Does Sinfest have a message?

Reader1 · Joined: 04 Feb 2012 Posts: 111

feel free to explain your answer

Valerie · Joined: 02 Apr 2013 Posts: 263

I think it didn't have a message before (it was more of a gag-a-day thing for a long time), but it's gotten more serious about social issues.
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Arthain · Joined: 09 Feb 2013 Posts: 96

My choice is other. I believe it's had a theme, a message, but the message differs from strip to strip and some don't even have a message at all.

Those options are all too general for me to choose any.

Dogen · Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 10607 Location: Bellingham, WA

I'm impressed by the thoroughness of the options, but there should be an "I don't know," or, "other" response.

Of course, if you think Sinfest doesn't generally have a message now you... I don't know. You're odd, though.
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Jody · Joined: 29 Apr 2013 Posts: 139

It's had the same message, tho that message has changed.

I don't mean to speak for Tat, but what I get out of Sinfest is that it's about how he grapples with the differing cultural and religious values of the two worlds he's a part of. And along the way he's learned things about himself, and changed direction when that calls for it.

I could be completely off the mark, of course. And if so I hope he corrects me on it. But that's how it seems to me, and I appreciate him for it. Smile

stripeypants · Posted: Wed May 08, 2013 1:36 am Post subject:

I think it was always a vehicle for Tat's view of the world - some of it the way he'd like things to be and some of it the way things are. Tat has changed, so the message has changed.

And I don't just mean Tat has become a feminist. I think the strip really started to change when really beautiful things would be interspersed with gags. Mostly I'm thinking of a butterfly flying around (My memory is hazy on the context) and more scenes with the characters just chilling and remarking on being peaceful.

I think that was part of Tat figuring out what he wanted to say. And extrapolating from the essay he links to on the front page, it seems like he didn't know what he wanted to do in the industry for awhile either. Now it seems he knows. (Mostly.)
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Leohan · Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 1017

While Sinfest used to be a gag comic, it always had a message under it all: Sinfest is about the struggle between good and evil, personal (Slick), ideological (Buddha's adherence to balance) and literal (Jesus vs. the Devil)

Evil is getting a more concrete face now in the Patriarchy. No longer is the fight against abstract ideas but there's a present enemy with parallels in our World. I never get tired of saying, though, that this is not the first time this is seen in Sinfest. The Enemy had taken the shape of wars and pollution in the past. All in all, Tat's finding new themes. But the message remains the same.

It can't be by chance that God, the Dragon, Jesus or Buddha have taken a back seat. The Devil's there as a representation of the current, otherwise invisible opponent. Such opponent, though, now has a real parallel. It's up for the non-religious characters to fight the battle.
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Gibson22 · Joined: 01 Jul 2012 Posts: 301

This strip most certainly has a message, and it definitely has changed over time. The theme is still about good and evil, but the FOCUS itself has shifted, as if he had evolved into a different thought of what constitutes good and evil. But I think it's pretty safe to say that he has a definite message, and that he isn't too subtle with that message either, but he tries to make it so that it is enjoyable for everyone...

Unless they are absolutely opposed to his values. Then he uses them as material. Razz

Edit: And Leohan brings up a good point. There hasn't been that much deity interaction and I wonder if that is the reason why. It's a shame the dragon hasn't been around for so long.

Yinello · Joined: 10 May 2012 Posts: 2642 Location: Behind you

Tat's message is: You guys overanalyze things WAY too much.
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crayven · Joined: 08 Jul 2012 Posts: 267

There was no "message", it was just poking fun at everything and everyone.
Even feminism.

Now all of the sudden we're "sirios biznis" and everyone has fallen into "lawful good" or "chaotic evil" lines.

Strawberrycocoa · Joined: 08 Apr 2013 Posts: 31

I was thinking about this during a road trip last week actually. I started reflecting on Sinfest as I drove, and I came to a conclusion about my personal view on the strip.

I believe that while the particulars have shifted over time, Sinfest's message is largely the same as it always has been: The ones in power are out of hand. The People need to rise up, make their will known and their message heard.

Viva La Resistance.

John in Tronna · Posted: Wed May 08, 2013 8:09 am Post subject:

You know, if you tilt your head to the right when you look at the results, the bar graph looks like it's flipping you the bird.

I'm hopin' that's not the message... Wink

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crayven · Joined: 08 Jul 2012 Posts: 267

Finnegan · Posted: Wed May 08, 2013 1:33 pm Post subject:

Jonin · Joined: 04 Jan 2007 Posts: 115

I think it always had a message and the message changed from day to day. And also from viewer to viewer.