Blur the Lines: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
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[[File:blur_the_lines_panel_7675.jpg|frame|link=http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=245|The most normal panel in the whole strip... seriously.]]
[[File:blur_the_lines_panel_7675.jpg|frame|link=http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=245|The most normal panel in the whole strip... seriously.]]
{{quote| ''[[Tagline|...Because "normal" is so "gay."]]''}}
{{quote|''[[Tagline|...Because "normal" is so "gay."]]''}}


''[http://www.blur-the-lines.com/ Blur the Lines]'' is a webcomic written by Bob Kusiak which uses the escapades of its two gay male protagonists, Rick and Drew (who are partners), to comment on popular culture, contemporary politics, and the dynamics of gay sexuality. According to the author, many of the situations in the comic are inspired by actual conversations he has with his real-life partner. Each comic is accompanied with a blog entry by the author about the train of thought that led to the comic's creation, his thoughts on recent events, messages to his readership, stories about his life, and other such things. The comic started in October 2009 and has grown in popularity thanks to links from other like-minded sites.
''[http://www.blur-the-lines.com/ Blur the Lines]'' is a webcomic written by Bob Kusiak which uses the escapades of its two gay male protagonists, Rick and Drew (who are partners), to comment on popular culture, contemporary politics, and the dynamics of gay sexuality. According to the author, many of the situations in the comic are inspired by actual conversations he has with his real-life partner. Each comic is accompanied with a blog entry by the author about the train of thought that led to the comic's creation, his thoughts on recent events, messages to his readership, stories about his life, and other such things. The comic started in October 2009 and has grown in popularity thanks to links from other like-minded sites.
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** [[Subverted Trope|Subverted]] when Rick refuses to feel up a guy because [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=371 he thinks the man's bitter ex-boyfriend may be watching them.]
** [[Subverted Trope|Subverted]] when Rick refuses to feel up a guy because [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=371 he thinks the man's bitter ex-boyfriend may be watching them.]
* [[Angrish]]: [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=493\]
* [[Angrish]]: [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=493\]
{{quote| Jesus... Fuck! I... people... can't... fuck!<br />
{{quote|Jesus... Fuck! I... people... can't... fuck!
Wife... ass... video... fuck... Bad! Bad!<br />
Wife... ass... video... fuck... Bad! Bad!
Graaa! }}
Graaa! }}
* [[Author Appeal]]: As explained above.
* [[Author Appeal]]: As explained above.
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* [[G-Rated Drug]]: Rick's reaction to eating [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=206 a whole box of chocolate covered espresso beans].
* [[G-Rated Drug]]: Rick's reaction to eating [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=206 a whole box of chocolate covered espresso beans].
* [[Gag Penis]]: The [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=118 mannequin's bulge].
* [[Gag Penis]]: The [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=118 mannequin's bulge].
{{quote| '''Rick:''' ...It's the dead of winter, his package shouldn't be nearly so pronounced...}}
{{quote|'''Rick:''' ...It's the dead of winter, his package shouldn't be nearly so pronounced...}}
* [[Good Angel, Bad Angel]]: Subverted in that the good angel and bad angel eventually agree that taking both of their suggestions would be the best thing to do. [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=335\]
* [[Good Angel, Bad Angel]]: Subverted in that the good angel and bad angel eventually agree that taking both of their suggestions would be the best thing to do. [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=335\]
* [[Ho Yay]]: [[Exaggerated Trope|Exaggerated]] in [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=283 this strip], where Drew writes a very erotic ''[[Penny Arcade]]'' fan fic.
* [[Ho Yay]]: [[Exaggerated Trope|Exaggerated]] in [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=283 this strip], where Drew writes a very erotic ''[[Penny Arcade]]'' fan fic.
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* [[Playing to The Fetishes]]: Rick accuses [[The Hobbit]] of doing this by continuously describing how fat Bombur is. [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=245\]
* [[Playing to The Fetishes]]: Rick accuses [[The Hobbit]] of doing this by continuously describing how fat Bombur is. [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=245\]
* [[Porn Without Plot]]: [[Conversational Troping|Conversed]], then [[Discussed Trope|discussed]]. [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=176\]
* [[Porn Without Plot]]: [[Conversational Troping|Conversed]], then [[Discussed Trope|discussed]]. [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=176\]
{{quote| '''Rick:''' Porno could be so much more in the right hands... but it's mainly just, "Whoops, wrong door! Let's fuck!"<br />
{{quote|'''Rick:''' Porno could be so much more in the right hands... but it's mainly just, "Whoops, wrong door! Let's fuck!"
'''Drew:''' How about we make our own porn? Want to lick this spoon clean, or lick it off of me?<br />
'''Drew:''' How about we make our own porn? Want to lick this spoon clean, or lick it off of me?
'''Rick:''' So, this would be a porn where I'm picking body hair out of my teeth for a half-hour? [[Sarcasm Mode|Yeah, there's a plot.]] }}
'''Rick:''' So, this would be a porn where I'm picking body hair out of my teeth for a half-hour? [[Sarcasm Mode|Yeah, there's a plot.]] }}
* [[Porn with Plot]]: Rick's plan to make an X-Tube video that is also a social commentary on the BP oil spill. [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=384\]
* [[Porn with Plot]]: Rick's plan to make an X-Tube video that is also a social commentary on the BP oil spill. [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=384\]
* [[Refuge in Audacity]]: If that isn't abundantly clear by now, then you haven't actually been reading the examples, have you?
* [[Refuge in Audacity]]: If that isn't abundantly clear by now, then you haven't actually been reading the examples, have you?
* [[Secret Identity Change Trick]]: [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=309\]
* [[Secret Identity Change Trick]]: [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=309\]
{{quote| '''Drew:''' What the fuck?! How did you change that fast?!}}
{{quote|'''Drew:''' What the fuck?! How did you change that fast?!}}
* [[Seinfeldian Conversation]]: [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=127\].
* [[Seinfeldian Conversation]]: [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=127\].
{{quote| '''Rick:''' Is this like a "[[Seinfeld]]'' monologue, or do you expect an answer?}}
{{quote|'''Rick:''' Is this like a "[[Seinfeld]]'' monologue, or do you expect an answer?}}
* [[Shout-Out]]: "[[Memetic Mutation|I've had it with the mother-fucking fatties]] [[Snakes on a Plane|on this mother-fucking plane!"]] [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=211\]
* [[Shout-Out]]: "[[Memetic Mutation|I've had it with the mother-fucking fatties]] [[Snakes on a Plane|on this mother-fucking plane!"]] [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=211\]
* [[Slice of Life]]
* [[Slice of Life]]
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** [[Parodied Trope|Parodied]] when Drew mocks Rick for asking his mother for a flannel shirt for Christmas. [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=107\]
** [[Parodied Trope|Parodied]] when Drew mocks Rick for asking his mother for a flannel shirt for Christmas. [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=107\]
** [[Discussed Trope|Discussed]], then [[Deconstruction|deconstructed]] when Drew considers whether he should check himself off as "Straight Acting" on a dating site, thinks of what his heterosexual friends are like, and decides against it. [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=147 Turns out that even straight people can be decidedly un-straight acting].
** [[Discussed Trope|Discussed]], then [[Deconstruction|deconstructed]] when Drew considers whether he should check himself off as "Straight Acting" on a dating site, thinks of what his heterosexual friends are like, and decides against it. [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=147 Turns out that even straight people can be decidedly un-straight acting].
{{quote| '''Rick:''' I wonder if on straight dating sites they have a "gay acting" check-box...}}
{{quote|'''Rick:''' I wonder if on straight dating sites they have a "gay acting" check-box...}}
* [[Stripper Cop Confusion]]: [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=365\]
* [[Stripper Cop Confusion]]: [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=365\]
* [[Stuffed Into the Fridge]]: [[Subverted Trope|Subverted]] [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=110\]
* [[Stuffed Into the Fridge]]: [[Subverted Trope|Subverted]] [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=110\]
* [[Time Stands Still]]: Rick accidentally stops time and uses the opportunity to get... intimate with a friend of his. [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=62\]
* [[Time Stands Still]]: Rick accidentally stops time and uses the opportunity to get... intimate with a friend of his. [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=62\]
* [[Too Kinky to Torture]]: [[Subverted Trope|Subverted]] before Rick beats up a man with a homophobic bumper sticker on his car. [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=159\]
* [[Too Kinky to Torture]]: [[Subverted Trope|Subverted]] before Rick beats up a man with a homophobic bumper sticker on his car. [http://www.blur-the-lines.com/?p=159\]
{{quote| '''Rick:''' Thank God, because this would feel a lot more dirty if I thought you were enjoying it...}}
{{quote|'''Rick:''' Thank God, because this would feel a lot more dirty if I thought you were enjoying it...}}
* [[Write Who You Know]]: Kusiak sometimes works cartoon-ized versions of his friends into his strips.
* [[Write Who You Know]]: Kusiak sometimes works cartoon-ized versions of his friends into his strips.


Revision as of 12:04, 7 August 2014

The most normal panel in the whole strip... seriously.

...Because "normal" is so "gay."

Blur the Lines is a webcomic written by Bob Kusiak which uses the escapades of its two gay male protagonists, Rick and Drew (who are partners), to comment on popular culture, contemporary politics, and the dynamics of gay sexuality. According to the author, many of the situations in the comic are inspired by actual conversations he has with his real-life partner. Each comic is accompanied with a blog entry by the author about the train of thought that led to the comic's creation, his thoughts on recent events, messages to his readership, stories about his life, and other such things. The comic started in October 2009 and has grown in popularity thanks to links from other like-minded sites.

The element of gay chubby chasing is a big theme of Blur the Lines. Rick is a chubby chaser, Drew is a chub, and Kusiak is an unabashed chubby chaser himself, making Blur the Lines a clear case of Author Appeal. Even when the "more to love" demographic is not the subject of a strip, there is almost always a chubby character included. If you don't share Kusiak's taste in men, expect quite a few Squick moments from this comic strip. Even if you do share Kusiak's taste in men, the comic is decidedly Not Safe for Work and may evoke a Squick reaction in you, anyways.

Tropes used by this webcomic:

Jesus... Fuck! I... people... can't... fuck!
Wife... ass... video... fuck... Bad! Bad!
Graaa!

Rick: ...It's the dead of winter, his package shouldn't be nearly so pronounced...

Rick: Porno could be so much more in the right hands... but it's mainly just, "Whoops, wrong door! Let's fuck!"
Drew: How about we make our own porn? Want to lick this spoon clean, or lick it off of me?
Rick: So, this would be a porn where I'm picking body hair out of my teeth for a half-hour? Yeah, there's a plot.

Drew: What the fuck?! How did you change that fast?!

Rick: Is this like a "Seinfeld monologue, or do you expect an answer?

Rick: I wonder if on straight dating sites they have a "gay acting" check-box...

Rick: Thank God, because this would feel a lot more dirty if I thought you were enjoying it...

  • Write Who You Know: Kusiak sometimes works cartoon-ized versions of his friends into his strips.
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