Quirksmith
Encyclopedia
Quirksmith is a newspaper comic strip and webcomic
by Grant Woolard
. It runs in the University of Virginia
newspaper The Cavalier Daily
. Quirksmith gained national attention in September 2006 for two of its strips, one of which illustrated Jesus Christ crucified on a Cartesian x/y axis, and the other depicted a nativity scene
in which Mary responds to Joseph’s concerns about a “bumpy rash” by saying “I swear, it was immaculately transmitted!” http://www.cvillenews.com/2006/09/14/oreilly-cavdaily-cartoon/
Shortly after appearing in the newspaper, the comics began to receive criticism on a number of blogs, including the American political weblog RedState
. http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/briefings/blog_monthly/2006/08/ The issue culminated when it was featured on The O'Reilly Factor
, in which commentator Bill O'Reilly
denounced the comics for being “an unbelievable assault on Christianity”, and encouraged that UVA alumni not donate money to the school until the newspaper is "forced off campus."http://www.dailyprogress.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CDP%2FMGArticle%2FCDP_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149190654103&path=!news He added that, had the university founder Thomas Jefferson
been alive today, he would have abolished the newspaper from the school campus.http://www.cvillenews.com/2006/09/14/oreilly-cavdaily-cartoon/
Several weeks later the two strips were removed from the Cavalier Daily website and replaced with the following statement from the artist: "The sole intent of my comic strip is to present situations that provoke thought and amusement. As this comic did not achieve that goal, I have requested that it be taken down from the Cavalier Daily Web site. I apologize for the offense that this comic has produced.” http://www.cavalierdaily.com/comics.asp?pid=1459 Catholic League
president William A. Donohue
, one of the most outspoken critics of the issue, declared it resolved. http://www.uvamagazine.org/site/c.esJNK1PIJrH/b.2180621/k.5572/Tempest_in_an_Ink_Well.htm
In September 2007, another strip, titled "Ethiopian Food Fight" was met with protests and calls for Woolard's removal. As of September 10th, 2007, Woolard's strip was "suspended indefinitely" and he was relieved of his position as Graphics Editor. http://malalatete.typepad.com/mal_a_la_tete/grant_woolard/index.html
Webcomic
Webcomics, online comics, or Internet comics are comics published on a website. While many are published exclusively on the web, others are also published in magazines, newspapers or often in self-published books....
by Grant Woolard
Grant Woolard
Grant Woolard is an American student cartoonist, formerly of the University of Virginia's student paper, The Cavalier Daily...
. It runs in the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
newspaper The Cavalier Daily
The Cavalier Daily
The Cavalier Daily is the fully independent student-run newspaper at the University of Virginia, founded in 1890. It is the oldest daily college newspaper in Virginia and the oldest newspaper in Charlottesville, Virginia...
. Quirksmith gained national attention in September 2006 for two of its strips, one of which illustrated Jesus Christ crucified on a Cartesian x/y axis, and the other depicted a nativity scene
Nativity scene
A nativity scene, manger scene, krippe, crèche, or crib, is a depiction of the birth of Jesus as described in the gospels of Matthew and Luke...
in which Mary responds to Joseph’s concerns about a “bumpy rash” by saying “I swear, it was immaculately transmitted!” http://www.cvillenews.com/2006/09/14/oreilly-cavdaily-cartoon/
Shortly after appearing in the newspaper, the comics began to receive criticism on a number of blogs, including the American political weblog RedState
RedState
RedState is a conservative American political weblog.The site is currently a subsidiary of Eagle Publishing, Inc., a conservative publishing house which also owns Regnery Publishing and the weekly magazine Human Events...
. http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/briefings/blog_monthly/2006/08/ The issue culminated when it was featured on The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor
The O'Reilly Factor, originally titled The O'Reilly Report from 1996 to 1998 and often called The Factor, is an American talk show on the Fox News Channel hosted by commentator Bill O'Reilly, who often discusses current controversial political issues with guests.The program was the most watched...
, in which commentator Bill O'Reilly
Bill O'Reilly (commentator)
William James "Bill" O'Reilly, Jr. is an American television host, author, syndicated columnist and political commentator. He is the host of the political commentary program The O'Reilly Factor on the Fox News Channel, which is the most watched cable news television program on American television...
denounced the comics for being “an unbelievable assault on Christianity”, and encouraged that UVA alumni not donate money to the school until the newspaper is "forced off campus."http://www.dailyprogress.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=CDP%2FMGArticle%2FCDP_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149190654103&path=!news He added that, had the university founder Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
been alive today, he would have abolished the newspaper from the school campus.http://www.cvillenews.com/2006/09/14/oreilly-cavdaily-cartoon/
Several weeks later the two strips were removed from the Cavalier Daily website and replaced with the following statement from the artist: "The sole intent of my comic strip is to present situations that provoke thought and amusement. As this comic did not achieve that goal, I have requested that it be taken down from the Cavalier Daily Web site. I apologize for the offense that this comic has produced.” http://www.cavalierdaily.com/comics.asp?pid=1459 Catholic League
Catholic League (U.S.)
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, often shortened to the Catholic League, is an American Catholic anti-defamation and civil rights organization...
president William A. Donohue
William A. Donohue
William Anthony "Bill" Donohue is the president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights in the United States, a position he has held since 1993.-Life and career:...
, one of the most outspoken critics of the issue, declared it resolved. http://www.uvamagazine.org/site/c.esJNK1PIJrH/b.2180621/k.5572/Tempest_in_an_Ink_Well.htm
In September 2007, another strip, titled "Ethiopian Food Fight" was met with protests and calls for Woolard's removal. As of September 10th, 2007, Woolard's strip was "suspended indefinitely" and he was relieved of his position as Graphics Editor. http://malalatete.typepad.com/mal_a_la_tete/grant_woolard/index.html