Thank you for this; it's brilliant. I've been thinking a lot of things along these lines lately, but haven't been able to articulate it so perfectly.
While I'm not condoning harrassment of show creators, I do wonder why it's entitled to express shock and dismay over a text, or behaviour, or trends within these shows, particularly if they were designed to shock and/or dismay. Are we meant to feel it, but not speak of it?This, especially, resonated with me. Of course, within Torchwood fandom itself (at least the LJ corner I hang out in), I haven't seen too much of this -- there, people who liked CoE and people who didn't manage to be very respectful of and sympathetic to each others' opinions, but outside of that I've been getting the sense that it's somehow wrong to respond to the text in a particular way -- that if we do have a particular negative response, then it's because there's something wrong with US, rather than some of us just approaching the text from a different subject position
( ... )
And you know-- I do think we're entitled to a bit of honesty from the show's creators and the people involved with the show. I know they can't give everything away, but the promotional stuff for CoE-- particularly that aimed at fandom and at the gay community-- was, I think deliberately misleading...
I think there's more than one way to engage with my point, and the one you've taken is just fine. :)
I agree with you on this. I actually think the lead-up advertising for CoE is the second most misleading I can remember seeing. The first was the trailer for the Matthew Broderick film, Project X, which was advertised as a bubbly teen shenanigans film, and is actually a tragedy about animal testing. Chimps die! Of radiation poisoning! It will take a lot to beat that! The day I saw it, people were walking out of the cinema, and for good reason. It's a shame, because it was a decent movie, but more traumatising than it should have been, due to the false expectations I (and the other patrons, I imagine) walked in with
( ... )
I don't think it's so much the writers being misleading, as a mismatch in communication. You have Davies saying "we're going to develop the Jack/Ianto relationship and make it important to the plot", by which he means "we're going to write this like an actual relationship between real human beings, with all its ambiguities and imperfections, and the plot will turn on the relationship's untimely end", but which Jack/Ianto shippers interpret as "they'll have lots of frothy uncomplicated sex and live happily ever after - yay!"
but which Jack/Ianto shippers interpret as "they'll have lots of frothy uncomplicated sex and live happily ever after - yay!"Absolutely not. Honestly, that's a gross simplification of Jack/Ianto shippers. There are probably some people who wanted that, yes, but I think there are a lot more who wanted the relationship to continue beyond CoE preceisely because it was complicated and messy
( ... )
This is the conclusion that I've come to, and just today, thanks to the comment made by dalekboy, I've finally figured out why. Once my migraine has passed off a bit more, I'll be replying to him, so if you're interested, keep an eye on that thread.
I think one of the most misleading ads I have ever seen are in the TV ads for Fight Club. On the US DVD of Fight Club, they have all the ads for the film's campaign, including two called 'Girl's Club.'
Those ones do a fabulous job of making Fight Club look like a slightly weird romantic comedy. It's such a horrible and cynical way to get bums on seats! I tried to find copies on Youtube to link to, but couldn't.
Interestingly, I didn't find the trailers for CoE cheesy at all, and was expecting the story to not be as creepy/weird/dark as it was trying to seem in the trailers.
Thanks for the Fight Club example -- I hadn't seen those. I'll keep an eye peeled on YouTube.
I've had thoughts about the CoE ads in response to what you've said here, and will tell you about them shortly -- I need a nap now, though, as I'm migrainy. I shall return!
When Seven Pounds came out I heard an Irish radio ad for it on several occasions that did a good job of suggesting it was a sappy romance. Not being a fan of that genre I didn't read anything about the film and ended up going to see it with a friend who does enjoy the genre. I think many of the audience ended up rather disappointed.
I remember when the movie "Life" came out. People assumed that since it had Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence in it, it was a complete comedy - and the advertisements showing only the comedy didn't help. It bombed because the movie was way more complex, and actually showed the unfunny side to two innocent men being in prison for life - and people were uncomfortable with that.
While I'm not condoning harrassment of show creators, I do wonder why it's entitled to express shock and dismay over a text, or behaviour, or trends within these shows, particularly if they were designed to shock and/or dismay. Are we meant to feel it, but not speak of it?This, especially, resonated with me. Of course, within Torchwood fandom itself (at least the LJ corner I hang out in), I haven't seen too much of this -- there, people who liked CoE and people who didn't manage to be very respectful of and sympathetic to each others' opinions, but outside of that I've been getting the sense that it's somehow wrong to respond to the text in a particular way -- that if we do have a particular negative response, then it's because there's something wrong with US, rather than some of us just approaching the text from a different subject position ( ... )
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I think there's more than one way to engage with my point, and the one you've taken is just fine. :)
I agree with you on this. I actually think the lead-up advertising for CoE is the second most misleading I can remember seeing. The first was the trailer for the Matthew Broderick film, Project X, which was advertised as a bubbly teen shenanigans film, and is actually a tragedy about animal testing. Chimps die! Of radiation poisoning! It will take a lot to beat that! The day I saw it, people were walking out of the cinema, and for good reason. It's a shame, because it was a decent movie, but more traumatising than it should have been, due to the false expectations I (and the other patrons, I imagine) walked in with ( ... )
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Those ones do a fabulous job of making Fight Club look like a slightly weird romantic comedy. It's such a horrible and cynical way to get bums on seats! I tried to find copies on Youtube to link to, but couldn't.
Interestingly, I didn't find the trailers for CoE cheesy at all, and was expecting the story to not be as creepy/weird/dark as it was trying to seem in the trailers.
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I've had thoughts about the CoE ads in response to what you've said here, and will tell you about them shortly -- I need a nap now, though, as I'm migrainy. I shall return!
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ETA: Here via metafandom.
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Also here via metafandom, btw.
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