Supernatural: Despair & Academia (and Yarn)
So, first the despair. As the entire fandom knows by now, the Creation Con in Vancouver is selling tickets to tour the set of Supernatural. (Info here, scroll down.) I heard this a couple of days ago already, and it's been percolating in my mind. Given that I posted things like this entry on how much I'd like to meet the designers and builders and creators of the SPN sets, you'd think this information would make me ecstatic. Alas, no. No matter how I run the numbers, I cannot figure out a way to afford to go. Tickets for the set tour alone are $350. And while that sucks, I don't actually fault the convention because it *is* an extremely rare occurrence to be able to see a working set, and talk with a crew person and such. But that $350 is on top of the price of the convention (itself not cheap) and then there'd also be airfare and hotel rooms and food. (Also, since you're at the convention, you'd probably also want to, I dunno, go to some of the panels and get some autographs and pictures. Mind you, the Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki autographs and pictures are already sold out yet too.) So... unless I get an enormous unexpected and extremely unlikely windfall, I will not be seeing the SPN sets, nor getting my picture taken with the Impala. I'm extremely sad about this. I don't feel that I'm entitled to go or anything, just that it really is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, and I can't do it. Just very disappointed. Alas. I will have to console myself with the fact that some of the Yarn!Chesters will be sent to the production offices, when they are finished.
Academia. I am also consoling myself with the fact that Heather and I have decided to write a joint paper about the Faustus myth in popular culture. This, naturally, includes things like the movie(s) Bedazzled, but it also includes Supernatural. We're not entirely certain where this article will go (as we came up with the idea over a sushi lunch this afternoon) but that's part of the joy. We do know that it will deal with the difference in commodification of the soul, now vs. the renaissance (when the Faust myth was written/disseminated.) And yet the Faust-myth remains potent and in use. (If someone says that a person made a Faustian bargain, you know what they mean, right?) Hopefully we'll get the majority of it done this summer. Her adviser, who has written books on Faustus and economic exchange, is away for the summer, which means that we can get away with not telling him about it until it's already drafted. He's no help whatsoever in the development stages anyway. Once it's drafted, he'll be quite useful, however.
On that end, you (yes you!) can help: where have you seen (in popular culture, preferably performance based) the Faust myth used? Where do people sell their souls? A sampling of what we've come up with so far:
Supernatural tv
Reaper tv
The Haunting of Molly Hartley film
Bedazzled (1967) film
Bedazzled (2000) film
St James' Infirmary (2009) stage
Hercules film (animated- Disney)
There are more, of course, but I'm blanking at the moment. Any thoughts you have, I'd appreciate. Arkstangent says that no one in BtVSor Angel sells their soul, but Pyrite assures me that both Lilah and Lindsay do in Angel, so I guess I'll look into that. I know of several (popular lit) books that use the Faust myth, but I'm more interested in performance.
So. Not nearly as cool as seeing the SPN set, but it's a way to put my obsessions (both the Faust myth and Supernatural) to work for me.
And lastly, Yarn. ami!Dean v2.0 has all his major body parts crafted. I'd have finished them sooner but one of his legs just would not cooperate. First his foot was too big, then his leg was lumpy. Very annoying. Anyway, head, torso and one leg are sewn together. Second leg and two arms are made. Still need to make the rest of his overshirt before I can sew the arms on. Then I'll make his jacket, then his face and hair, and he'll be set.
Also, I purchased supplies today to make a teeny-tiny journal for ami!John's coat pocket. It will very likely not be a working journal (too tiny!) but it will look good closed.
Academia. I am also consoling myself with the fact that Heather and I have decided to write a joint paper about the Faustus myth in popular culture. This, naturally, includes things like the movie(s) Bedazzled, but it also includes Supernatural. We're not entirely certain where this article will go (as we came up with the idea over a sushi lunch this afternoon) but that's part of the joy. We do know that it will deal with the difference in commodification of the soul, now vs. the renaissance (when the Faust myth was written/disseminated.) And yet the Faust-myth remains potent and in use. (If someone says that a person made a Faustian bargain, you know what they mean, right?) Hopefully we'll get the majority of it done this summer. Her adviser, who has written books on Faustus and economic exchange, is away for the summer, which means that we can get away with not telling him about it until it's already drafted. He's no help whatsoever in the development stages anyway. Once it's drafted, he'll be quite useful, however.
On that end, you (yes you!) can help: where have you seen (in popular culture, preferably performance based) the Faust myth used? Where do people sell their souls? A sampling of what we've come up with so far:
Supernatural tv
Reaper tv
The Haunting of Molly Hartley film
Bedazzled (1967) film
Bedazzled (2000) film
St James' Infirmary (2009) stage
Hercules film (animated- Disney)
There are more, of course, but I'm blanking at the moment. Any thoughts you have, I'd appreciate. Arkstangent says that no one in BtVSor Angel sells their soul, but Pyrite assures me that both Lilah and Lindsay do in Angel, so I guess I'll look into that. I know of several (popular lit) books that use the Faust myth, but I'm more interested in performance.
So. Not nearly as cool as seeing the SPN set, but it's a way to put my obsessions (both the Faust myth and Supernatural) to work for me.
And lastly, Yarn. ami!Dean v2.0 has all his major body parts crafted. I'd have finished them sooner but one of his legs just would not cooperate. First his foot was too big, then his leg was lumpy. Very annoying. Anyway, head, torso and one leg are sewn together. Second leg and two arms are made. Still need to make the rest of his overshirt before I can sew the arms on. Then I'll make his jacket, then his face and hair, and he'll be set.
Also, I purchased supplies today to make a teeny-tiny journal for ami!John's coat pocket. It will very likely not be a working journal (too tiny!) but it will look good closed.