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Looney Tunes’ Literal Translations

Thinking Outside of the Box

Classic cartoon characters never cease to entertain the masses and they are illustrated proof that humor has no age limit. Most of us have had the pleasure of growing up watching Looney Tunes and have a sense of each of the characters' personalities. Even if you have no idea who these zany animated figures are, you can appreciate the sense of humor they add to artist David Kracov's work.

Kracov is an acclaimed artist with a long history of creating art inspired by children. He has worked on many classic animated films including The Lion King and The Swan Princess. In this series, Kracov has created shadow boxes featuring a comical display of cartoon figurines, which are positioned unconventionally. The shadow boxes are more of a prop than a frame for his works.

Each piece's intention is to translate a common phrase or figure of speech into its literal interpretation. Daffy Duck, one of my all-time favorite cartoon characters, is heavily featured in this series. He can be seen propped outside of a framed box, literally “thinking outside of the box,” or peeking from a corner which would make him a “peeking duck.” The play on words in the titles of these pieces are what make the works truly enjoyable.



At The End Of My Rope


Hang In There


Hang In There


At My Wits End


Falling In Love


Chick Magnet


Elmers Glue


Duck Tape


Shut The Duck Up


Peeking Duck


Cutting Corners


Winning By A Hare


Winning By A Hare

David Kracov's website

Pinar

Pinar Noorata (she/her) is the Editorial Director at My Modern Met. She is a writer, editor, and content creator based in Brooklyn, New York. She earned her BA in Film and Media Studies from CUNY Hunter College. She has worked at major TV, film, and publishing companies as well as other independent media businesses. She also runs her own art & culture newsletter called The High Low. She first joined the My Modern Met team in 2011 as a Contributing Writer, pitching and publishing articles about a wide range of topics. Her expertise in visual media lends itself to in-depth analysis of varied art forms, including but not limited to painting, illustration, sculpture, installation, design, and photography. Pinar has a particular affinity for spotlighting up-and-coming artists, affording them a platform and offering a voice to lesser-heard individuals looking to break through, especially BIPOC creatives. She has helped multiple artists make a name for themselves and reach a wider audience over 10+ years as a writer and editor (both through long-form articles and short-form videos). When she isn’t writing, editing, or creating videos herself, Pinar enjoys watching films and TV, reading, crafting, drawing, frequenting museums and galleries, and volunteering at her local animal shelter.
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