The politics of online spoilers

[matgb]

One of the things that always bugs me online is different peoples reactions to plot 'spoilers' for media things-unpredictable and at times downright weird, as Nick Mamatas demonstrated last month. Now me, I tend to seek them out for shows I like-before the internet I had a subscription to SFX partially for the spoiler zone section, I loved reading

Comments

[frightened]

I think, for me, it depends how much it's an active and beloved fandom, and how likely I am to see the real thing sooner rather than later. Lost, for instance, I gleefully spoiled myself for, because it didn't look like I was gonna be able to finish season 3 for aaaaaages, and I was getting quite pissed-off with it. But I got really upset when I was spoiled - broadly, I know what happens to the protagonists but not why or how - for the series finale of Supernatural, because I really enjoy watching it and it's starting again this week. And I'm spoiler-free for Battlestar Galactica, because I love how that show can shock me.

I do remember reading the episode spoilers in the X-Files magazine, though, because these future seasons happened in the magical lands of America and Sky TV, and I couldn't imagine waiting that long to see them.

[sylo_tode]

sledge????

Way back when I was into reading what I could about the stuff that I was interested in, particularly episodes 5 and 6 of Star Wars.

Since then, though, I avoid spoilers as much as possible, especially TV previews of what's on "next week." Too many times, the person putting together the preview doesn't understand the episode and ends up ruining it. The one that comes to mind first in this respect is "Sic Transit Vir" from B5. If you've seen the episode, you'll know exactly what it is they revealed in the preview.

For me, it's not the splash so much as the journey. James Bond is always going to get the bad guy, right? But, I still enjoy the movies.

Oh, and with Columbo, it wasn't knowing who did it that was the point, it was "How is he going to get the bad guy? Where did the bad guy screw up?"

[strangefrontier]

I have a medium level of spoilerphobia - I'm happy knowing casting details, for instance, and vague plot points, but I don't like being spoiled for whoah! moments because they're a big part of the experience for me.

Because it's so cuturally well-known and I have been watching Star Wars films since I was too wee to understand, I can't imagine what it must be like to watch ESB and find out for the first that Vader is Luke's father. That's a helluva whoah! moment. What a fucking revelation! That's the sort of thing I don't like being spoiled for. I didn't know Bruce Willis was dead or Tyler Durden was imaginary or Keyser Soze was Verbal Kint, and my first viewings of those films had much more impact than they would have done had I known the twists in advance. There's a kind of strange glee at being hoodwinked so well by the film-makers.

I'm hoping I get that sort of experience from the reveal of the final cylon's identity!

[davegodfrey]

I think it depends on the film. The revelation that Willis is a ghost,is frankly all the film has going for it. Its pretty much the only thing Shayalaman's films have going for them, so I'd rather remain spoiler-free on those- If I can be arsed to watch them.

Knowing the story for Shakespeare helps inordinately, these days its about how well the play is put on anyway.

I've still not seen Citizen Kane, so while I know what Rosebud is, I don't understand the significance within the film. Knowing it in advance isn't going to spoil my experience of the film. Similarly with Soylent Green, it the journey that will be interesting.

Iron Man/Spiderman this is very clear from the beginning of the film/trailers/interview pieces. Its in no way a spoiler- the point of these films is how is the transition from Parker/Stark to their respective heroes.

[pmoodie]

The revelation that Willis is a ghost,is frankly all the film has going for it.

I have to disagree with that. If you watch the film a second time, the knowledge that he's a ghost gives the whole thing another dimension. It makes his situation more poignant when you know he's a ghost and he doesn't. The twist is certainly a key moment, but the film doesn't unravel as an experience once you know it.

I'd agree on Shyamalan's other films though. He quickly got caught up in the twist gimmick and his films become weighed down by a stifling self-importance. And now his films are more exercises in "guess the twist" than entertainment in their own right.

But I think The Sixth Sense is a very intelligent and skillful bit of film-making.

[andrewducker]

I've still not seen Citizen Kane, so while I know what Rosebud is, I don't understand the significance within the film. Knowing it in advance isn't going to spoil my experience of the film.

Part of the point of Rosebud, in the film, is that you're supposed to start off thinking it's a mystery, and then realise at the end that it doesn't explain anything. Or, at least, not in the way you expected.

[tyrell]

The only two I'd complain about are Sixth Sense and Fight Club. For them the spoiler is the entire point, and while you and me are hip young things in tune with pop culture, it's highly possible many people haven't seen them before.

If you haven't seen some of the others before, chances are you know the spoiler anyway if you've ever watched tv.

[davegodfrey]

I expect that in ten year's time the twists in those will be treated in exactly the same way as the ones in Psycho and Star Wars are today- turning up as in-jokes in children's films to keep the parents entertained, etc.

For instance, I think it was a combination of Colombo and Looney Tunes that revealed the "Rosebud" thing in Citizen Kane to me.