Name: Comics of bygone New York
Uploaded: 2009-04-22T21:51:00Z
Duration: 10 min 57 s
Description: In this captivating talk from the TED archive, cartoonist Ben Katchor reads from his comic strips. These perceptive, surreal stories find the profound hopes and foibles of history (and modern New York) preserved in objects like light switches and signs.

In this captivating talk from the TED archive, cartoonist Ben Katchor reads from his comic strips. These perceptive, surreal stories find the profound hopes and foibles of history (and modern New York) preserved in objects like light switches and signs.

Comics of bygone New York

Everyday objects and unnoticed city spaces quietly shape how people remember and experience urban life. The sound of a cheap light switch can haunt even the most beautiful buildings, while humble, temporary storefronts outlast waves of development and offer rare moments of open air. Childhood memories, like the comfort of sitting on a lap or wandering warehouse galleries of dried fruit, reveal the emotional architecture built into the world around us. In overlooked details, profound beauty and humor persist, connecting history, memory, and daily routine.