In response to Sterling Chen's and Derek Bouse's discussion
          of animation's legitimacy as an artform worthy of adult
          respect, I would like to alert those interested to the
          existence of the Society for Animation Studies, 4729
          Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91602-1864, USA. Fax:
          (818) 506-4805. In addition a new peer-review journal called
          _Animation Journal_ now publishes two issues a year. Editor
          Maureen Furniss can be reached at AJ Press, 2011 Kingsboro
          Circle, Tustin, CA 92680-6733, USA.
          The minimalism Derek Bouse sees in Beavis & Butthead's
          animation style is a deliberate aesthetic choice by creator
          Mike Judge. Animators used to more mainstream television
          styles  had to be re-educated to resist their urges to
          soften the look of the show. In light of the satirical
          content of the show as a caricature of the worst aspects of
          MTV's viewership, the style aptly reinforces the characters'
          internal makeup.
          Is it art? Who has the authority to say? For whom is the
          question relevant? Would Mike Judge want that honorific
          bestowed on his work? Disney publicly distanced himself from
          those who claimed his work was art, in part because of the
          elitist baggage the term carried, which might alienate the
          majority of his audience.
          Bill Mikulak
          [log in to unmask]
          Annenberg School for Communication-Univ. of Penn.