First of all, you will have to excuse the inexactness of my clumsy definition below. It's one of those words that I've picked up in context over the years; I don't think the fandom definition of meta is actually written down anywhere.
"Meta" is used in a couple of related ways, best that I can tell. On one hand, it's a way of referencing analysis (i.e., "I wrote 4,000 words of Doctor Who meta deconstructing how time travel works this afternoon").
The other way I've seen it used -- the way I've used it here -- is to refer to something that's... I don't know, self-referencing in a way? I'm sure other people could better explain it.
RDJ's nomination for the movie is almost meta because Tropic Thunder is an ostensibly undeserving movie in which RDJ plays a method actor who's in an ostensibly undeserving movie (called Tropic Thunder) who has previously won a stupid number of Academy Awards.
I second what Aurelia says above, but I'll try to add to it: in its academic uses, words with the prefix meta- generally refer to the study of the study of something, more or less. So metatheory is theorizing about how the theory works, metaphysics is the (usually philosophical) study of theories of physics (while physics is the study of the physical world itself), metaethics is the study of different kinds of ethical frameworks, metanalysis is the analysis of an analysis, etc.
In fandom, meta has been bleached to mean anything self-referential, analytical, or introspective, it seems to me. I think it's most accurately applied to discussions of fandom (while fandom itself contains discussions of the source material), but it definitely gets used much more broadly than that.
And I'm glad you're feeling better, especially if you were drinking whiskey and beer for Robbie Burns Day. The great thing about whiskey, in my opinion, is that it's such a classy drink. I aspire to be a whiskey-drinker; I feel like it balances out being a fond consumer of girly drinks.
It's hilarious. When I posted this earlier I was feeling a bit better, but right now I'm feeling worse than I have in days. It's bizarre. Have called doctor; made appointment for Wednesday, as nothing earlier is available. Will aspire to not perish from unspecified illness. ;_;
But yes, it's one of those drinks that you can actually order with a straight face, unlike most cocktails. I'm looking at you, Sex on the Beach.
Okay, I'm sorry but they put alot of shows that I would consider crap on the list of the 50 best TV shows ever, but THE longest running sci-fi show in North America didn't make it to the list?!?! Where is Stargate SG 1 and Stargate Atlantis for that matter?! I doth protest!
I dunno that I'd put SGA on a best TV ever list, as much as I find it fun. SG-1, now there's a possibility, if only because of its longevity. Also, Jack. Observe my incredible bias.
But yeah, I don't agree with a lot of their choices. These best-of lists are always let-downs. ;P
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RITE
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I should totally see that movie again.
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>_
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"Meta" is used in a couple of related ways, best that I can tell. On one hand, it's a way of referencing analysis (i.e., "I wrote 4,000 words of Doctor Who meta deconstructing how time travel works this afternoon").
The other way I've seen it used -- the way I've used it here -- is to refer to something that's... I don't know, self-referencing in a way? I'm sure other people could better explain it.
RDJ's nomination for the movie is almost meta because Tropic Thunder is an ostensibly undeserving movie in which RDJ plays a method actor who's in an ostensibly undeserving movie (called Tropic Thunder) who has previously won a stupid number of Academy Awards.
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In fandom, meta has been bleached to mean anything self-referential, analytical, or introspective, it seems to me. I think it's most accurately applied to discussions of fandom (while fandom itself contains discussions of the source material), but it definitely gets used much more broadly than that.
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Thanks much, I knew somebody more articulate than me had to come along...
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And I'm glad you're feeling better, especially if you were drinking whiskey and beer for Robbie Burns Day. The great thing about whiskey, in my opinion, is that it's such a classy drink. I aspire to be a whiskey-drinker; I feel like it balances out being a fond consumer of girly drinks.
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It's hilarious. When I posted this earlier I was feeling a bit better, but right now I'm feeling worse than I have in days. It's bizarre. Have called doctor; made appointment for Wednesday, as nothing earlier is available. Will aspire to not perish from unspecified illness. ;_;
But yes, it's one of those drinks that you can actually order with a straight face, unlike most cocktails. I'm looking at you, Sex on the Beach.
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~Striker
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But yeah, I don't agree with a lot of their choices. These best-of lists are always let-downs. ;P
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