Duplex Planet

September 18, 2002 7:34 AM

Duplex Planet, David Greenberger's legendary zine which has spawned books, CDs, comic books, and videos, finally went online sometime this year. "In the universal experience of aging we are desperately short of meaningful guidance. The Duplex Planet offers some lessons and examples," says Greenberger. Does he succeed, or is DP just an artful "seniors say the darndest things"?
posted by kmel (8 comments total)

or is DP just an artful "seniors say the darndest things"?

On a certain level, it's about the humor and goofiness, sure, but as a big fan of DP, I can tell you that here's also much about it that's genuinely moving and interesting and even wise.

My personal favorite was one where a resident says, "If you are an old man and walk into a bar wearing pajamas, people will buy you drinks."
posted by jonmc at 8:27 AM on September 18, 2002

Thank you kmel for such a wonderful posting. I discovered Duplex Planet through Dan Clowes' Eightball and have been a fan ever since. I had no idea that Greenberger had gone online with this- finally, something worthy of my time online at work. Now, if
The Dishwasher would only go online too...
posted by puddsharp at 8:36 AM on September 18, 2002

I'm with jonmc on this one. Duplex Planet's way funny, definitely, but it's also deeply moving at times and every now and then hits at the same level as a haiku or a Zen koan. Also, the series where everyone answers the question "If you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be?" is one of the funniest things I've ever read. Couldn't find it online, unfortunately . . .
posted by gompa at 8:40 AM on September 18, 2002

Excellent. Thanks! OK, my fave DP quote was when Greenberger asked the residents for their potential autobiography titles, one was "The Stupid Life of Me."
posted by hackly_fracture at 8:48 AM on September 18, 2002

Thanks for the great links. I've been interested in David Greenberger for awhile, but hadn't gotten around to really looking him up.
posted by interrobang at 9:09 AM on September 18, 2002

Also, I think I have the headlamp.
posted by interrobang at 9:16 AM on September 18, 2002

I discovered Duplex Planet through Dan Clowes' Eightball

That's funny. I discovered Dan Clowes through Duplex Planet.
posted by MrBaliHai at 10:15 AM on September 18, 2002

I've loved the Duplex Planet for years. I've always thought of it as a whimsical, condensed version of the kind of oral history pioneered by Studs Terkel. Looks like the web version is a compilation of stuff from the old zines. I wonder if Mr. Greenberger eventually intends to archive everything-- if not, I'll have to keep digging out my old issues every couple of months.
posted by varmint at 12:35 PM on September 18, 2002