On story and evolving taste and sensibilities.
- Thread starter circularlogic88
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Well that escalated rather quickly...fisheries said:
Two questions:
1. Have you tried stepping outside what is considered "mainstream" entertainment, ie. most television, video games and movies? Into more classic literature for example? Or outside fiction, into perhaps history?
2. Have you tried writing yourself? Not that I'm encouraging you to pursue a career in creative writing, but after coming across the same problem as you (albeit far from as strongly as you seemingly have) I started writing stories for myself, the kind of stories I wanted to see. If you find yourself enjoying nothing others created, perhaps you can enjoy something you created yourself, or at least enjoy creating it regardless of the end product itself. At least then you can have something that appeals 100% to you, without any elements you dislike, like heroic paragons, love interests, the hero's journey etc.
Geez. This page turned from jaded to hopeless to entering the goddamn void.
I suppose it's hard not be a bit cynical. There are aspects of most art forms, particularly the most popular aspects (Hollywood film, iterative game series, top 40 music) that ARE really tough for me to take. It feels like it's the same thing again and again, and if it's different, it's simply a curveball instead of a reinvention. And I guess the reason why it's frustrating, is because everyone else is into it. All people can talk about is the next Marvel film, or speculation on the next entry in a game series that was well over the hill in the 5th generation, and it kinda makes you step back and think "man, is there really something wrong with me?"
What helped me I guess was understanding the history of the mediums I was into. In university I took a bunch of art history courses and on my own time really researched film history, and to a lesser extent the history of video games and it helped to really appreciate everything about them. The development of form, of ideas, of storytelling devices; how these works interact with society---the context with which they exist. It made it all sort of miraculous to me.
Now there's still absolutely stuff I watch or play or read I don't like, or don't derive much pleasure from. But when I'm watching a movie and the camera pans in a way that's revealing, or a cut links two images that relay a powerful idea, or a shot holds for just long enough to change the entire meaning of the scene, I'm floored.
I don't know if this helps or not, but it really worked for me. I'm not saying "just be happy it's there" or "learn to like the shit you don't like". Branch out. Really look for stuff that's different, because you might be surprised how much of it there is.
I suppose it's hard not be a bit cynical. There are aspects of most art forms, particularly the most popular aspects (Hollywood film, iterative game series, top 40 music) that ARE really tough for me to take. It feels like it's the same thing again and again, and if it's different, it's simply a curveball instead of a reinvention. And I guess the reason why it's frustrating, is because everyone else is into it. All people can talk about is the next Marvel film, or speculation on the next entry in a game series that was well over the hill in the 5th generation, and it kinda makes you step back and think "man, is there really something wrong with me?"
What helped me I guess was understanding the history of the mediums I was into. In university I took a bunch of art history courses and on my own time really researched film history, and to a lesser extent the history of video games and it helped to really appreciate everything about them. The development of form, of ideas, of storytelling devices; how these works interact with society---the context with which they exist. It made it all sort of miraculous to me.
Now there's still absolutely stuff I watch or play or read I don't like, or don't derive much pleasure from. But when I'm watching a movie and the camera pans in a way that's revealing, or a cut links two images that relay a powerful idea, or a shot holds for just long enough to change the entire meaning of the scene, I'm floored.
I don't know if this helps or not, but it really worked for me. I'm not saying "just be happy it's there" or "learn to like the shit you don't like". Branch out. Really look for stuff that's different, because you might be surprised how much of it there is.
Necro Bump but I have something to say about this guy's post and in relation to this thread.Zen Bard said:
THis is exactly how I feel when it comes to Comic Books. Especially DC ones. Especially Vertigo Comics.
And I am admit its partly the reason why I dislike Marvel movies now because I see Guardians of the Galaxy the movie and the overall tone of the Avengers as a HUGE Regression to the progress Comic Books went through.
I mean seeing Batman in that silly Brave and the Bold adaption is to me a step down from past works like we went from Batman the Animated Series to this kiddy campy Adam West like Batman from the 60s instead of the dark brooding knight of Gotham he brings fear against his enemies?
And its watching this documentary that it also gave me the impression that the Comics Code Authority/Silver Age was mostly terrible: