Bruce Bechdel and the loaf of bread
Bruce Bechdel and the loaf of bread
#1Bruce Bechdel and the loaf of bread
Posted: 12/30/14 at 1:49am
SPOILER ALERT BUT NOT REALLY
Actually, it was a bread truck.
(I changed the title of the thread, okay?)
So as part of my Fun Home obsession I am now reading the graphic novel. Allison Bechdel is upfront with the fact that there's no real proof that her father stepped in front of that truck on purpose, although circumstancial evidence makes it pretty likely he did.
I am confused though. Bechdel writes that the truck driver saw him jump backwards into the road "as if he saw a snake." And yet she repeatedly draws him holding the pile of weeds he had crossed the highway to dispose of while an oncoming truck is approaching. Was he still holding the weeds when he got hit? Because that would make it seem more like an accident than a suicide.
Does anyone have an answer?
Updated On: 12/30/14 at 01:49 AM
Fantod
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/3/14
#2Bruce Bechdel suicide
Posted: 12/30/14 at 2:10amPlease change your thread title to avoid spoilers.
#2Bruce Bechdel suicide
Posted: 12/30/14 at 2:34amIt's stated at the beginning of the play that he killed himself, and the entire play revolves around it, so no, it's not a spoiler...
#3Bruce Bechdel suicide
Posted: 12/30/14 at 2:39amWell, it kind of is a spoiler considering I have neither seen the musical or listed to the album. But now I know thanks to the title of your thread. Spoilers are moments in a show, whether at the beginning, middle, or end. Even if it is stated at the beginning of the musical, I haven't seen or heard it so you have now spoiled it for me. And considering that you have said the entire thing revolves around it, it seems like it is a major aspect of the show. So thanks for that!
Everlast85
Featured Actor Joined: 5/2/14
#4Bruce Bechdel suicide
Posted: 12/30/14 at 2:45amYep. It's a spoiler. Thanks for being an obnoxious assHole, Baritone.
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#6Bruce Bechdel suicide
Posted: 12/30/14 at 3:07am
I can understand the details of the death could be a spoiler, but not the death itself.
That is part of the premise and it is on the press release of the show:
When her father dies unexpectedly, graphic novelist Alison dives deep into her past to tell the story of the volatile, brilliant, one-of-a-kind man whose temperament and secrets defined her family and her life. Moving between past and present, Alison relives her unique childhood playing at the family's Bechdel Funeral Home, her growing understanding of her own sexuality and the looming, unanswerable questions about her father's hidden desires.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
#7Bruce Bechdel suicide
Posted: 12/30/14 at 3:12amExactly, Blaxx, nowhere in that press release is suicide mentioned, unlike right here in the title of this post. The title of the post of course being something basically anyone visiting the front page of this website can see while we're still here commenting.
Starship
Broadway Star Joined: 7/29/12
#8Bruce Bechdel suicide
Posted: 12/30/14 at 4:00am
It's almost 2015 are we still crying about spoilers? It sucks but move on w/ your life???
#9Bruce Bechdel suicide
Posted: 12/30/14 at 5:30am
I'm thinking of going to see Phantom of the Opera- what is it?
It's a musical about a beautiful singer and her deformed guru.
Hey! No spoilers!!!
Do you really go to shows knowing nothing but the title? Did you think Fun Home was just going to be about a really fun home?
#10Bruce Bechdel suicide
Posted: 12/30/14 at 6:02am
Thank god no one transgressed and mentioned what the "fun home" is.
Serious question:
At the end of "Come to the Fun Home", Al mentions an "________ hook", which is a tool they use in their business.
I keep hearing aneurism hook, which doesn't seem right. What is she saying?
....but the world goes 'round
DeNada
Broadway Star Joined: 7/7/07
#11Bruce Bechdel suicide
Posted: 12/30/14 at 6:31am
It is, indeed, an aneurysm hook. They're used to separate tissue, apparently - I haven't read the first entry on Google for it but that's what the summary says.
Re: spoilers or otherwise - Bruce Bechdel was a real person. It's not exactly spoilers to say he (possibly) committed suicide, unless telling people things that happened in reality now counts as spoilers (I have seen people complain about this on other forums, though!!!!!!). It will, at most, spoil five minutes of the musical as the opening number ends with Alison explaining that he killed himself. I wouldn't worry about it.
#12Bruce Bechdel suicide
Posted: 12/30/14 at 6:47am
You do see him hauling yard debris in one of her drawings, I think she is leaving a small possibility that it wasn't a suicide. I don't think it's a spoiler, the excellence of this story is you know how it ends from the beginning and yet it still breaks your heart. The story is about Alison coming to grips with her father's life and death, not only the death itself.
Stephanatic
#13Bruce Bechdel suicide
Posted: 12/30/14 at 6:53am
It would have been helpful for the o.p. to have provided a link concerning this person, for those of us who have never heard of Bruce Bechdel. Here is a link.
Bruce Bechdel NY Times
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#14Bruce Bechdel suicide
Posted: 12/30/14 at 7:12amExcept the op tells us the reference in the first few words of his post.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#15Bruce Bechdel suicide
Posted: 12/30/14 at 8:39am
Whether or not Bruce Bechdel actually killed himself or died in an accident is left deliberately vague in both the memoir and musical because there's no way for Allison to know.
And it's not a spoiler. It's the inciting event of the show and the fact he died is revealed in the show's first few minutes. Come on, guys. This is like freaking out if someone told you Valjean stole a loaf of bread.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#16Bruce Bechdel suicide
Posted: 12/30/14 at 10:30am
Thank you, Kad.
And Everlast85, if you are going to call someone an "obnoxious asshole" on this board for any reason, you do not belong here.
Apologies to anyone for who I ruined THE FIRST TEN MINUTES OF THE PLAY. Jesus.
#18Bruce Bechdel suicide
Posted: 12/30/14 at 10:52am
Dammit- there's a loaf of bread? Now you've spoiled that too!
#19Bruce Bechdel suicide
Posted: 12/30/14 at 10:54amHe also ruined the fact that there's a character named Bruce Bechdel!
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#20Bruce Bechdel suicide
Posted: 12/30/14 at 11:51am
All these board members crying about "spoilers" are just downright foolish. If they actually took the time to research anything at all that has to do with Bruce Bechdel, Alison, her original memoir or the musical, "FUN HOME" they would easily find out that a possible suicide was originally speculated.
The original memoir was published in 2006! So how is The Distinctive Baritone's original post or thread title a "spoiler"?
Updated On: 12/30/14 at 11:51 AM
#21Bruce Bechdel suicide
Posted: 12/30/14 at 12:17pm
I'm not even sure you can even fairly cry "spoilers!!!" for a memoir/biographical work.
Spoiler: Alexander Hamilton is gonna lose his duel with Aaron Burr in Hamilton.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
Liza's Headband
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
#22Bruce Bechdel suicide
Posted: 12/30/14 at 12:23pmJesus Christ, this Board is full of f*cking cry-babies. So pathetic.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#23Bruce Bechdel suicide
Posted: 12/30/14 at 12:29pmYou should leave again.
Twitter @NamoInExile
Instagram none
Liza's Headband
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
Videos