Making a Case For Dark Comedy #4: Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the Peanuts Gang

Embrace the dark side...of Charlie Brown...

Yeah that's right. I just put the iconic "children's" character Charlie Brown and the humorous tales surrounding his dog and friends in the category of "dark comedy."

But think about it: the kid only gets rocks for Halloween and it's his own TV special. And did you ever actually see him kick that ball? Good old Chuck is nothing but the locus of perpetual derision and mockery from his friends and family. He is constantly failing at what he puts his efforts toward, finds himself disappointed in everything he puts his hopes in, and receives near unequivocal abuse from those closest to him.

7 things I'm hoping for the new Charlie Brown Film

The Peaunts Movie releases into theaters on November 6, 2015. If you are counting, this also marks the 65th anniversary of Charles Schultz's revered comic and the 50th anniversary of the beloved TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas. Here is a list of 7 things I'm hoping to see in the new film (along with some fears of what I'm hoping it is not).

Coming Late to the Party #5: The World is Abundant But I'm Too Lazy To Do Anything About It

Uh...wait. How did Dianetics get on there?

Or, On the constant fear of being left out and the importance of libraries 
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Coming Late to the Party: Part of a regular series here at PostConsumer Reports wherein I reflect on something that I either totally missed or completely disliked the first time I heard, watched, and/or read it. In a sense, the party’s been going on for quite some time and I have arrived but significantly late. If you will, it is the AfterParty or the PostParty Party. This week's entry is a continuing meditation on why we all will always be arriving late to the party: we are too lazy to put in the actual work to get there... (click here for the companion piece "The World is Abundant and I'm Entirely Overwhelmed"
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I know what the Scriptures say. I know how I should live. And yet my life is in a constant state of fear:

...for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

+++2 Timothy 2:7

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

+++1 John 4:18

I suppose you could say when it comes to intaking and partaking of works of art I lack all self-control and have not yet come close to a perfected love. I am consumed by a fear of punishment which leaves me powerless.