Wait, Why the Hell is That Considered "Legendary?"

[Julianking93]

This is something I've been pondering for a while now. Why are some things considered ground breaking when they really aren't all that great?

Now, I know that a lot of it has to do with whatever is popular at the time and you'll only see a certain demographic heavily praising something for being good, so don't count things that are just popular with teens like Twilight or Justin Bieber (no one worth their measure can ever call that shit legendary), but I'm talking about things where everyone seems to think it's the greatest thing ever.

For example; I personally didn't like the movie Avatar. Yet, while I didn't enjoy it as much as a lot of people, I can easily say that it indeed is a good movie considering the astounding use of 3D and the amazing special effects. Or someone may say that the Beatles aren't good in their opinion, but you can't for a second deny that they changed the music industry and heavily influenced practically everyone after them.

But then there are things that I just don't get.

Like the White Stripes for instance. I've seen so many critics and fans alike calling them "genre defining" or "legendary." But why though? They're a good band, yeah and I have some of their stuff, but "legendary?" No. Or even The Catcher in the Rye, which is considered to be the greatest piece of literature of the last 100 years, yet when I read it, I was annoyed, bored and just outright pissed off that it is held so highly amongst literate types. Can someone explain to me why these things are so heavily praised?

So my question, Escapist, is do you ever feel the same way about heavily praised movies, games, music or even books?

 

[RaphaelsRedemption]

Oh, all the time.

I've moved beyond caring, though. Now, everything is divided into "I enjoy it" and "I didn;t enjoy it".

Seeing as I don't do reviews anymore, that's as much as I need to know.

 

[the_bearpelt]

I dunno about classic things, I tend to agree with those, but I tend to get irritated with all this NEW popular stuff.
I don't mean Jonas Bro.s or Hannah Montana or anything. I mean dumb movies like The Other Guys. Or whatever the hell that was called. And shows like Big Brother or whatever.
I just can't see why things like that are so popular; they just irritate or bore me every single time.

But then again, I tend to be a bit on the vintage side. *shrugs*

 

[Mimssy]

You are not alone in disliking The Catcher in the Rye. I honestly can't understand why people liked it, let alone loved it.

I can't see what damn near everyone saw in the Halo series. It just wasn't fun to me.

Everything comes down to opinion though.

 

[Midnight Crossroads]

Well, think about it, what movie would you rather spend your limited money on? The one where the critics used hyperbolic adjectives like epic or the reality which is above average compared to the other detritus.

Also, I may be speaking out of my ass here, but maybe some people just want to look like they know what they're talking about and agree with people they respect. People that they couldn't possibly be wrong, so they convince themselves that something is better than it really is.

 

[redarmyagent]

If you don't recognize why the White Stripes are important to rock today then you aren't really paying attention to music. I mean, I'm sorry to be a dick about this, but that's pretty much what you're broadcasting.

The Detroit garage scene EXPLODED into popular culture because of Jack White. Without him you wouldn't have The Strokes, the Black Keys, The Hives, Franz Ferdinand, etc--the list goes on. Listen to the album Elephant from front to back and tell me it doesn't change your freaking life.

edit: There's a lot of anti-music snob sentiment in this thread. And sure, I understand--but you have to realize that these people live music. They read about it, talk about it, listen to new things all the time.

Consider the possibility that there are people who just plain know a whole lot about music and that might make them and their opinions difficult to approach.

 

[TheTaco007]

This was because of my bacon thread, wasn't it?

Anyway, yes, I'd have to agree with you. Tons of things in this world are overrated to the point of being annoying. Chuck Norris for example. If I hear one more joke about his chin-fist, I'm going to kill someone.

 

[khaimera]

I totally agree about the white stripes. Some of their songs have a good groove and are super catchy, but amazing, they are not.

I think the same about alot of popular music though, sorry I can't think of anything right now

 

[HentMas]

OH YEAH!!, the portrait of dorian gray, a full fu&%ing week reading the rambles of a pseudo society critic trying to IMPRINT BY FORCE his ideas into you

after i read it, i felt violated,disgusted and seriously concerned by the people that told me "ITS THE BEST WRITTEN STORY OF ALL TIMES!!!"

i know its well written, i know its a cool premise, but come on!, i couldn´t bare his monologs (given by the several characters in the book) about society...

its a book that dissapointed me so bad that i seriously considered never reading another book that was recommended to me, but well, i love reading after all.

 

[redarmyagent]

I totally agree about the white stripes. Some of their songs have a good groove and are super catchy, but amazing, they are not.

I think the same about alot of popular music though, sorry I can't think of anything right now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz4dVof3mTc this is "Little Acorns" off of "Elephant." I know people who's lives this song saved.

 

[Irridium]

I completely agree with Catcher and the Rye. Its actually what I was going to say.

All the book is about is some teenager whining about how lame he is. Its stupid as hell. Why in the world is it considered so controversial? Is it because its so bad no one should have to suffer through it?

Its not even in the "so bad its good" vein.

 

[Julianking93]

The Detroit garage scene EXPLODED into popular culture because of Jack White. Without him you wouldn't have The Strokes, the Black Keys, The Hives, Franz Ferdinand, etc--the list goes on.

....that's a good thing? I fucking hate those bands.

And I own their Elephant album. It's good, yes, but life altering? Really? I was more moved by the most recent An Cafe album.

 

[viranimus]

Best thing I can point out is much like alot of life, its all about perception. The white stripes example...They are just so odd that it sounds alien in a sense, but familiar enough that people can identify with it, Soo... some critics really started to identify with it, and it moved from a general concensus of better than average... to genera defining.


Basically, right place, right time syndrome I think.

 

[Souplex]

The best example I can think of on this subject is Half Life 2. The most average shooter ever made.
It's the story of a power-armored non-character as he saves the free world with two fistfulls of lead shot out of generic weapons at generically evil aliens while assisted by a shoehorned in love interest and a minority sidekick who happen to be the same person.

 

[Julianking93]

Whoa whoa whoa. Can we leave the Strokes out of this? They're one of the best bands of all time, and I'm not alone when I say that. The Strokes are a global band mentioned in the likes of Oasis and such.

Okay, I didn't notice The Strokes and I do quite enjoy them (not to the same degree as you obviously, but that's neither here nor there)

But wait a minute...Oasis??? They're fucking horrid! Just a shit Beatles rip off. Just like how Primal Scream was a straight up rip of the Rolling Stones.

I'm amazed there isn't a Kinks rip off band from the 90s.

 

[Drexlor]

I feel that Bioshock is overrated. I just don't see why it is so beloved.