A Writers Whine or Rather Joss Whedon states, if we are honest, what all writers feel at some point.

[shadowkat]

So, I watched Doctor Horrible's Sing A Long Blog on DVD last night, courtesy of my brother who gave it to me as a Xmas gift. It's a lot better on DVD than online. I've come to the conclusion that tv shows and movies on my computer don't work well for me. I have no clue how people watch things on their ipods or iphones. Honestly, just watching a 43 minute film on my 14 inch screen gives me a headdache. Either you don't spend your days writing on a computer, or you don't get headaches easily???

Anyhow, I also listened to the Commentary - The Musical for the first time. (This may be the most self-deprecating creative humorous collabortive endeavor I've heard. They make fun of DVD commentary, including their own, and say some pithy and profound things about how we view entertainment and media today. I was surprised. All I'd heard were Nate and Neil's songs prior to this...and trust me, they aren't the good songs.)

The one below is a song written and performed by Joss Whedon. It's about well what happens now in the age of information, of the internet, where fans can interact with writers, after you write a story and put it out there for everyone to see. How they deal with it, and how you deal with them. In short guys, it's about the relationship between the writer and his/her critics and fans. Also, whether or not you liked Dr. Horrible, you might want to read these lyrics. I found them rather insightful and thought provoking particularly in relation to the comics, Dollhouse, and Whedon's current work, even if Whedon and his family freely admit he is whining and are making fun of himself for doing so. Stating that...all of this is part of the gig.
Without it, you wouldn't have a fanbase or a living. Tis the price you pay, Dude!

Yet, I sympathize with Whedon. I know what it is like for someone to ask - why did you write that? Or do you really do that??? Or don't you think THAT will send a negative message? And what came before that point? You need to give us an explanation, some background! Writing is easy, sharing it can be brutal, yet the whole point of writing is sharing it. Was it easier before readers could easily tell writers what they thought? Before the net gave reader's instant access to writers and vice versa? Should we envy Homer or the Cave Painter - who just got ooos and ahhhs?

And at the same time, I realize I am amongst the very fans that pick, pick at his writing. I overanalyze it. Hunt meaning in it - where there very well may be none. I pick it. Rail it. And love every moment of doing so. If I can't interact with the art - what is the point of the art? It is how I love it. Which I think he realizes... because he does the same thing. We all do.

At any rate, long story short, the below made me smile last night. So enjoy.


11. HEART, BROKEN

Music and Lyrics by Joss Whedon
Performed by Joss Whedon


A CAVEMAN PAINTED ON A CAVE
IT WAS A BISON, WAS A FAVE
THE OTHER CAVE-PEOPLE WOULD RAVE –
THEY DIDN’T ASK “WHY?”
WHY PAINT A BISON IF IT’S DEAD
WHEN DID YOU CHOOSE THE COLOR RED
WHAT WAS THE PROCESS IN YOUR HEAD
HE TOLD THEIR STORY
WHAT CAME BEFORE HE DIDN’T SHOW
WE’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO


HOMER’S ODYSSEY WAS SWELL
A BUNCH OF GUYS THAT WENT THROUGH HELL
HE TOLD THE TALE BUT DIDN’T TELL
THE AUDIENCE WHY
HE DIDN’T SAY, HERE’S WHAT IT MEANS
AND HERE’S A FEW DELETED SCENES
CHARYBDIS TESTED WELL WITH TEENS
HE’S NOT THE STORY
HE’S JUST A DOOR WE OPEN IF
OUR LIVES NEED LIFTING

BUT NOW WE PICK PICK
PICK PICK PICK IT APART
OPEN IT UP TO FIND THE
TICK TICK TICK OF A HEART
A HEART, BROKEN

IT’S BROKEN BY THE ENDLESS LOADS
OF MAKING-OFS AND MOBISODES
THE TIE-INS, PREQUELS, GAMES AND CODES
THE AUDIENCE BUYS
THE NARRATIVE DIES
STRETCHED AND TORN
HEY, SPOILER WARNING:

WE’RE GONNA PICK PICK
PICK PICK PICK IT APART
OPEN IT UP TO FIND THE
TICK TICK TICK OF A HEART
A HEART, BROKEN


Jed:
JOSS, WHY DO YOU RAIL AGAINST THE BIZ
YOU KNOW THAT’S JUST THE WAY IT IS
YOU’RE MAKING EVERYBODY MIZ


Zack:
THESE OUT-OF-DATE PHILOSOPHIES
ARE FOR THE DINNER TABLE, PLEASE
WE HAVE TO SELL SOME DVD’S


Jed, Maurissa, Zack:
WITHOUT THESE THINGS YOU SPIT UPON
YOU’D FIND YOUR FAME AND FANBASE GONE


Maurissa:
YOU’D BE IGNORED AT COMIC-CON

Joss:
I SANG SOME THINGS I DIDN’T MEAN
OKAY, LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS SCENE
I THINK IT’S GREAT HOW RYAN GREEN -
OH THIS IS NO GOOD
I THOUGHT J-MO WOULD BACK MY PLAY
NOW ZACK AND THEY ALL SAY

WE’RE GONNA PICK PICK
PICK PICK PICK YOU APART
OPEN YOU UP AND STOP THE
TICK TICK TICK OF A HEART

A HEART…

Comments

[embers-log.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there would be no point in picking apart something that means nothing to you, but when something moves you deeply (or annoys you a lot) then you can't help but want to rewatch/reread and think about why.... You learn more about yourself by learning more about the things that effect you (or at least I feel I do).

I find Joss' work to be so accessible, and then often his commentaries open up even more to me (the commentary to 'Objects in Space' is an all time favorite, so I'm glad he didn't just leave that one to speak for itself...).