Comments on: Enthusiasm & Ethics & Endless Emoting http://www.rimworlds.com/thecrotchetyoldfan/2009/06/enthusiasm-ethics-endless-emoting/ Science Fiction For Old Farts Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:24:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The Crotchety Old Fan http://www.rimworlds.com/thecrotchetyoldfan/2009/06/enthusiasm-ethics-endless-emoting/comment-page-1/#comment-8808 The Crotchety Old Fan Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:32:08 +0000 http://www.rimworlds.com/thecrotchetyoldfan/?p=4381#comment-8808 I agree. I also don't think you can get a bunch of writers together to promote an agenda that involves writing and have a coherent, monolithic position come out of it: two seconds after the manifesto is written, every single member is re-writing. I guess the gist of the original intent was to register some displeasure with reviewers who ONLY concentrated on the negative and (seemed to) enjoy the knife play. I will admit to writing "wholly negative" reviews when I think the product deserves it (Cloud Cuckoo, fer instance which I compared unfavorably to reading the labels on Howard Hughes' urine jars) - but: I ALWAYS start out wanting to enjoy whatever it is - and I try very hard to do so along the way. Most of my reviews contain some genuine critique, some genuine positivity and some reluctant negativity. I try to find the redeeming qualities and am always mindful that panning something could mean one less meal for the writer. But dammit, I'm only writing my opinion. It's up to my readers to decide if they agree with that opinion or not. Just as its up to them whether a particular story appeals or not. I agree. I also don’t think you can get a bunch of writers together to promote an agenda that involves writing and have a coherent, monolithic position come out of it: two seconds after the manifesto is written, every single member is re-writing.
I guess the gist of the original intent was to register some displeasure with reviewers who ONLY concentrated on the negative and (seemed to) enjoy the knife play.
I will admit to writing “wholly negative” reviews when I think the product deserves it (Cloud Cuckoo, fer instance which I compared unfavorably to reading the labels on Howard Hughes’ urine jars) – but:

I ALWAYS start out wanting to enjoy whatever it is – and I try very hard to do so along the way. Most of my reviews contain some genuine critique, some genuine positivity and some reluctant negativity. I try to find the redeeming qualities and am always mindful that panning something could mean one less meal for the writer. But dammit, I’m only writing my opinion. It’s up to my readers to decide if they agree with that opinion or not. Just as its up to them whether a particular story appeals or not.

]]> By: Johne Cook http://www.rimworlds.com/thecrotchetyoldfan/2009/06/enthusiasm-ethics-endless-emoting/comment-page-1/#comment-8804 Johne Cook Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:28:10 +0000 http://www.rimworlds.com/thecrotchetyoldfan/?p=4381#comment-8804 I was recently involved in a Twitter debate over the Pixar film UP because it wasn't just 'positive' action entertainment for the kids. It was a smart, well-written dramatic adventure film for the whole family (and as near as I can tell, that also includes adults). I liked the gravitas and pain and angst of the first four minutes, the weight of love that makes a man and then turns him cranky if he's not careful (and frequently, even if he is). I was told that even after the film gets going and turns into a more standard adventure, by that time, the damage was done and the film was only depressing with no additional merit or virtue. I was told that the effectiveness of the film was 'tainted by the sadness' at the beginning. Furthermore, 'At the beginning of your kid's bday party, your vet comes and puts down the kitten. Clowns come. Cake comes. Success? No.' I was told 'If you want to go to movies that make you feel like cr@p, then I guess crying is okay. Me? I'd rather go to a movie to escape.' Positivity is only one part of life. Yes, I like a happy ending when appropriate, but it's just one of many important emotions, and as a writer, I want (I /need/) to talk about them all. I wrote that we need the sadness of the beginning to achieve a character arc and ultimate resolution at the end. I said the trick is that life doesn't stop with tragedy. Ongoing character growth grows out of tragic moments and is necessary if you want your story to be something more than mindless kid cartoons. UP is an animated film that doesn't just pander to the kids, and the first four minutes silent movie is some of the best cinema I've seen in a long time. I think it's wrong to think in terms of positive or negative. Just write what's there to write regardless of whether it's all happy or sad or good or bad. Tell the truth, and do it with some skill and panache. That's it. I was recently involved in a Twitter debate over the Pixar film UP because it wasn’t just ‘positive’ action entertainment for the kids. It was a smart, well-written dramatic adventure film for the whole family (and as near as I can tell, that also includes adults). I liked the gravitas and pain and angst of the first four minutes, the weight of love that makes a man and then turns him cranky if he’s not careful (and frequently, even if he is). I was told that even after the film gets going and turns into a more standard adventure, by that time, the damage was done and the film was only depressing with no additional merit or virtue. I was told that the effectiveness of the film was ‘tainted by the sadness’ at the beginning. Furthermore, ‘At the beginning of your kid’s bday party, your vet comes and puts down the kitten. Clowns come. Cake comes. Success? No.’ I was told ‘If you want to go to movies that make you feel like cr@p, then I guess crying is okay. Me? I’d rather go to a movie to escape.’

Positivity is only one part of life. Yes, I like a happy ending when appropriate, but it’s just one of many important emotions, and as a writer, I want (I /need/) to talk about them all.

I wrote that we need the sadness of the beginning to achieve a character arc and ultimate resolution at the end. I said the trick is that life doesn’t stop with tragedy. Ongoing character growth grows out of tragic moments and is necessary if you want your story to be something more than mindless kid cartoons. UP is an animated film that doesn’t just pander to the kids, and the first four minutes silent movie is some of the best cinema I’ve seen in a long time.

I think it’s wrong to think in terms of positive or negative. Just write what’s there to write regardless of whether it’s all happy or sad or good or bad. Tell the truth, and do it with some skill and panache. That’s it.

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