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May. 25th, 2012 06:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. Currently reading a professional novelist's take on the same story that EL James did with 50 Shades. Silvia Day's Contemporary Novel - Bared to You, is not as good as Shades, which is odd, considering she's a professional novelist who has written more than 20 books. But like a lot of professional novelist's in this genre, regrettably has a somewhat dull boilerplate style, weak dialogue, and conventional sentence structure. Doesn't take a lot of risks. That said - she does write hot sex scenes. Actually the dialogue during the sex scenes isn't bad.
I'm learning more and more what Ursula Le Guinne meant when she said there's a difference between a well written tale and one "rightly told" or that is compelling and brings you into the story - so much is in the how, but not necessarily in the craft.
I rather like pulp for what it is. I don't need it to be more. I find the people trying to make The Avengers into more than it is - rather funny. People, can't you admit you like a comic book movie? It's okay. We won't think less of you. Sigh. People forget back in the day, Shakespeare and Dickens were pulp novelists and dramatists. Marlow was the literary guy. And look how that turned out? Pulp Fiction by Quentin Tarantino is pure pulp, but hey it's fun and memorable and great. Granted I tried to...ahem...rise Buffy the Vampire Slayer above the level of pulp, and yes, several episodes were quite amazing, it's still pulp but great pulp and lasting. Literary can be overrated.
2. Speaking of Buffy...Mark Watches ...is a bit clueless. Poor dear was completely confused by the episode Crush. His first question was - "Who killed all the people on the train? It doesn't make sense it was Drusilla? They never say." Uhm...yes, they did. There's a shot of her doll, Miss Edith, in the overhead bin. Not that most observant bloke on the planet, Mark, which does explain the insane X-Files love or not as the case may be.
Also he completely missed why Buffy asked Willow to rescind Spike's invite...what did he think the focus of the scene between Joyce, Willow and Buffy was about??? Hello, Spike.
Not surprised he hates Spike in this episode or is repulsed by Spuffy...admittedly Spike creeped me out when I initially saw the episode when it first aired ...over ten years ago.
It was in 2000, I think. Now, I see the episode in a completely different way. I was a lot younger back then (around Mark's age actually 28-35), and a bit dumb. The whole series sort of gets turned inside out after you see certain episodes. That's why I fell head over heels in love with Buffy, because you see it one way...before you watch an episode, then suddenly a completely different way after you watch an episode, and if you re-watch, it's like wait, oh I don't remember seeing that...and you are seeing the show in whole new light. Few shows change that much each time you see it. Few things do. The tv shows and books I love are the ones that I find new things in each time I read or watch them. It's also why it is sooo entertaining to watch new viewers watch these shows, unspoiled, because you think - you poor stupid fool, you have no idea, your opinion about these characters, this series, everything is about to change completely.
Some day, I'll write a long rambling meta post about the ups and downs of shipping a highly controversial and at times fandom splitting character in a diverse multi-fandom. It's not fun. Well it is...in a way, or at least interesting, but also highly frustrating. I don't recommend for the faint of heart. Unless you stick purely to character specific fansites with like-minded folks (which is sort of dull from a meta perspective), and even then..
3. Good work day. Got out early. Have a much needed three day break. Been killing myself work-wise. And not getting much sleep. Feel wrung out and fat or just bloated. But today, accomplished a few things - negotiated a big structural design contract, and I think it went rather well. And set up a site tour. Yay me. On a less optimistic front...I still haven't heard back from friend on the second part of my book or the email response that I sent her. Which I guess means I can kiss that avenue goodbye. My flirtations with publishing always end in the same result: You're a really really great writer, but we want a page-turner like Stephen King or John Grisham! Change your story! Hmmm...maybe I should check out e-publishing.
Also
I'm learning more and more what Ursula Le Guinne meant when she said there's a difference between a well written tale and one "rightly told" or that is compelling and brings you into the story - so much is in the how, but not necessarily in the craft.
I rather like pulp for what it is. I don't need it to be more. I find the people trying to make The Avengers into more than it is - rather funny. People, can't you admit you like a comic book movie? It's okay. We won't think less of you. Sigh. People forget back in the day, Shakespeare and Dickens were pulp novelists and dramatists. Marlow was the literary guy. And look how that turned out? Pulp Fiction by Quentin Tarantino is pure pulp, but hey it's fun and memorable and great. Granted I tried to...ahem...rise Buffy the Vampire Slayer above the level of pulp, and yes, several episodes were quite amazing, it's still pulp but great pulp and lasting. Literary can be overrated.
2. Speaking of Buffy...Mark Watches ...is a bit clueless. Poor dear was completely confused by the episode Crush. His first question was - "Who killed all the people on the train? It doesn't make sense it was Drusilla? They never say." Uhm...yes, they did. There's a shot of her doll, Miss Edith, in the overhead bin. Not that most observant bloke on the planet, Mark, which does explain the insane X-Files love or not as the case may be.
Also he completely missed why Buffy asked Willow to rescind Spike's invite...what did he think the focus of the scene between Joyce, Willow and Buffy was about??? Hello, Spike.
Not surprised he hates Spike in this episode or is repulsed by Spuffy...admittedly Spike creeped me out when I initially saw the episode when it first aired ...over ten years ago.
It was in 2000, I think. Now, I see the episode in a completely different way. I was a lot younger back then (around Mark's age actually 28-35), and a bit dumb. The whole series sort of gets turned inside out after you see certain episodes. That's why I fell head over heels in love with Buffy, because you see it one way...before you watch an episode, then suddenly a completely different way after you watch an episode, and if you re-watch, it's like wait, oh I don't remember seeing that...and you are seeing the show in whole new light. Few shows change that much each time you see it. Few things do. The tv shows and books I love are the ones that I find new things in each time I read or watch them. It's also why it is sooo entertaining to watch new viewers watch these shows, unspoiled, because you think - you poor stupid fool, you have no idea, your opinion about these characters, this series, everything is about to change completely.
Some day, I'll write a long rambling meta post about the ups and downs of shipping a highly controversial and at times fandom splitting character in a diverse multi-fandom. It's not fun. Well it is...in a way, or at least interesting, but also highly frustrating. I don't recommend for the faint of heart. Unless you stick purely to character specific fansites with like-minded folks (which is sort of dull from a meta perspective), and even then..
3. Good work day. Got out early. Have a much needed three day break. Been killing myself work-wise. And not getting much sleep. Feel wrung out and fat or just bloated. But today, accomplished a few things - negotiated a big structural design contract, and I think it went rather well. And set up a site tour. Yay me. On a less optimistic front...I still haven't heard back from friend on the second part of my book or the email response that I sent her. Which I guess means I can kiss that avenue goodbye. My flirtations with publishing always end in the same result: You're a really really great writer, but we want a page-turner like Stephen King or John Grisham! Change your story! Hmmm...maybe I should check out e-publishing.
Also
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no subject
Date: 2012-05-26 01:51 pm (UTC)Often an actor will change how a writer wants a story to be perceived.
Just as a director will.
TV writers may intend one thing and get another.
Also...you can't control how people view a work. I think Mark views it very clearly through his own traumatized lense. He also already knows about the AR scene in Seeing Red.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-26 02:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-26 02:21 pm (UTC)What's worse? He doesn't know when the AR happened, just that it does.
Apparently while he was reviewing Twilight, he made a remark about how at least Edward never rapes Bella like Angel raped Buffy ...of the cuff. And well, you can imagine the responses to that.
From what I've been told, he doesn't know the specifics, just that it happens.
So, he's waiting for it.
What I'm getting fiendish pleasure out of...is actually the event in S6 that will decimate him is Willow/Tara which goes off the rails in that season and in some respects is a far more disturbing relationship. So far he's reacting very similarly to a lot of people I knew on the Buffy Cross and Stake spoiler board in 2002, who went ballistic when Tara got shot and Willow became evil. He's reacting to Spike in the same way they did and Willow/Tara in the same way. He may not make it to S7. LOL!
no subject
Date: 2012-05-26 02:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-26 04:58 pm (UTC)I know there were a lot of people online who bailed after that episode.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-26 05:33 pm (UTC)He's going to have a rough week next week anyway.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-27 12:11 am (UTC)A lot of people were relieved Whedon didn't try to bring OZ back (he did according to something I read recently, Seth Green balked), or introduce a new male love interest or put her with Xander (which they considered but realized it would send the wrong message.)
You are right - he's technically being paid to watch the series, much like Doctor Who. So he'll suffer through.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-26 09:51 pm (UTC)He totally is. Heck, even I was waiting for it when I first watched the series (yep, I was also one of those people who unfortunately got spoiled about the AR before watching the show). I remember being so afraid when I first watched "Crush". I thought this is where AR might happen!
I was actually relieved when I finally saw the full contexts of it. To me, what drove him to the dreadful event made sense at that point of his journey. Mark, on the other hand, probably wouldn't agree.
I can see he is often circling around Spike's arc without giving it much thoughts. It's more than obvious he doesn't dig the character.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-27 12:21 am (UTC)Being a Spike shipper in fandom...is a difficult thing. People are weird about the character.
I was actually relieved when I finally saw the full contexts of it. To me, what drove him to the dreadful event made sense at that point of his journey. Mark, on the other hand, probably wouldn't agree.
People over-reacted. In some ways more than Buffy being shot. Apparently Spike attempting to force her to have sex with him again was far worse than Warren shooting and almost killing her. We have issues with sex in this society. But hey, guns...no problem.
At any rate - you were probably told the same thing he was ...Spike raped Buffy. He doesn't. Actually he doesn't even come close. He came closer to killing her a few times. Besides, he stops and goes in search of a soul to make sure he never comes close to doing it again. The only other characters who ever do that are Faith, Anya, and Willow. Spike is the only guy who does it.