Pondering on reviews and viewpoints

[neadods]

I've commented there - and keep meaning to go back now that I'm not whipping through my flist in a Stratford cafe; I will be soon, promise, Karen - but wanted to bring this to my LJ for some more pondering out loud.

[R]eviews are completely and utterly subjective. That in almost every case, a review isn't about what's being reviewed, it's about

Comments

[lil_shepherd]

An author's intent is not half as important as what he or she actually succeeds in doing.

[neadods]

Exactly. Unfortunately, a lot of authors are succeeding in making it public that they have a seriously twisted worldview.

*waves* Will respond to your other comment in a bit. Hope you like the LJ!

[lil_shepherd]

*waves back*

Definitely like the LJ!

[fyrdrakken]

Whether it's what the author meant is beside the point. It's what the author *said,* about the world, and the readers.

That's an absolutely vital point (and why I tend to be wary about reading up on authorial intent for a text I'm interesting in dissecting) -- the author may not have succeeded in conveying what they were trying for, the author likely isn't aware of all their own issues that shine through in their works, the author may be lying outright to interviewers (especially if s/he is currently getting a bit of grief from the reading/viewing public about something showing up in the work). And sometimes the readers/viewers aren't personally equipped to notice these things unless and until someone else points it out -- they just internalize the message and go on.

[neadods]

And sometimes the readers/viewers aren't personally equipped to notice these things unless and until someone else points it out -- they just internalize the message and go on.

*sits on hands to stop myself from bringing up race in Doctor Who again*

[fyrdrakken]

*Restrains self from ranting on the sexism and heteronormativity pushed on the audience by just about every romance plot ever...*

Ding!Ding!Ding!Ding!

[bellatrys]

for the multiple win