Characters Named Carl or Karl: Carl the Stereotypical Crazy or Odd Person in Movies, TV Shows and Screenplays
Is it because MY NAME IS CARL, that I have a heightened sensitivity to writers' descriptions of a Carl character in their TV shows, movies and books? Am I over reacting?
Strangely, sensitivity IS NOT one of the characteristics usually portrayed by any character called Carl. Whether it is in a drama or comedy 'Carl' is always portrayed as the 'weird' character.
Recently, I was watching the popular television crime series Law and Order: Criminal Intent and there it was again. The 'Carl' character in this episode was a psychotic menace. A twisted doctor who, when pushed to the limits in an intense interrogation scene with Detective Goran, snapped!
Carl, even as a dog in a popular series of Children's Books – Good Dog, Carl turns out to be a Rottweiler! Why couldn't the breed in this story series be a poodle or a collie? Instead, Carl is the dog that is misunderstood and therefore mistrusted. The name Carl, again and again, is stereotyped as a human character that is unpredictable, different (and not in a good way) and tyrannical. And don't think that the character is limited to only the male form.
* Carla on the popular sitcom Cheers was “different" - bossy and offensive
* Karl on Desperate Housewives is a cad and brutish husband,
* add your own maligned 'Carl' character here – you will know one or two
The roots of the name Carl, both it's male and female derivatives - Karl, Karla, Carlton, Carlisle, Carlyle, Carlie, Carly, Carlo, Karlo, Karel, Karoly, Carol, Caroll, Carlotta, Carlota, Karla, Karol, Karola, Carola – are Germanic. The name means 'one who is strong'. A very respectable trait.
So when in the history of the literary and screenplay world did the name Carl or Karl becomce aligned with the notion of 'crazed'?
My research has lead me to Gary Larson of The Farside cartoon fame and to his continuous humorous comic clips of 'Too Much Coffee For Psycho Carl'. In Larson's surrealistic world where animals rule, rationalize and hold humans in contempt, it is refreshing and completely understandable that the human portrayals would include a crazed man named Carl.
Why not Carl for crazy? Drama crazy? Comic crazy? It matters not!
We Carls are certainly up for this crude and comical image! Carls are strong because we are funny! All the Carls I know have a great sense of humor, a quick wit and have the ability to laugh at themselves.
As for sensitivity? The late Pope John Paul II proudly wore the name Karol (Carl in Polish). And this Karol was the epitome of human sensitivity, love and good humor.
Who better than sensitive, loving and good humored Carls to bear the anti-Carl traits portrayed in media?
Characters Named Carl or Karl: Carl the Stereotypical Crazy or Odd Person in Movies, TV Shows and Screenplays
Strangely, sensitivity IS NOT one of the characteristics usually portrayed by any character called Carl. Whether it is in a drama or comedy 'Carl' is always portrayed as the 'weird' character.
Recently, I was watching the popular television crime series Law and Order: Criminal Intent and there it was again. The 'Carl' character in this episode was a psychotic menace. A twisted doctor who, when pushed to the limits in an intense interrogation scene with Detective Goran, snapped!
Carl, even as a dog in a popular series of Children's Books – Good Dog, Carl turns out to be a Rottweiler! Why couldn't the breed in this story series be a poodle or a collie? Instead, Carl is the dog that is misunderstood and therefore mistrusted. The name Carl, again and again, is stereotyped as a human character that is unpredictable, different (and not in a good way) and tyrannical. And don't think that the character is limited to only the male form.
* Carla on the popular sitcom Cheers was “different" - bossy and offensive
* Karl on Desperate Housewives is a cad and brutish husband,
* add your own maligned 'Carl' character here – you will know one or two
The roots of the name Carl, both it's male and female derivatives - Karl, Karla, Carlton, Carlisle, Carlyle, Carlie, Carly, Carlo, Karlo, Karel, Karoly, Carol, Caroll, Carlotta, Carlota, Karla, Karol, Karola, Carola – are Germanic. The name means 'one who is strong'. A very respectable trait.
So when in the history of the literary and screenplay world did the name Carl or Karl becomce aligned with the notion of 'crazed'?
My research has lead me to Gary Larson of The Farside cartoon fame and to his continuous humorous comic clips of 'Too Much Coffee For Psycho Carl'. In Larson's surrealistic world where animals rule, rationalize and hold humans in contempt, it is refreshing and completely understandable that the human portrayals would include a crazed man named Carl.
Why not Carl for crazy? Drama crazy? Comic crazy? It matters not!
We Carls are certainly up for this crude and comical image! Carls are strong because we are funny! All the Carls I know have a great sense of humor, a quick wit and have the ability to laugh at themselves.
As for sensitivity? The late Pope John Paul II proudly wore the name Karol (Carl in Polish). And this Karol was the epitome of human sensitivity, love and good humor.
Who better than sensitive, loving and good humored Carls to bear the anti-Carl traits portrayed in media?
Labels: carl, characters, karl, movies, psycho, TV
Characters Named Carl or Karl: Carl the Stereotypical Crazy or Odd Person in Movies, TV Shows and Screenplays
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