(no subject)
I'm going to go see Tintin this weekend. Actually, the seeing of this movie is a largely minor aspect of my weekend to come, but it's still one of the things I'm genuinely excited about. And I don't actually have any high expectations, other than a decent adventure movie with some bumbling comedy, and some nostalgia for comics that did play a part in my childhood and potentially even in my interest in good stories and relatively realistic adventures. With some notable exceptions, the Tintin comics did represent adventures that while not entirely realistic, were pretty down to Earth and still opened up possibilities. (The gorilla in The Black Island was kinda weird though. Nightmare fuel yes, but also kinda weird.) A friend didn't like the fact that there's barely any female characters, the few ones showing up being more of a grandmotherly/aunty roles, but it never bothered me as a kid nor now. I take it in the context that these comics were aimed at boys, and boy scouts at that, so the Tintin comic is just about as neutered as you can expect it to be, hence why I don't think there was even as much as a hint of romance. (Other than some Ho Jay subtext and some idea that Castafiore had a thing for Haddock.) And only one semi-regular female character, Bianca Castafiore. And I'll be perfectly honest: At some point in my childhood, I wondered when it would be revealed that Castafiore was a dude in drag. Can you honestly blame me? Of course, being that she either way you cut it, did identify as a woman, that doesn't change that she at least was a female character that did show up with some regularity. Some regularity being "when it would annoy Haddock the most".
I guess for me, it's all about the context And some times it's not. I don't think it's media's duty to fullfill an agenda of gender equality, or have something important to say, I think it's just supposed to entertain. And then it's just great when it does something else as well. And Tintin did do other things than entertain. Once Herge started doing his research first, Tintin's adventures became eye-openers for the rest of the world. Often showing a huge contrast between stereotype and actuality, as a source of humour. Making jokes about stereotypes, rather than jokes that support stereotypes. At the same time, it was creative and exciting, and really showcasing that the most exciting adventure comics are the ones that have Did Their Research written all over it.
Besides, if I'd only read stories that fully reinforce every single issue I have in regards to gender equality, sexual liberty, religious and non-religious tolerance, racial equality, etc. etc. I'd end up having nothing to read but what I myself write, and even then I wouldn't be able to read it all! (Some times I just want to write stories about evil characters corrupting innocent ones. Is that so bad? Answer: Yes.)
The duty of art is to evoke emotions.
The duty of comedy is to make you laugh.
The duty of tragedy is to make you cry.
It's the duty of politics to have a message.
(And yes, by that definition, I do write some political things myself. It's just that some times I don't. And I just realised that the original story that is the closest to complete, with much thought into symbolism and characterisation, does not have any kind of central message. A large part of the point with that whole (currently 100 pages in word) story is that every reader should be able to have their own interpretation. So I don't have any message that I really wanted to set out with it. Sure, the characters have their own messages and their own morals, but the story doesn't set out to prove them wrong or right. Of course, should the story ever be published, some literary know-it-all will be more than happy to tell you what "I really meant" with what I wrote, even if I will have no idea what the hell they'd be talking about.)
Please excuse any typos on account of sleepiness caused by having helped my grandmother do some major grocery shopping earlier today. We got everything but the Christmas ham, toungue and pigs' feet, which I will shop for next week. Grandma was saying the other day that her kids don't want her to buy any more pigs feet, at which point I told her that was too bad because I'd been thinking that I wanted to try it this year. So now I'm an offical excuse. Yay! :D
I guess for me, it's all about the context And some times it's not. I don't think it's media's duty to fullfill an agenda of gender equality, or have something important to say, I think it's just supposed to entertain. And then it's just great when it does something else as well. And Tintin did do other things than entertain. Once Herge started doing his research first, Tintin's adventures became eye-openers for the rest of the world. Often showing a huge contrast between stereotype and actuality, as a source of humour. Making jokes about stereotypes, rather than jokes that support stereotypes. At the same time, it was creative and exciting, and really showcasing that the most exciting adventure comics are the ones that have Did Their Research written all over it.
Besides, if I'd only read stories that fully reinforce every single issue I have in regards to gender equality, sexual liberty, religious and non-religious tolerance, racial equality, etc. etc. I'd end up having nothing to read but what I myself write, and even then I wouldn't be able to read it all! (Some times I just want to write stories about evil characters corrupting innocent ones. Is that so bad? Answer: Yes.)
The duty of art is to evoke emotions.
The duty of comedy is to make you laugh.
The duty of tragedy is to make you cry.
It's the duty of politics to have a message.
(And yes, by that definition, I do write some political things myself. It's just that some times I don't. And I just realised that the original story that is the closest to complete, with much thought into symbolism and characterisation, does not have any kind of central message. A large part of the point with that whole (currently 100 pages in word) story is that every reader should be able to have their own interpretation. So I don't have any message that I really wanted to set out with it. Sure, the characters have their own messages and their own morals, but the story doesn't set out to prove them wrong or right. Of course, should the story ever be published, some literary know-it-all will be more than happy to tell you what "I really meant" with what I wrote, even if I will have no idea what the hell they'd be talking about.)
Please excuse any typos on account of sleepiness caused by having helped my grandmother do some major grocery shopping earlier today. We got everything but the Christmas ham, toungue and pigs' feet, which I will shop for next week. Grandma was saying the other day that her kids don't want her to buy any more pigs feet, at which point I told her that was too bad because I'd been thinking that I wanted to try it this year. So now I'm an offical excuse. Yay! :D