Re: Existential Whale

Sci-fi references in here, but I think it works (and tried to make it so) without the references as well. They're just a bonus if you like them.

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Like Hitchhikers Guide?

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Oh this would make the perfect gift. You are here to win whale you can do it!

jasneko wrote:References.

All of my d'aaaw.

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kbuck88 wrote:Like Hitchhikers Guide?

Oui.

starksre wrote:Oh this would make the perfect gift. You are here to win whale you can do it!

Yay, nice to hear. The existential whale thanks you!

anemality wrote:All of my d'aaaw.

Thanks anemlaity =)

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I don't know the reference and I wish there wasn't one. Because without the reference this shirt would be all kinds of awesome.

Does anybody else think pop culture reference = unwearable?

D3lusional wrote:I don't know the reference and I wish there wasn't one. Because without the reference this shirt would be all kinds of awesome.

Does anybody else think pop culture reference = unwearable?

Wait...so you don't know the reference, but once you become aware of one, that alone causes the shirt to go from awesome to unwearable? I'm confused.

That said, out of the t-shirts I wear, the ones I get the most comments on are the ones devoid of references, usually.

D3lusional wrote:
Does anybody else think pop culture reference = unwearable?

I'm in the same sort of camp, especially when it comes to Woot shirts. I never really vote for or buy the reference designs, save for the occasional gift for others. Paying people to rip off of others' intellectual property / creativity, rather than rewarding those who take a chance to create something new and original, tends to leave a bad taste in my mouth as a general rule.

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<3

D3lusional wrote:I don't know the reference and I wish there wasn't one. Because without the reference this shirt would be all kinds of awesome.

Does anybody else think pop culture reference = unwearable?

Well in this case I'm pretty sure without the reference it wouldn't count as Sci-fi and would be rejected.

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Your shirts are always so adorable! I hope you win!

jasneko wrote:Sci-fi references in here, but I think it works (and tried to make it so) without the references as well. They're just a bonus if you like them.

I NEED this shirt!!! This is completely AWESOME!!! Great job!

logicalcupcake wrote:<3

Agreed ... very much <3 <3 <3

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This is the best shirt i have seen on here in a long time. I feel like Hitchhiker's Guide doesn't quite get the love it deserves on this site. Really hope this one wins!!

endangeredomega wrote:I'm in the same sort of camp, especially when it comes to Woot shirts. I never really vote for or buy the reference designs, save for the occasional gift for others. Paying people to rip off of others' intellectual property / creativity, rather than rewarding those who take a chance to create something new and original, tends to leave a bad taste in my mouth as a general rule.

It's not ripping anything off; it's re-imagining. That takes just as much creative integrity as creating something original.

Also: Cute shirt, do want.

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This is on Navy, right? Or am I tripping?

hlynnbigham wrote:It's not ripping anything off; it's re-imagining. That takes just as much creative integrity as creating something original.

Also: Cute shirt, do want.

Perhaps not "ripping off" so much as riding the coat-tails of something that is already tried, tested, + popular.

I say this as something of an 'artist' myself; I write and self-publish indie comic books. While I could easily make a lot more money + gain a larger fanbase by slapping a "re-imagined" character that closely resembles Batman or Spider-Man into my work + calling it a day, I opt to go the more challenging route of creating something new. Perhaps its simply personal bias, but I have more respect for artists willing to take the risk and carve out their own niche, than those who opt to play it safe by sticking to what's come (and sold well) before.

Imagine a world in which the creators of some of the beloved universes we enjoy so much had opted to just write piles of fanfiction instead. :/

sunaness wrote:Well in this case I'm pretty sure without the reference it wouldn't count as Sci-fi and would be rejected.

How is a space whale not sci-fi?

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This is the first time I've actually taken the time to log in and vote in a while. I love this idea. It's subtle enough to appeal to HGTTG fans, but even if you have no idea, it's still a cool idea for a shirt.

And for the record, I like shirts that reference pop culture, and I get tons of comments when wearing my Hieroglyphic Mario shirt or my R2DJ Jukebox shirt.

choanata wrote:This is the first time I've actually taken the time to log in and vote in a while. I love this idea. It's subtle enough to appeal to HGTTG fans, but even if you have no idea, it's still a cool idea for a shirt.

And for the record, I like shirts that reference pop culture, and I get tons of comments when wearing my Hieroglyphic Mario shirt or my R2DJ Jukebox shirt.

Same. Glad it fogged, but not going to get my hopes up. There hasn't been a derby shirt that's won in over a year that I actually wanted to buy.

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I would whale it.

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In for three if/when it prints. Perfect, simple, wearable design.

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Oh no, not again!

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Although I lean more toward endangeredomega's argument, this is nicely done.

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Perfect--subtle enough to be cute without the reference, and awesome enough that people who get the reference will love it that much more. I would definitely buy this.

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I love this shirt, with or without the reference, but I think the reference makes the whale that much more existential!

I really hope this makes it. Great job jasneko!!

D3lusional wrote:I don't know the reference and I wish there wasn't one. Because without the reference this shirt would be all kinds of awesome.

Does anybody else think pop culture reference = unwearable?

Because Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is so mainstream that everyone is carrying around towels with them, right?

D3lusional wrote:Does anybody else think pop culture reference = unwearable?

Ooooh - you're so detached and cool. I am blown away by your hipster-y sophistication.

PLEASE WIN!

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logicalcupcake wrote:<3

I agree. I love it

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Thanks everyone! Glad to see so many fans. I'm not one that usually makes pop-culture references, but since this derby was basically calling for it in the description, I thought this might be a good time! In addition to Hitchhiker's, I also had a little Star Trek IV on the mind.

I brainstormed a few variations until I decided on this version, which I hope is a wearable design that can stand on its own - whether you know the references or not.

Thanks again for all the comments!

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HeartlineTwist wrote:Wait...so you don't know the reference, but once you become aware of one, that alone causes the shirt to go from awesome to unwearable? I'm confused.

That said, out of the t-shirts I wear, the ones I get the most comments on are the ones devoid of references, usually.

Well i have to disagree i have tons of t-shirts and 90% of them have some kind of geek pop culture reference on them and i get stopped all the time asking where i got the shirt or even just hey man cool shirt ! ... some of the shirts i have require a 2nd glance so i sometimes get people stopping me just so they can complete looking at it .. i gotta say i like the attention sometimes...
for instance i have a simple t-shirt from thinkgeek that states "I Void Waranties" every time i wear that at least once a day i get someone saying .. so what do you do to void warranties... which is great for me coz i repair computer for a living so i give them my card .. nuff said .. pop culture references are cool if you like getting attention.. plus this whale T-Shirt would go well with my 42 T-shirt !

tbonegddss wrote:I NEED this shirt!!! This is completely AWESOME!!! Great job!

Me too! I would like to vote this one a thousand times please.

r3mix3r wrote:Well i have to disagree i have tons of t-shirts and 90% of them have some kind of geek pop culture reference on them and i get stopped all the time asking where i got the shirt or even just hey man cool shirt ! ... some of the shirts i have require a 2nd glance so i sometimes get people stopping me just so they can complete looking at it .. i gotta say i like the attention sometimes...
for instance i have a simple t-shirt from thinkgeek that states "I Void Waranties" every time i wear that at least once a day i get someone saying .. so what do you do to void warranties... which is great for me coz i repair computer for a living so i give them my card .. nuff said .. pop culture references are cool if you like getting attention.. plus this whale T-Shirt would go well with my 42 T-shirt !

I wasn't asserting that non-reference shirts get the most comments. Just that that's how it has worked out in my case. Other people's mileage may vary.

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Finally!

I've been waiting for an existentialist whale shirt.

dwnmoser wrote:Ooooh - you're so detached and cool. I am blown away by your hipster-y sophistication.

I don't think that was his point at all.

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I wish there was a bowl of petunias in the lower right.

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The whale scene is my favorite parts of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy! Love the shirt!
+ 1

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So I've come to realize that this is the perfect gift for my brother for Christmas. PLEASE win, because if not I don't know what to get him, and whatever it is won't be as cool as this shirt! Excellent design.

endangeredomega wrote:I'm in the same sort of camp, especially when it comes to Woot shirts. I never really vote for or buy the reference designs, save for the occasional gift for others. Paying people to rip off of others' intellectual property / creativity, rather than rewarding those who take a chance to create something new and original, tends to leave a bad taste in my mouth as a general rule.

It's hard to say really. Dogulas Adams himself wrote for Doctor Who. He had original scripts yes but it was Doctor who doing doctor who things.
Yet I wouldn't say that he is not creative because he made something based on someone else's idea.

It is a neat looking shirt if you do not know the reference and it is made better by fans. Also you have to consider the source. The current top selling shirts are pop culture references. So it is in a persons best interest to make something easily consumable.

However it is in your right to not like the pop culture shirts and favor the shirts not evocative of intellectual property.

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Given that this is one of a small handful of entries where jasneko has NOT created very unique characters, I find it strange that all these comments are criticizing her for doing so this derby. She is one of the artists who very seldom reaches for a pop culture reference.

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Mavyn wrote:Given that this is one of a small handful of entries where jasneko has NOT created very unique characters, I find it strange that all these comments are criticizing her for doing so this derby. She is one of the artists who very seldom reaches for a pop culture reference.

I really appreciate you writing this Mavyn. Heartfelt thank you for noticing and posting! Seriously. <3

Thanks to all the other comments and supporters too!

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I need petunias dammit!

jasneko wrote:I really appreciate you writing this Mavyn. Heartfelt thank you for noticing and posting! Seriously. <3

Thanks to all the other comments and supporters too!

Fingers crossed that this prints.

Now there's a shirt I would buy. That's completely awesome.