Holy fuck, what is this bullshit?
So I started to take a survey about Sherlock Holmes fans. By someone who claims to be in touch with the culture and who claims to be doing this under the aegis of a school for academic reasons.
I say "started" because halfway through, with no assurance that I'd get to speak my piece at any point, I quit in outrage. If there is any academic overlooking this project, they need to put down the crack pipe right this minute.
So. Sherlock Holmes survey. No distinguishing between versions of Sherlock Holmes, just "Sherlock Holmes." That's quite the range, considering the books, movies, TV adaptations, radio plays, cartoons, parodies, etc. No, I most certainly do not "feel what the characters are feeling" when I read the Victorian-era stories. In many cases, I feel several of the characters need a clue bat upside the head, is what I feel.
No distinguishing between passively consuming whatever media and fannish participation. I am not a different person because I read Sherlock Holmes or watch Doctor Who. I am a different person because I participate in fan culture overall and that's a MAJOR difference. The actual media drawing me into the culture is negligible and changeable.
No option for "I read the stories because they are entertaining." Seriously, not even an option. Nope, I was asked to choose between the stories making me think, making me meditate upon society, making me reflect on myself as a person and other gobsmacking bullshit. The. Man. Wrote. Potboilers. For. Money. In other bad news for the literary academic, Shakespeare *also* wrote for money and stuffed his work full of dick jokes. Including the tragedies.
When I reached the page that asked me how in touch I was with my feelings, how important I felt it was for me to be in touch with my feelings, whether I thought people in general would be better off in touch with their feelings... well, I thought it was long past time to bail on the bullshit and come vent my feelings instead.
I say "started" because halfway through, with no assurance that I'd get to speak my piece at any point, I quit in outrage. If there is any academic overlooking this project, they need to put down the crack pipe right this minute.
So. Sherlock Holmes survey. No distinguishing between versions of Sherlock Holmes, just "Sherlock Holmes." That's quite the range, considering the books, movies, TV adaptations, radio plays, cartoons, parodies, etc. No, I most certainly do not "feel what the characters are feeling" when I read the Victorian-era stories. In many cases, I feel several of the characters need a clue bat upside the head, is what I feel.
No distinguishing between passively consuming whatever media and fannish participation. I am not a different person because I read Sherlock Holmes or watch Doctor Who. I am a different person because I participate in fan culture overall and that's a MAJOR difference. The actual media drawing me into the culture is negligible and changeable.
No option for "I read the stories because they are entertaining." Seriously, not even an option. Nope, I was asked to choose between the stories making me think, making me meditate upon society, making me reflect on myself as a person and other gobsmacking bullshit. The. Man. Wrote. Potboilers. For. Money. In other bad news for the literary academic, Shakespeare *also* wrote for money and stuffed his work full of dick jokes. Including the tragedies.
When I reached the page that asked me how in touch I was with my feelings, how important I felt it was for me to be in touch with my feelings, whether I thought people in general would be better off in touch with their feelings... well, I thought it was long past time to bail on the bullshit and come vent my feelings instead.