(Untitled)

[martinius]

You know what disturbs me most about watching tv-series, basically any tv-series? The fact that I, as a consumer of moving media (it's late and I can't think of a better phrase), am so disturbingly uncritical. Really. I think stuff is good, and I don't even bother to take it apart even a little, and then I read other people's meta and I feel like

Comments

[zleznjiyh]

You know, I've been struggling with the same thoughts lately and I've found myself begging to see all those things that come together to make a show or movie. I guess the years of watching behind the scenes material and listening to countless hours of podcasts have finally begun to yield results. Podcasts especially. They get you thinking.

[martinius]

Podcasts, that's a good tip. Any particular I should listen to?

I'm thinking about calling 2011 the year of no white male gaze FÖRHELVETE! And possibly making a community for it. Because I tend to have so much luck with that :p No, seriously, I think next year is gonna be a separatist year, where I try to only consume culture that's got another perspective. It is my plan.

[zleznjiyh]

Depends on the show. Currently I'm listening to The Fringe Podcast since it's a show that needs more thinking(like LOST, used to listen to a LOST podcast also). Usually I just search iTunes, try a couple and then stick with one.

You should watch 30 Rock. Tina Fey created it and writes, it's very funny and does give other perspective, female gaze and off-jokes(they had a woman in blackface "playing" Lynn Swan(man) in full football uniform(pads and all) and a dude in Natalie Portman-costume from Black Swan, they went as "two black swans" seriously wtf). It's a good show. And it has Alec Baldwin. And Tina Fey.

[copper_on_mars]

I have no trouble picking where 'male gaze' is used: it feel creepy, disturbing and uncomfortable, mostly. My only advice is keeping a check on how you feel about what you see. Emotional impression is most often the right one.

Reading meta, I often find things I didn't know before, of never thought about. I don't think it makes me stupid, I know I'm not. Why would I read this meta if I knew what it was about?

[martinius]

No, yes, I think that is the problem. I'm so very desesitized that I don't feel the male gaze. I mean, I do, in real life, and when reading books and so, but I just can't when watching tv and movies, unless it's really stupidly obvious. And that makes me feel stupid, because I'm used to being intelligent and figuring stuff out, and when I don't I disappoint myself :p

And that is also the thing with meta, I read meta and feel like I should have thought about this myself, not because I'm smarter than the person writing it but because I'm used to doing it when reading. Makes sense?

[copper_on_mars]

Yes, it does!