Mars will have a conversation like this:
“Here I am on Mars.”
“What’s it like?”
“It’s… well, it’s awesome, sir.”
“What… like a hot dog?”
“…Like a million hot dogs, sir.”
Yes, there was a bit about socks being amazing, too, which made me laugh a lot.
Eddie Izzard is one of my most favourite comedians. His incredible wit, as shown in your comment here, is why I respect him so much
Pls enlighten me. It makes no sense at all. Sorry for being slow
Love Louis CK. Love the drawing. I can’t bottom shelf it, amazing job Gavin!
I’m thinking ‘awesome’, here! (You heard it..!?;-)
I suppose a basket of chicken wings could be considered ‘gnawsome’?
Not at all what I’ve come to expect from ZenPencils, but since it’s adapting one of my favorite Louis C. K. bits, you won’t hear me complain.
This is the first time that I don’t get what you have done here – It’s not straight, No story, No quotes. Sorry but It’s not Zen Pencil to me. And it am bit offended with Jesus.
Not straight ? wrong . No story ? Wrong. No quotes ? wrong again . There’s no reason to be offended . You’ll forget about how it offended soon enough ( when you grow up )
Read it again more thoughtfully. It’s a call to think, really THINK, about how you use language. Don’t dilute its power by using hyperbole constantly. (Yes, Louis CK, the author of the words used above, employed a bit of shock to get his message across, but so have some of the more traditionally worded quotes.)
What’s even worse is ‘Amazeballs’ which I’m hearing more frequently over here in the West….shudder…
I live in the west. I’ve never heard “amazeballs”. Find new friends.
I honestly don’t care if it’s offensive or not but this is not Zen Pencils-like
Zen Pencils decide what is “Zen Pencils-like”. Not you.
First, that’s a pretty obnoxious comment.
Second, read it again. Despite its tone, it has a pretty insightful message: to think about the words we use and not dilute the power of language and wonder by using hyperbole about mundane events.
Your cartoons are just “amazzzzzing” Gavin!
and you are doing some “awesome” work! Louis Ck is “good”! This made my day!
I’ve thought this before, though I am of course guilty of the crime.
It’s almost ridiculous how we exaggerate things…
Well done, to you and mister C.K.
To the critics, how is this un-zen pencils? He’s done offensive social commentaries like this before, one specifically from the same guy…
Bloated minds bloated speech bloated bellies – The American Way
Personally I believe everything in this life is amazing. There is so much beautiful little stuff. I generally am just speechless and smiling at the really beautiful stuff…
ROFL!! Thanks, Gav! That was brilliant!
I love that Jesus made love to a man and that he got pregnant! Wonderful job!
You missed the other overused word: epic. I’ve been with a group of people where “amazing,” “awesome,” and “epic” made up 80% of their speech.
Epic fail, IMO. Our language is rich with descriptors.
Great comic, and thanks for linking the videos.
As far as Louis C. K. goes, I think his biggest pearl of wisdom is the “Everything is amazing and nobody is happy” one:
http://vimeo.com/14975413
(starting at around 2:00)
Which kinda goes against this one… different context I suppose. I do agree with the sentiment of both but I think the above video is much more insightful. (Love the guy)
I really enjoyed this one.
So it’s better to wait for one AMAZING moment that may or may not happen rather than enjoy the little things in your life? I have the feeling this goes against many of the comics you have made. And it’s probably the only one I haven’t enjoyed :/
Oh no, I overused the word amazing nowadays, but it’s all because I’m lacking in vocabularies (or too lazy to think of another word) but still, this comic is true :p
Another word that’s over used is “love.” We “love” TV shows, foods, and smartphones, then we turn around and use the same word for family, girlfriends or boyfriends, God (some of us, at least). I try to be careful with that word. I only “like” most things and save love for the important stuff.
You brought my two loves, your comics and Louis C.K., in one terrific comic just in time for my birthday. I cannot thank you enough for this great timing.
Truly Amazing, good food for thought
What makes Zen Pencils brilliant (‘shining luminously with bright intelligence and energy’) is the way Gavin takes a range of of thoughts/quotes/outlooks on life and graphically recreates them in appealing style so they can be enjoyed and act as refreshing comic strips that make you think. It is food for thought – even if you don’t ultimately agree or totally accept the individual post you can appreciate the idea and it’s worth it ’cause you’ve taken a moment to grasp at some meaning and think deeper.
This post: it’s a good idea to think about the way we use language and it’s a good idea to think about our reactions to things we encounter and maybe ask “why?” I’m questioning why we use words like “amazing” and “awesome” lazily without really meaning it and where people get this entitled sense that they can tell the author of something that it’s not the way things should be done around here.
Anyway, I enjoyed it and enjoy Zen Pencils because it makes me think and opens up your mind. Amazing things (and I really mean amazing as in ‘creating wonder and powerful personal awe’) can only happen if you’re opening up your mind and thinking…
Hear hear! I don’t agree with every quote, but I learn more from the ones I disagree with than the ones I agree with.
Thanks for the comments. I knew some readers wouldn’t really like this one but I do whatever quotes I want to do. Some are deep and reflective, some are more goofy and fun – this site gives me the flexibility to draw whatever I want, that’s why I started it
^^This.^^
And that is why this IS a Zen Pencil.
He says so.
And while it’s a diversion from some other works of yours,
since when is art supposed to be reiteration of the same things?
Not when it’s art…
Excellent work, and thanks for stirring up our world yet again!
I am soooo guilty of overusing the words ‘amazing’ and ‘awesome.’ My only excuse is that I’m a teenager, but it’s immediately trumped by the fact that I’m supposed to be a writer too. How do I become a good writer if I waste the word ‘amazing’ on a basket of chicken wings? (which I have never done?) Thanks for this; it really made me want to expand my vocabulary! But sometimes, things are just so awesome and amazing.
Like this comic.
Louis is great, BUT although I’m not a huge fan of chicken wings I don’t have a problem with describing them as “Amazing.” If I wait for Jesus to come down and make love to me all night long before I use the word, then I suspect I’ll NEVER use it. Maybe we got it backwards. If nothing, short of Jesus coming down, causes you to be amazed, then maybe you’re already dead. Think of how happy a person would be if they had the ability to be truly amazed by chicken wings.
WAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA> an amazing one from Gavo!
Bravo! Yes I love chicken wings!
I would call that a RAPE!
Great work once again, Gavin.
Some of the time you change the tone of the quote and it adds another dimension. Sometimes you capture the spirit of the quote itself perfectly.
This one is the second one. You really capture the desperation in Louis when he does these routines, especially in that last panel.
Dear Gav,
When will the “The two wolves” (Nr. 94) be available to order from the website?
Just me thinking here, but some time ago I figured out why some Christians don’t swear. Ok, given, in the US where most christians are bigoted idiots and think it’s offensive and that they go to heaven if they don’t swear.
However a Christian friend once told me something like this. He said he doesn’t swear in everday conversation, because the time will come where something truly terrible might happen, and he wants to be able to express what he feels about that, which then would be swearing.
Also I think C.H. Spurgeon said, that if we used adjectives like awesome, great or holy for everyday things, we lack the vocabulary to try and verbally express our experiences with the living God.
So I wonder what Louis C.K. says if his kids get hit by a truck… you now having used up all the swearwords for his shows…
Speaking of idiots, it’s idiotic to say that most christians in the US are “bigoted idiots.” Who’s being bigoted here? I’m an ex-christian agnostic who has a huge axe to grind with silly christian dogma, but most christians I know are truly caring people, despite believing things I’m quite certain are untrue. One of the biggest a**holes I’ve ever met was an atheist. Does that mean most atheists are a**holes? I cuss plenty, but I realize that it’s not a sign of me being cutting-edge; it’s simply me being lazy. An intelligent person can find better, more exact, ways to express himself.
Sorry, I didn’t mean it this way. See my reply to Doug.
Btw. if you have an axe to grind with silly christian dogma (as do I), I recommend C.S. Lewis, he gives hard to grasp concepts a very reasonable voice, and his logic is hard to refute.
Most U.S. Christians are idiots?
Or was your intent to post something ironic?
It is fairly ironic. However my aim was to take the wind out of the sails of those having a view of christians always and everywhere being narrow-minded, fairly-tail followers.
This is in my expierience, the case in countries like the U.S. where a “christian” majority and tradition forces their rules on others. With the understandable reaction of the new atheist movement and a rising opposition to christianity and it’s followers being portrayed as irrational and narrow-minded. I wanted to avoid being mistaken for such a person, as my above argument is in the favour of a christian pratice.
So, yes it’s a bit of joke on the current situation, and here’s to TJ, I agree the most loving, caring and wise people I’ve met were followers of Christ. So sorry for the wording, I now see I should’ve put it more careful… you never know who might take it as an insulting generalisation.
PS: Once again I realize the internet is in dire need of a sarcasm font of sorts.
awesome, you should do more Louis CK quotes.
It’s funny that when you were quoting a religious phrase, you
felt bad by using God in the middle of it, since you proclaim not being a
religious person. Now however, that it is a funny quote, which
even being just for fun, is still disrespectful to the figure
of Jesus Christ, for the religious persons, you haven’t fell nothing,
or if you had, do not show.
Seems two quite differents standards there.
Wow, such a great surprise to see something about Louis CK here! He’s an amaz… err, I mean, very funny comedian, and one of my favorite artists in general that I’ve discovered recently. Really great to see you doing a quote by him, and a great one at that.
I know what word I’d use. It would be “Abortion”.