don't harsh my squee!
A while ago on Whedonesque they linked a great essay from Firefox News (who knew there was such a site with great essays?) and it got me thinking about how rare it is for me to get so freaked out about a plot point (like the death of a favorite character or any other big change) that I turn against the entire fandom. Usually I trust the creators to continue taking me on a roller coast ride worth my time (and money since I always commit completely to my fandoms, buying DVDs, toys, and going to conventions).
Now obviously I can't pretend that I never lose heart. JKR killing off George embittered me, not to the point of throwing out my collection of all her books in first editions, but enough so that I have no interest in her future writing, and no sympathy for her position on court cases. I will be seeing the movies, and I actually hope that the last film will give George a moment for a heroic meaningful death (or at least show that he was loved and missed by his family). Similarly I resented the way Peter Jackson ended LotR, by cutting out the Battle of Baywater (my favorite battle of all of Tolkien's books). The stupid finish to the movie (the long boring scene at the end, saying goodbye to Bilbo) pretty much sucked my joy out of the films for me, to the point that I gave my brother my DVD set. I still love the books, and get joy from rereading them! Oh and we won't even talk about Star Wars! LOL! I can't even watch the episodes (IV and V) that I love because the prequels were so bad that it destroyed the fandom completely (IMO), it is funny that as bad as Enterprise was it couldn't destroy my love for Star Trek or the other TV shows based on the Star Trek universe). So obviously I cannot pretend that I am immune to the extremes of fan behavior, but there are still a lot of beloved stories and shows in which I have unlimited faith:
Terry Pratchett's Discworld is the best thing ever! The movies (TV mini-series) based on them have been gems, the new books are always better than the last, and I'll be going to the Discworld Convention in Arizona in 2009!
Jim Butcher's new's book in the Harry Dresden series is Small Favor and I just finished it. Don't worry, I won't spoil you, but I will say that he has been dealing with plot lines that are not my favorites, but the end result is still pure joy for me! I get completely sucked in, so that I am laughing out loud and can really not put the book down.
Doctor Who's 4th series has begun in the UK and will be running here on the Sci-fi channel soon, and again: NO SPOILERS, but I have to say that I love Love LOVE it! I am in complete and total joy about this. I always found Doctor Who to be more fun than Torchwood (which wasn't really going for the fun, so I guess that is okay).
BSG: the final season has begun and it is kicking ass! They are obviously going all out and doing a great job.
And Everything by Joss Whedon! I am an over-the-top Whedon fan, and while I don't think the comic books are the best thing ever, I won't stop reading them, and collecting them. But I'm very thrilled about Doctor Horrible's Sing a-long Blog (coming soon) and Dollhouse (they are having their first read through today!). I'm so glad Joss will be returning to TV! But my point is that even when Joss makes some weird moves, I always assume that it will result in a story that I will love; I don't have to love every scene because I have confidence that he'll get to the point and I'll love that. IMO people who walk away because of some disappoint or perceived problem are only cutting off their own proverbial noses...to spite their own metaphorial faces.
I was recently discussing w/a friend on their lj about the importance of these pop culture entertainments to me. I guess most people grant that Shakespeare or Jane Austen, or other old stuff, has value... is 'ART'. But most people hold modern science fiction and fantasy as being a huge waste of time. To me it is as important as religion. In ancient times most of the stories told were centered around religion, they were supposed to teach one how to live their lives and accept the bad times. But for me religion has lost it's impact. I converted to Catholicism in college, before Pope John Paul 2 ended up marginalizing women and others to the point where I no longer felt welcome. I have many other avenues of Spiritual focus, but I am well aware that I find power and comfort in many every day entertainments and activities. So don't harsh my squee; I am a great big geek when it comes to my fandoms!
Now obviously I can't pretend that I never lose heart. JKR killing off George embittered me, not to the point of throwing out my collection of all her books in first editions, but enough so that I have no interest in her future writing, and no sympathy for her position on court cases. I will be seeing the movies, and I actually hope that the last film will give George a moment for a heroic meaningful death (or at least show that he was loved and missed by his family). Similarly I resented the way Peter Jackson ended LotR, by cutting out the Battle of Baywater (my favorite battle of all of Tolkien's books). The stupid finish to the movie (the long boring scene at the end, saying goodbye to Bilbo) pretty much sucked my joy out of the films for me, to the point that I gave my brother my DVD set. I still love the books, and get joy from rereading them! Oh and we won't even talk about Star Wars! LOL! I can't even watch the episodes (IV and V) that I love because the prequels were so bad that it destroyed the fandom completely (IMO), it is funny that as bad as Enterprise was it couldn't destroy my love for Star Trek or the other TV shows based on the Star Trek universe). So obviously I cannot pretend that I am immune to the extremes of fan behavior, but there are still a lot of beloved stories and shows in which I have unlimited faith:
Terry Pratchett's Discworld is the best thing ever! The movies (TV mini-series) based on them have been gems, the new books are always better than the last, and I'll be going to the Discworld Convention in Arizona in 2009!
Jim Butcher's new's book in the Harry Dresden series is Small Favor and I just finished it. Don't worry, I won't spoil you, but I will say that he has been dealing with plot lines that are not my favorites, but the end result is still pure joy for me! I get completely sucked in, so that I am laughing out loud and can really not put the book down.
Doctor Who's 4th series has begun in the UK and will be running here on the Sci-fi channel soon, and again: NO SPOILERS, but I have to say that I love Love LOVE it! I am in complete and total joy about this. I always found Doctor Who to be more fun than Torchwood (which wasn't really going for the fun, so I guess that is okay).
BSG: the final season has begun and it is kicking ass! They are obviously going all out and doing a great job.
And Everything by Joss Whedon! I am an over-the-top Whedon fan, and while I don't think the comic books are the best thing ever, I won't stop reading them, and collecting them. But I'm very thrilled about Doctor Horrible's Sing a-long Blog (coming soon) and Dollhouse (they are having their first read through today!). I'm so glad Joss will be returning to TV! But my point is that even when Joss makes some weird moves, I always assume that it will result in a story that I will love; I don't have to love every scene because I have confidence that he'll get to the point and I'll love that. IMO people who walk away because of some disappoint or perceived problem are only cutting off their own proverbial noses...to spite their own metaphorial faces.
I was recently discussing w/a friend on their lj about the importance of these pop culture entertainments to me. I guess most people grant that Shakespeare or Jane Austen, or other old stuff, has value... is 'ART'. But most people hold modern science fiction and fantasy as being a huge waste of time. To me it is as important as religion. In ancient times most of the stories told were centered around religion, they were supposed to teach one how to live their lives and accept the bad times. But for me religion has lost it's impact. I converted to Catholicism in college, before Pope John Paul 2 ended up marginalizing women and others to the point where I no longer felt welcome. I have many other avenues of Spiritual focus, but I am well aware that I find power and comfort in many every day entertainments and activities. So don't harsh my squee; I am a great big geek when it comes to my fandoms!