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Pl8Spk: California Vanity Plates Retell the Classics
"Platespeak" is a unique retelling of classic and familiar stories using only the vocabulary of vanity license plates. It gives new meaning to the phrase "poetry in motion."
96 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
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November 25, 2024
This book has been out of print for ages, which is a travesty. I think this is absolutely brilliant. The author has rewritten classics of literature like The Book of Genesis and Moby Dick, along with Beatles lyrics and other stuff, using text from actual vanity license plates registered at the California DMV. The covers of the book are metal and look like license plates. Among the highlights are versions of Kafka's "Metamorphosis" (Bug Dude) and "Oedipus Rex" (O Eddy the King).
This is simultaneously good silly fun, iconoclastic mockery of the canon of western culture, a celebration of California car culture, and very pointed social criticism of California (esp. southern Cali). Anybody who has spent any amount of time here will appreciate it. It will particularly appeal to people who have been transplanted here from other places, and have had to adjust to the local idiosyncrasies. I have given copies of this book as souvenirs to visitors (used copies are easy to find online).
BUGDUDE:
GREGOR SAMSA DDID GO2SLEP 1AVGGUY. HEE WAKES UPP AA TOTALEE REPULSV HUMONGO ROACH.
GREGGRS 1ST THOTS: HAVE2 BOOGI DRESSUP EATFAST GO2WORK. GREGRRR DOSS NOT YET SEETHAT AAAA 5FT10 COKROCH IZZZ UNWANTD 2DXTRME.
OUTSIDE THEDOOR GGREGS MOMNDAD FRETT: “RUILLIN THERR?” CANUSAY WHTITIZ? HEYKIDO, COMOUT.”
BUT BUGBOY CANTCME OUTSIDE. LOOKIT GREGY STRUGGL INNN BED. STUCK FLPSIDE UP, VRYVRY FRUSTR8D, SKINNI BUGLEGS WAVE BFORE HISOWN BUGFACE.
This is simultaneously good silly fun, iconoclastic mockery of the canon of western culture, a celebration of California car culture, and very pointed social criticism of California (esp. southern Cali). Anybody who has spent any amount of time here will appreciate it. It will particularly appeal to people who have been transplanted here from other places, and have had to adjust to the local idiosyncrasies. I have given copies of this book as souvenirs to visitors (used copies are easy to find online).
BUGDUDE:
GREGOR SAMSA DDID GO2SLEP 1AVGGUY. HEE WAKES UPP AA TOTALEE REPULSV HUMONGO ROACH.
GREGGRS 1ST THOTS: HAVE2 BOOGI DRESSUP EATFAST GO2WORK. GREGRRR DOSS NOT YET SEETHAT AAAA 5FT10 COKROCH IZZZ UNWANTD 2DXTRME.
OUTSIDE THEDOOR GGREGS MOMNDAD FRETT: “RUILLIN THERR?” CANUSAY WHTITIZ? HEYKIDO, COMOUT.”
BUT BUGBOY CANTCME OUTSIDE. LOOKIT GREGY STRUGGL INNN BED. STUCK FLPSIDE UP, VRYVRY FRUSTR8D, SKINNI BUGLEGS WAVE BFORE HISOWN BUGFACE.
Displaying 1 of 1 review