This and that and the other thing...
Jan. 14th, 2011 11:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rozk has a lovely and comforting poem about mirrors for those of us who aren't particularly fond of them. Go here: http://rozk.livejournal.com/391492.html
2. Brad Meltzer's most recent interview on Word Balloon regarding his work on the Buffy comics, unfortunately or fortunately depending on one's pov - did not tell me anything I didn't already know or hadn't guessed from his previous but far less direct interviews.
Felt like I'd read it before, which I hadn't. What did he say? Ah. Here's a quick rundown from whedonesque :
* he knew that Angel was the big bad from the beginning, knew how it started and how was about to end, didn't knew about the middle; [Which explains why it didn't make any sense.]
* it was his idea with the Universe with a bigger plan for slayers;[Apparently Meltzer was reading Alan Moore's Watchmen and Promothea and got them confused with the Buffy tv series?]
* didn't expect to do so much geek stuff with Andrew (wanted to do this stuff with Xander but he realized that Xander had matured during S8);[Proof that he'd only seen season 1 and 2 of Buffy and nothing past that point.]
* he would like to work on S9 if the schedule permitted;[For the sake of my friends who are looking forward to S9, let's hope Mr. Meltzer is busier than Whedon and has no time.]
* he realized that he's the one who's been f@#$-up in the issue (issue 34), not Buffy [his words not mine - and yep, I'd agree with him on that. He fucked up big time. Note to Mr. Meltzer - when two issues of your comics require titles that substitute letters for the word fucked, you are doing something wrong. Fucked is right, in oh so many ways...but kudos for admitting it, even if it is half-jokingly. Too bad you didn't have a better artist to help you out.]
For more go here:http://whedonesque.com/comments/25671
Does it change my opinion of the comics? Not in the least. I actually figured most of that out prior to the interview, so I'm not shocked or surprised by it in the least. The only thing that comes as a surprise is he may do S9 (which I thought he decided against due to all the negative backlash from fan boards - demonstrating even popular and best-selling writers are sensitive to negative criticism - you can't escape it folks.) It does however underline and explain many of my issues and complaints regarding the comics - from the beginning, it also to a degree provides a certain level of legitimacy and validation to those complaints but beyond the schadenufraud aspects of I've told you so? Little pleasure or satisfaction. Instead I feel a bit of sadness and more than a touch of annoyance at a writer that I once respected and admired and now, feel disappointed by even though I understand why he did what he did - far more than most I suspect. I read Whedon's glowing fanboy introduction to Meltzer's Identity Crisis. And I know that they are close friends and comrades. Their collaboration is really no different than Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett (although I liked that one better because Gaiman and Prachett's styles are more harmonious and they knew what each other was doing all the way through). But, Whedon's fickle behavior in regards to the comic medium, and wishy-washy attitude towards the comics and the characters - along with the fans of the characters ...makes it difficult for me to trust him any more to tell me an interesting and provocative story, let alone stick with one. Whedon, you've lost another devoted fan. If I see the Avengers - it won't be because of you, it will be because of Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, and Robert Downey Jr (who I'd watch read the phone book).
3. A fan vid that does an interesting job of depicting the feminist view of Firefly (a sci-fi tv series that other fans have critiqued as being fairly sexist or having disturbing sexist content, this female fan sees quite differently. The vid was part of More Joy Day and got over 1120 comments in her lj - possibly because the first comment was by the creator of the series, himself, Whedon, and to my knowledge this is the only time he's commented on a fan's vid of his work - something that I have mixed feelings about - while I'm thrilled for the fan - who deserved the drive-by praise, Whedon's comment struck me as a bit too self-important and sly-- is it just me, or has Whedon spent a bit too much time posting to and reading his own personal fan blog that bears his name? Don't get me wrong - I understand the temptation, who amongst us could resist...but..I think it can be toxic to a writer to spend much time there. As I've been told more than once...by professionals in the arts: "Never read reviews of your work - if they are raves, you'll get cocky and think you are amazing and start screwing up, and if they are horrible, you will shut down and screw up. Best to ignore entirely." Bob Fosse gave this advice to Bebe Neuwirth, and I was given it by a Professional Theater actor - experience has taught me? They are right. Little good can come of it. I suspect giving in to the temptation has to some extent ruined Whedon. As it did JK Rowling to some degree. Don't get me wrong - that's not to say we shouldn't except praise or praise each other's work or posts or give awards...I think in moderation it's fine. But too much time spent reading fan boards and fan blogs and reviews devoted solely to one's own work...can be damaging to one who has to constantly create. After a while you become a bit like Narcissus staring into that river, so in love with your reflection that you may drown in it. They can freeze or waterlog the brain. I know the criticism and praise online has at times frozen my creative writerly juices while fueling my critical ones. And from what I've seen of Whedon - I'm not alone in that. So careful and moderation - I think are the watchwords here.) Underneath the cut:
Note - the song Defying Gravity is from the musical Wicked by Stephan Schwartz, while I was less than impressed with Wicked as a musical overall, Defying Gravity is a wonderful song and the best thing from it.
4. This week's Grey's Anatomy had Adam Busch. It's had quite the list of Buffy alumns, more than any other show - demonstrating that Shondra Rhimes was definitely a fan (shame she can't write comic books or try her hand at a Buffy reboot). To date? Marti Noxon wrote for it, Seth Green, Amber Benson,
and Adam Busch all had guest star appearances. Still waiting for them to grab James Marsters...but that may well be a long wait, since all he does are guest stars on procedurals and on cult B-grade sci-fi tv shows. (Torchwood didn't go A grade until Children of the Earth.)
Tired. Off to bed. May have to do some shoveling tomorrow to get laundry done, or I may wait until Monday - MJK day to do it. Loving the three day weekend - so much, that I didn't try to schedule doc appts during MJK day. Also have the sci-fi adventure/morality story I was telling/plotting in my head, back again. I may write it down yet...but writing it down takes time which don't have at the moment, plus energy. Might do a quick outline and fill it in later. It's nice to have an on-going story in my head...I missed that for six or seven years - when it was all on paper or fanfic related.
Reassuring in a way. I thought I'd lost the skill to tell myself an intricate detailed story. Stories..they are what keeps me going..daydreams, a movie in one's head during the doldrums of the day. A free-form of entertainment often more satisfying than the kind you find inside a book, tv show, or film or play - the kind you make up as you go, switch and change, find...and discover, no spoilers, because it's not written until you give it words, you are its' god, its creator, it lives and breaths only inside the hard-drive of your mind.
rozk has a lovely and comforting poem about mirrors for those of us who aren't particularly fond of them. Go here: http://rozk.livejournal.com/391492.html2. Brad Meltzer's most recent interview on Word Balloon regarding his work on the Buffy comics, unfortunately or fortunately depending on one's pov - did not tell me anything I didn't already know or hadn't guessed from his previous but far less direct interviews.
Felt like I'd read it before, which I hadn't. What did he say? Ah. Here's a quick rundown from whedonesque :
* he knew that Angel was the big bad from the beginning, knew how it started and how was about to end, didn't knew about the middle; [Which explains why it didn't make any sense.]
* it was his idea with the Universe with a bigger plan for slayers;[Apparently Meltzer was reading Alan Moore's Watchmen and Promothea and got them confused with the Buffy tv series?]
* didn't expect to do so much geek stuff with Andrew (wanted to do this stuff with Xander but he realized that Xander had matured during S8);[Proof that he'd only seen season 1 and 2 of Buffy and nothing past that point.]
* he would like to work on S9 if the schedule permitted;[For the sake of my friends who are looking forward to S9, let's hope Mr. Meltzer is busier than Whedon and has no time.]
* he realized that he's the one who's been f@#$-up in the issue (issue 34), not Buffy [his words not mine - and yep, I'd agree with him on that. He fucked up big time. Note to Mr. Meltzer - when two issues of your comics require titles that substitute letters for the word fucked, you are doing something wrong. Fucked is right, in oh so many ways...but kudos for admitting it, even if it is half-jokingly. Too bad you didn't have a better artist to help you out.]
For more go here:http://whedonesque.com/comments/25671
Does it change my opinion of the comics? Not in the least. I actually figured most of that out prior to the interview, so I'm not shocked or surprised by it in the least. The only thing that comes as a surprise is he may do S9 (which I thought he decided against due to all the negative backlash from fan boards - demonstrating even popular and best-selling writers are sensitive to negative criticism - you can't escape it folks.) It does however underline and explain many of my issues and complaints regarding the comics - from the beginning, it also to a degree provides a certain level of legitimacy and validation to those complaints but beyond the schadenufraud aspects of I've told you so? Little pleasure or satisfaction. Instead I feel a bit of sadness and more than a touch of annoyance at a writer that I once respected and admired and now, feel disappointed by even though I understand why he did what he did - far more than most I suspect. I read Whedon's glowing fanboy introduction to Meltzer's Identity Crisis. And I know that they are close friends and comrades. Their collaboration is really no different than Neil Gaiman and Terry Prachett (although I liked that one better because Gaiman and Prachett's styles are more harmonious and they knew what each other was doing all the way through). But, Whedon's fickle behavior in regards to the comic medium, and wishy-washy attitude towards the comics and the characters - along with the fans of the characters ...makes it difficult for me to trust him any more to tell me an interesting and provocative story, let alone stick with one. Whedon, you've lost another devoted fan. If I see the Avengers - it won't be because of you, it will be because of Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, and Robert Downey Jr (who I'd watch read the phone book).
3. A fan vid that does an interesting job of depicting the feminist view of Firefly (a sci-fi tv series that other fans have critiqued as being fairly sexist or having disturbing sexist content, this female fan sees quite differently. The vid was part of More Joy Day and got over 1120 comments in her lj - possibly because the first comment was by the creator of the series, himself, Whedon, and to my knowledge this is the only time he's commented on a fan's vid of his work - something that I have mixed feelings about - while I'm thrilled for the fan - who deserved the drive-by praise, Whedon's comment struck me as a bit too self-important and sly-- is it just me, or has Whedon spent a bit too much time posting to and reading his own personal fan blog that bears his name? Don't get me wrong - I understand the temptation, who amongst us could resist...but..I think it can be toxic to a writer to spend much time there. As I've been told more than once...by professionals in the arts: "Never read reviews of your work - if they are raves, you'll get cocky and think you are amazing and start screwing up, and if they are horrible, you will shut down and screw up. Best to ignore entirely." Bob Fosse gave this advice to Bebe Neuwirth, and I was given it by a Professional Theater actor - experience has taught me? They are right. Little good can come of it. I suspect giving in to the temptation has to some extent ruined Whedon. As it did JK Rowling to some degree. Don't get me wrong - that's not to say we shouldn't except praise or praise each other's work or posts or give awards...I think in moderation it's fine. But too much time spent reading fan boards and fan blogs and reviews devoted solely to one's own work...can be damaging to one who has to constantly create. After a while you become a bit like Narcissus staring into that river, so in love with your reflection that you may drown in it. They can freeze or waterlog the brain. I know the criticism and praise online has at times frozen my creative writerly juices while fueling my critical ones. And from what I've seen of Whedon - I'm not alone in that. So careful and moderation - I think are the watchwords here.) Underneath the cut:
Note - the song Defying Gravity is from the musical Wicked by Stephan Schwartz, while I was less than impressed with Wicked as a musical overall, Defying Gravity is a wonderful song and the best thing from it.
4. This week's Grey's Anatomy had Adam Busch. It's had quite the list of Buffy alumns, more than any other show - demonstrating that Shondra Rhimes was definitely a fan (shame she can't write comic books or try her hand at a Buffy reboot). To date? Marti Noxon wrote for it, Seth Green, Amber Benson,
and Adam Busch all had guest star appearances. Still waiting for them to grab James Marsters...but that may well be a long wait, since all he does are guest stars on procedurals and on cult B-grade sci-fi tv shows. (Torchwood didn't go A grade until Children of the Earth.)
Tired. Off to bed. May have to do some shoveling tomorrow to get laundry done, or I may wait until Monday - MJK day to do it. Loving the three day weekend - so much, that I didn't try to schedule doc appts during MJK day. Also have the sci-fi adventure/morality story I was telling/plotting in my head, back again. I may write it down yet...but writing it down takes time which don't have at the moment, plus energy. Might do a quick outline and fill it in later. It's nice to have an on-going story in my head...I missed that for six or seven years - when it was all on paper or fanfic related.
Reassuring in a way. I thought I'd lost the skill to tell myself an intricate detailed story. Stories..they are what keeps me going..daydreams, a movie in one's head during the doldrums of the day. A free-form of entertainment often more satisfying than the kind you find inside a book, tv show, or film or play - the kind you make up as you go, switch and change, find...and discover, no spoilers, because it's not written until you give it words, you are its' god, its creator, it lives and breaths only inside the hard-drive of your mind.
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no subject
Date: 2011-01-15 01:19 pm (UTC)True. It wasn't the fans, it was the professional reviewers and his colleagues that really ripped it apart. The fans had a mixed response. And fan reviewers such as Buffyfest were fairly complimentary. But CBR and I believe IGA were not complimentary.
He'd come off a whirl-wind of praise from these contemporaries for Identity Crisis and his run on Superman, I think he was shocked by
their reaction to his take on the Buffy comics.
but Meltzer also said that initially he had sent to Joss what he considered fanfic
Oh I did not know that. But that makes a lot of sense. The whole thing reads like fanfic - Alternate Universe fanfic. It does not feel like a true continuation of the story or does it organically appear to flow from it. What it feels like is a big What-if Scenario that intrigued Whedon for it's thematic questions/implications, which Whedon appears to still be interested in (since many of them appeared to be addressed, albeit much more coherently, in Dollhouse, which I suppose says something - considering Dollhouse wasn't that coherent to begin with.)
I guess we're never getting that Ripper one-shot or series, are we?
Oh well. Probably for the best.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-15 03:18 pm (UTC)All of this. Can I snag it for my 'review' of #40?
no subject
Date: 2011-01-15 03:33 pm (UTC)When is issue 40 coming out, by the way? I thought it was supposed to be out in the beginning of January? Oh wait, Whedon's writing it - it will probably be out sometime in June...
no subject
Date: 2011-01-15 03:35 pm (UTC)I don't want to do any kind of real meta (the essay was enough for me), but OTOH I'd like to comment on these revelations. Using a quote (which says what I feel, but haven't quite been able to put into words yet) would be perfect! :) Now I just need to hunt down a lot of gifs... (I figure it's the end, I ought to splash out!)
When is issue 40 coming out, by the way?
The 19th since that's Buffy birthday...
no subject
Date: 2011-01-15 03:55 pm (UTC)Ah. Poor Buffy. Whedon always feels the need to either forget her birthday entirely or torture her incessantly on it.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-15 04:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-15 04:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-15 04:16 pm (UTC)Also I read the preview pages - they feel different than Allies, they are definitely written by Whedon. It also fits his MO regarding both the series and the comics - he likes writing the prologue and coda to Buffy for some bizarre reason. He also appears to like to write single issue - wrap up talky dream-scape experimental comics that feel like long quippy prose poems with pictures, notably the Willow one-shot, The Chain, Anywhere but Here...