# Obvious things about a creative work you realize after the millionth time (OPEN SPOILERS POSSIBLE) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117 "2009-07-24T13:20:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 79
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1561 "2013-10-25T23:52:41Z")
> [@Mr\_Shine](#): > > Looking at the picture in the link I _still_ can’t see an ear. Glad I’m not the only one! ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2013, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1562 "2013-10-25T23:55:37Z")
You have to [open up the gatefold](http://www.coverdude.com/covers/pink-floyd-meddle-2011-remastered-cd4-cover-80280.jpg) to see the entire ear. Even though I know it’s an ear, the front cover always looked to me like an upside-down nose! This is the British cover, BTW; the ear is much less noticeable on the (purple-tinted)American cover. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1563 "2013-10-27T01:57:29Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > The problem with the old westerns is that in real life the Confederacy was unambiguously on the wrong side. Slavery? So yeah. But set the whole thing in space and you can remove the problematic parts. Or in Japan. I’m watching the end of of [The Last Samuri](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Samurai), where the cream of southern nobility make a last hopeless charge into the gatling-guns of the industrial north, and thinking "who would watch an American civil-war movie staring Tom Cruise and set in Japan? when the penny drops, and I realize – This is not a samurai move. This is an American civil war movie. Americans will watch it. — ---
**Author:** ![Hermione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/cdc98d/32.png) [@Hermione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermione)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1564 "2013-10-27T02:12:02Z")
As a children’s librarian, I’ve read _Harold and the Purple Crayon_ often to the kids at storytime. (When I do an art-themed storytime, I’ll read the story, then show the cartoon adaptation of its sequel, _Harold’s Fairy Tale.)_ Only recently did I notice a couple of subtle puns in both stories. In the first, Harold, while sailing, “made land” (naturally, he drew it while still in his boat). At the end, he got into bed and “drew up the covers.” In the sequel, after he drew the fairy-tale castle, he found that the portcullis was “drawn shut.” ---
**Author:** ![smaje1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@smaje1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smaje1)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1565 "2013-10-28T17:18:27Z")
It took saying the word “alienation” out loud for me to “get” the name of the TV show, Alien Nation. So, they’re like, aliens, and they feel alienated. That’s fucking brilliant. How did I not get that right away? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1566 "2013-10-28T17:24:39Z")
:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1567 "2013-10-28T17:46:26Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > I’m not sure if this has been mentioned in this thread before, but it was a long time before I realized the joke about the names of the male characters in “Third Rock from the Sun” - Dick, Harry, and Tommy are the legendary “every Tom, Dick and Harry” They referenced this in at least one episode. One of the humans made a comment about “Every Tom, Dick and Harry”, at which point Tom, Dick and Harry all suddenly started ostentatiously acting nonchalant. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1568 "2013-10-28T20:07:03Z")
> [@Mr\_Shine](#): > > Looking at the picture in the link I _still_ can’t see an ear. That’s one fucked up ear. The top folds out, and is not connected to the head. And the ear is taller than the rest of the head. Looks more like a turtle to me. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2013, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1569 "2013-10-28T21:12:55Z")
It helps if you see the complete picture [![](https://i.imgur.com/IObjC.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/IObjC.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1570 "2013-10-29T01:36:39Z")
I checked the thread to make sure I didn’t post this already–if I missed it, feel free to ignore the repeat! 🙂 In _Dirty Rotten Scoundrels_, at the end, when Janet brings all the potential investors up to Jameson’s home, she gives both men phony names. The name she gave to Freddy was “Randy Bentwick.” Suddenly it hit me what she had done. She was punishing him for how he’d tried to get her in the sack to win a bet. She made him a mute and gave him a name that essentially means “horny brokedick.” I’d watched the movie umpteen times before I got that! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1571 "2013-10-29T03:02:27Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > I’m not sure if this has been mentioned in this thread before, but it was a long time before I realized the joke about the names of the male characters in “Third Rock from the Sun” - Dick, Harry, and Tommy are the legendary “every Tom, Dick and Harry” They missed an obvious joke by not naming Kristen Johnston’s character Ann. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1572 "2013-10-29T15:49:35Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > It helps if you see the complete picture > > [Imgur: The magic of the Internet](http://i.imgur.com/IObjC.jpg) Looks like a turtle or even a snail. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1573 "2013-10-29T16:18:09Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > It helps if you see the complete picture > > [Imgur: The magic of the Internet](http://i.imgur.com/IObjC.jpg) That’s just a rotated repost of the link in post 1562. As I said, that ear is fucked up. It’s taller than the head, and it’s disconnected at the top and sticks out like Dumbo’s ears. And that doesn’t explain why there’s only an ear on one side. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1574 "2013-10-29T16:25:20Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > That’s just a rotated repost of the link in post 1562. As I said, that ear is fucked up. It’s taller than the head, and it’s disconnected at the top and sticks out like Dumbo’s ears. > > And that doesn’t explain why there’s only an ear on one side. … am I being whooshed here? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1575 "2013-10-29T17:40:39Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > … am I being whooshed here? If so, you’re not the only one. I can’t figure out what he’s on about, either. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1576 "2013-10-29T17:45:02Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > That’s just a rotated repost of the link in post 1562. As I said, that ear is fucked up. It’s taller than the head, and it’s disconnected at the top and sticks out like Dumbo’s ears. What head? The ear fills up the entire picture. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1577 "2013-10-29T17:47:43Z")
The dark parts of the picture are the folds inside the ear. Until I looked at the link for the complete picture I kept trying to see the dark parts as the outline of the whole ear. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1578 "2013-10-29T19:01:31Z")
> [@Sir\_Prize](#): > > The dark parts of the picture are the folds inside the ear. Until I looked at the link for the complete picture I kept trying to see the dark parts as the outline of the whole ear. Now I see what **Irishman** is talking about. He’s seeing the purple interior of the ear as a rough silhouette of a head with a single enormous ear sticking out of it. Or a turtle. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1579 "2013-10-29T19:21:49Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Now I see what **Irishman** is talking about. He’s seeing the purple interior of the ear as a rough silhouette of a head with a single enormous ear sticking out of it. **Irishman** : take 2 giant steps back from the monitor and look at it again. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1580 "2013-10-29T20:19:04Z")
GAH :smack: I got trapped looking at the dark shadow on the lighter background as the “object” in question. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117.md?page=78) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117.md?page=80)