22 Eyebrow-Arching Ways Creators' Lives Influenced Their Work

Cracked pays people to make smart memes. Visit the Photoplasty and Pictofacts Workshop to get in on it.

We like to think of artists, writers, and other creative types as being inspired by some magical muse, and pulling their art completely out of thin air. But the truth is, most art is heavily inspired by its creators' past experiences. And if you know what to look for, you can spot those influences. The past experiences of famous creators -- artists, filmmakers, writers, musicians, etc. -- constantly show up in their creations.

This contest was suggested by ShortUsername01, whose deeply shrouded past is on clear display in his contest entries.

22 Entry by ShortUsername01

Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Watterson used to be a political cartoonist. WHEN I GROW UP, I'M NOT THAT WAY I CAN COMPLAIN GOING TO READ THE NEWS- TH

21 Entry by Andrea Meno

Gravity Falls' Dipper got his name from creator Alex Hirsch's middle school classmate. TERY GS The kid had an ever-shifting pattern of acne on his for

20 Entry by Kristina Yong

While talking about writing Mean Girls, Tina Fey said, I revisited high school behaviors of my own -. -futile, poisonous, bitter behaviors that serve

19 Entry by Moses Armstrong

THE REASON ANDREW W.K. HAS SUCH A PASSION FOR PARTYING IS BECAUSE HE HATES RULES. When he was growing up, there was a lot of pressure to drink, but th

18 Entry by Chan Teik Onn

CRACKED Smokey and the Bandit is a film about two bootleggers attempting to transport hundreds of cases of illegal Coors beer. It was inspired by dire

17 Entry by Mike Kohnke

during father his influenced Waters Losing War social Roger World of war, in Floyd's folly pink the and abandonment Wall highlight and to The based in

16 Entry by Andrea Meno

UIM John Romero decided that his company's next game, Doom, should be about a demonic invasion when he caused one in their D&D office campaign. CRACKE

15 Entry by Moses Armstrong

CRACKED.COM ommunity WAS INSPIRED BY DAN HARMON'S EXPERIENCES AT GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WHEN He WAS IN A BIOLOGY STUDY GROUP WITH TWO CLASSMATES

14 Entry by Kristina Yong

Cameron Crowe's Oscar-winning movie, Almost Famous, is heavily based on his escapades as a GRAUN teenage rock journalist in the '70s. Just like the fi

13 Entry by Markos Hasiotis

CRACKED.COM BIGBANGTHEORY ou Raj's inability to speak around women was based on someone Co- creator Bill Prady worked with in the computer business wh

12 Entry by Andrea Meno

A MIKE NEWELL four FILM eddings and funeral a Richard Curtis started writing Four Weddings and a Funeral when he realized he went to 65 weddings in 11

11 Entry by PookieJones

The protagonists in Super 8 are inspired by J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves. They, too, made a movie in their early teens, which is how they got their sta

10 Entry by MissLeslieKnope

CRACKEDcO was based off the ER experiences Michael Crichton had at Harvard Medical School. In 1974, Crichton wrote a screenplay based on the experienc

9 Entry by Julio Espericueta

GUILLERMO DEL TORO'S INSPIRATION TO CREATE THE FAUN IN THE FILM PAN'S LABYRINTH WAS A DREAM HE HAD AS A CHILD. When he was a little kid he would have

8 Entry by PookieJones

J. K. Rowling battled with depression, and she used that experience to dream up the Dementors. CRACKED.co COM

7 Entry by Andrea Meno

Tim Burton grew up in ever-sunny Burbank, CA, where pretty much only holiday decorations changed with the seasons. Burton would notice Christmas and H

6 Entry by Andrea Meno

Starfox is a game series about anthropomorphic animals who fly futuristic jets under arches. SHIELD LOOK, LOOK!! Creator Shigeru Miyamoto was inspired

5 Entry by Moses Armstrong

Mark Millar's KICK-ASS is autobiographical. As a teenager, Millar and his friends tried to become vigilante super heroes. The story of Kick-Ass is, in

4 Entry by Carlos Suarez

ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S FATHER ARRANGED FOR HIM TO BE LOCKED IN A CELL IN ORDER FOR HIM TO KNOW WHAT THE POLICE DID TO NAUGHTY BOYS This made him permane

3 Entry by Hestutomo Restu Kuncoro

Inigo Montoya's triumphant speech in The Princess Bride is captivating due to Mandy Patinkin's memory Of his father. The actor got into character by i

2 Entry by Martha Singson

Stephen Hillenburg graduated with a degree in Natural Resources Planning, then went on to teach marine biology and study animation. A comic book entit

1 Entry by PookieJones

The tone of Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom was influenced by Steven Spielberg's break-up and George Lucas's divorce. We were not in a good mood

Recommended For Your Pleasure

The Funniest Cults Lurking in Comedies

The good part about cults is getting to make fun of them

Authors: By Zanandi Botes
Published: March 26, 2023
Comments: 3

15 Trivia Tidbits About ‘Napoleon Dynamite’

It’s pretty much my favorite trivia

Authors: By JM McNab
Published: March 26, 2023
Comments: 2

Subversive Acts on ‘Saturday Night Live’ That Still Hold Up

Maybe Sinead O’Connor was on to something after all

Authors: By Matt Solomon
Published: March 26, 2023
Comments: 3

The Five Absolutely Essential Ben Stiller Movies

Whether he’s working with arthouse auteurs or Robert De Niro, the actor-director brings an intense likability to every role he plays. No one rocks Blue Steel the way he does

Authors: By Tim Grierson
Published: March 26, 2023
Comments: 2

PICTOFACT

13 Popular Characters Who Went into the Pilot a Little Undercooked

They just needed a little time to find themselves.

Authors: By Jay L'Ecuyer, JhallComics
Published: March 26, 2023
Comments: 6

5 Millionaires Who Suffered Ignominious Deaths

‘Wait. With my money, I though I’d live forever!’

Authors: By Ryan Menezes
Published: March 26, 2023
Comments: 4