So I've always wondered, when famous people are quoted, where do those quotes come from? Like when we say Napoleon said 'A throne is just a bench covered in velvet' did he just say that to someone who then wrote it down? Or was it part of a big speech about park furniture, and it that way are we taking his quote out of context?
I don't know about you guys (and I also don't know how much I have been affected by sound-bite culture, excessive television consumption and Twitter) but when I think creatively, I think in one of two ways:
1. A stream of dialogue
2. Series of very small, very direct sentences
This is an example of a stream of dialogue that comes into my brain:
1: Do you ever think about what the subject of sad love songs think?
2: There's no such thing as a sad love song.
1: Are you a moron? All love songs are sad!
2: There may be songs about lost love but isn't it better to have loved and...?
1: If you finish that sentence, I swear you are going over that wall.
2: It's a fact!
1: It's a cliché. A cliché that people in love repeat over and over to stop sad people complaining and tainting their happiness.
2: Not my fault you're sour.
This is an example of some random sentences:
She was the sensible daughter of a reputable man.
I will take this secret to my grave, because I do not know the people we were well enough anymore to ask their permission to share it.
(never said any of this was good, just putting it out there)
These are two very annoying ways of thinking because no writing, a quote or a song lyric or a poem or a line for a book can (or should) exist without a context. It makes the words hollow and weak and futile.
I am only telling you this because, I think, we live in world where people are constantly trying to create those quotes and quotable moments. And I don't know whether to embrace it or try to change myself.
Or I could give up?
Wednesday 16 December 2009
Sunday 29 November 2009
Music In The Noughties
Okay, so I lied. This is a new blog only two days after the last but not my epic Japan post. It's coming, I promise! I did find the notebook so that is a start. No, I wantedto talk a little bit about music.
So, since we are nearing the end of the Noughties, we can expect a lot of magazines/television shows/blogs to attempt to give an overview of one aspect of life during the decade (politics in the Noughties, film in the Noughties, bread in the Noughties etc.). The first one I have come across was in The Observer Music Monthly talking about music (obviously).
Now, I'm not going to complain about their Top 50 Albums list, however different mine would have looked, but do want to talk a little bit about Miranda Sawyer's piece about how music of the last decade can be described as dislocated.
It's not difficult to see what she means - for the first time since the inception of rock 'n' roll, there is no one overarching theme to describe the decade - no hippies, no punks, no new romantics. Instead, we've all split off into our own little factions and music is selling less (not only because of the Internet and piracy) but also because the appeal is much diluted. In the past, you were either making mainstream music or you weren't. Now, you only have to go on iTunes to see just how many genres exist in our new modern world.
This has created a new culture, too, of the rejection of labels. No one would ever say 'I'm a punk.' or even 'I like RnB.' In fact, if you ask most people about their music taste you will get an answer somewhere in the region of 'I like everything' or 'a little bit of everything'. And often this is true - music is no longer judged by how close it is to the music you normally like but by it's own merits. I think this is a good thing.
I cannot profess to understand how it felt to be a music fan in earlier decades, but now I can honestly say that I love being a music fan right now. Not only are there new ways of experiencing this music but also less reliance on alternative press and the radio to dictact the music I like or even get to hear. I get my music from the Internet, from recommendations from friends, from articles I read in a variety of sources. The freedom this gives us allows us to discard those old, restrictive terms to define our musical taste and lets us explore more music than has ever been availible to us.
Not only new music, but old music has opened up to us. We are the first generation with a rich history of music behind us, which no one is afraid or ashamed to dip into. We also are the first generation whose parents have instilled musical tastes onto us. Our parents were the rebels, the punks who listened to something different and that gives us a different cultural relationship with them than they ever had with their post-war parents. We can share their tastes, enjoy it as much as they do and appreciate music not just from our time. Again, this gives us a wider spectrum of music to dip into and enjoy, and I think also makes us better and more accepting people.
But here, again, music can divide us as it unites us. We all have a seperate music tastes, built up of completely different bands and singers, and plug into it alone. We wander around with iPods in our ears, living in our own little music-induced world. But thisdoes not mean music does not still have the power to bring us together - #musicmonday, sharing Spotify playlists, YouTube genres (like Trock or Wrock) and the power of blogs, to name a few, are just a few ways music can unite us as much as it divides us. Not only that, but technology will never diminish the power live music has over our opinions and tastes.
So even if music is disolated this decade, I would take that any day over being forcedto conform to tight genres, to be limited in musical history, to have to let go of the new ways technology makes music availible. Maybe we are disolated in everything but music will always be the strongest, uniting force known to humanity.
So, since we are nearing the end of the Noughties, we can expect a lot of magazines/television shows/blogs to attempt to give an overview of one aspect of life during the decade (politics in the Noughties, film in the Noughties, bread in the Noughties etc.). The first one I have come across was in The Observer Music Monthly talking about music (obviously).
Now, I'm not going to complain about their Top 50 Albums list, however different mine would have looked, but do want to talk a little bit about Miranda Sawyer's piece about how music of the last decade can be described as dislocated.
It's not difficult to see what she means - for the first time since the inception of rock 'n' roll, there is no one overarching theme to describe the decade - no hippies, no punks, no new romantics. Instead, we've all split off into our own little factions and music is selling less (not only because of the Internet and piracy) but also because the appeal is much diluted. In the past, you were either making mainstream music or you weren't. Now, you only have to go on iTunes to see just how many genres exist in our new modern world.
This has created a new culture, too, of the rejection of labels. No one would ever say 'I'm a punk.' or even 'I like RnB.' In fact, if you ask most people about their music taste you will get an answer somewhere in the region of 'I like everything' or 'a little bit of everything'. And often this is true - music is no longer judged by how close it is to the music you normally like but by it's own merits. I think this is a good thing.
I cannot profess to understand how it felt to be a music fan in earlier decades, but now I can honestly say that I love being a music fan right now. Not only are there new ways of experiencing this music but also less reliance on alternative press and the radio to dictact the music I like or even get to hear. I get my music from the Internet, from recommendations from friends, from articles I read in a variety of sources. The freedom this gives us allows us to discard those old, restrictive terms to define our musical taste and lets us explore more music than has ever been availible to us.
Not only new music, but old music has opened up to us. We are the first generation with a rich history of music behind us, which no one is afraid or ashamed to dip into. We also are the first generation whose parents have instilled musical tastes onto us. Our parents were the rebels, the punks who listened to something different and that gives us a different cultural relationship with them than they ever had with their post-war parents. We can share their tastes, enjoy it as much as they do and appreciate music not just from our time. Again, this gives us a wider spectrum of music to dip into and enjoy, and I think also makes us better and more accepting people.
But here, again, music can divide us as it unites us. We all have a seperate music tastes, built up of completely different bands and singers, and plug into it alone. We wander around with iPods in our ears, living in our own little music-induced world. But thisdoes not mean music does not still have the power to bring us together - #musicmonday, sharing Spotify playlists, YouTube genres (like Trock or Wrock) and the power of blogs, to name a few, are just a few ways music can unite us as much as it divides us. Not only that, but technology will never diminish the power live music has over our opinions and tastes.
So even if music is disolated this decade, I would take that any day over being forcedto conform to tight genres, to be limited in musical history, to have to let go of the new ways technology makes music availible. Maybe we are disolated in everything but music will always be the strongest, uniting force known to humanity.
Friday 27 November 2009
Thanksgiving
Despite being English and this being the day AFTER thanksgiving, I am going to give you a list of the (top) fifty things I'n thankful for. In no particular order.
1. Johnny Durham t-shirts
2. Orange Wednesday
3. Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo Radio Show and Podcast
4. Gay characters on daytime/primetime
5. All my awesome YouTube subscriptions
6. The fact that no one (as yet and this is not an invitation) has stolen my username on any website I have tried to join
7. Awesome charities (but mainly Envision)
8. Musically inclined parents
9. My free trip to Japan
10. Great friends
11. M&S 2-for-1 offers on smoked salmon
12. A good education
13. Attractive celebrities
14. NaNoWriMo and the people that run it
15. Harry Potter and affiliated products
16. My MacBook
17. My cat
18. The awesome people who designed the awesome things I have decorated my wall with
19. Student discounts
20. Live music
21. My Hello Kitty bottle of water with boobs (and the existence of such boob water)
22. 4od and iPlayer
23. Twitter and the people who use it properly
24. Free software
25. Independant record shops
26. Muji stationary
27. Moleskin notebooks
28. Investigative journalism
29. My impending ability to vote
30. The fact that I have never had a story good enough to send into FML
31. PostSecret Sundays
32. Wikipedia and it's committed editors
33. Spell Check
34. Homework extensions
35. Ikea furniture
36. York Notes Advanced
37. The Peanuts cartoons
38. Amazon quick delivery
39. An unflooded home
40. Electricity
41. Friends re-runs
42. Free periods
43. Charity book shops
44. YumBoxes
45. New Overground trains
46. My lovely bed
47. Google Maps
48. My mum's secret Cherry Drop stash
49. Cheap box-sets
50. Firefox
So, there you have it. Top fifty things I am thankful for. Next blog WILL be my belated Japan Tweets, just as soon as I find the notebook I wrote them in...
xXx
1. Johnny Durham t-shirts
2. Orange Wednesday
3. Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo Radio Show and Podcast
4. Gay characters on daytime/primetime
5. All my awesome YouTube subscriptions
6. The fact that no one (as yet and this is not an invitation) has stolen my username on any website I have tried to join
7. Awesome charities (but mainly Envision)
8. Musically inclined parents
9. My free trip to Japan
10. Great friends
11. M&S 2-for-1 offers on smoked salmon
12. A good education
13. Attractive celebrities
14. NaNoWriMo and the people that run it
15. Harry Potter and affiliated products
16. My MacBook
17. My cat
18. The awesome people who designed the awesome things I have decorated my wall with
19. Student discounts
20. Live music
21. My Hello Kitty bottle of water with boobs (and the existence of such boob water)
22. 4od and iPlayer
23. Twitter and the people who use it properly
24. Free software
25. Independant record shops
26. Muji stationary
27. Moleskin notebooks
28. Investigative journalism
29. My impending ability to vote
30. The fact that I have never had a story good enough to send into FML
31. PostSecret Sundays
32. Wikipedia and it's committed editors
33. Spell Check
34. Homework extensions
35. Ikea furniture
36. York Notes Advanced
37. The Peanuts cartoons
38. Amazon quick delivery
39. An unflooded home
40. Electricity
41. Friends re-runs
42. Free periods
43. Charity book shops
44. YumBoxes
45. New Overground trains
46. My lovely bed
47. Google Maps
48. My mum's secret Cherry Drop stash
49. Cheap box-sets
50. Firefox
So, there you have it. Top fifty things I am thankful for. Next blog WILL be my belated Japan Tweets, just as soon as I find the notebook I wrote them in...
xXx
Friday 16 October 2009
A Letter To My NaNoWriMo Protagonist
Dear Julian,
So, this is weird. You've been in my head for a long time - fully formed and raring to go. And I've been keeping you in, just waiting for the next month to start. But you're here now (almost), it's almost time to let you out so I thought I'd say hi. I know you're ready, and I can only hope I am too. I do not want to let you down or the story I know you have in you by, I don't know, losing the plot as it were (that was a bad joke, get used to them, they'll be following you around for all of November).
Because other than knowing you and your brother and a few ideas about general happenings, I have no idea how this is going to go; who you're going to meet, what food you want to eat, if you'll cry or even if you'll get out of this alive. Sorry, that makes it seem like you are completely in my hands but really, it's the other way round. I need you to let me know what you want, where you go, who you love and whether this ends well for you. Because until I meet you on November first, I am just as clueless about your life as I am about my own.
Because then, when I pick up my MacBook for what I'm sure will be the hundredth time that day, open TextEdit and make the document, I will finally get inside your head and understand you. And I'm so excited to finally meet you. I just know you'll be one of the best I ever write, best I ever meet even, because you are already three dimensional up here in my mind before you've even got a plot or friends to interact with. So you must be pretty charismatic.
The reason I love NaNoWriMo so much is because this month, your life and my life will merge and even the times I'm not with you, I'll still be thinking about you. It'll be a little bit like you're my husband, only it'll only last thirty days and you only exist in words. I hope we have a good time regardless of whether we win. We're in this together and it'll only work if we get on. So try not to be over complicated or do things out of character I then have to delete or get lost in a plot hole I have to work you out of. Just be yourself - no pressure. But let me know if I'm going wrong. Yell or scream or just hit a dead end. Anything.
I know you can't reply. I mean, you can but it'll really just be me and so... you can't. And also, if you were real and got this you'd be thinking you'd lost your mind. But just so you know, it's really helped me to write to you. I feel like it's really beginning and I'm nervous because, unlike last time, I know what I'm getting into; and I just want it to be as intense and wonderful as last year. So it's important to me that you're on my side in making this work.
I hope you're excited about this like I am. Japan means I won't be able to plan the way I want to, or might have done. And it also means the first chapter of your great American escapade will be tainted with jet-lag and the smell of a days worth of travel. But it'll be good - I promise! Or at least, I promise I believe that it will be.
So, by the end of the first of November I'll have given you a road-map, a car and a lot of emotional baggage. What we do with it is up to you.
Lots of love and lots of luck,
Grace
Your Writer
PS. I write much better when it's fiction. Promise!
If you want to know more about Julian or my novel, just comment or @ me. Or you can wait til it's over.
So, this is weird. You've been in my head for a long time - fully formed and raring to go. And I've been keeping you in, just waiting for the next month to start. But you're here now (almost), it's almost time to let you out so I thought I'd say hi. I know you're ready, and I can only hope I am too. I do not want to let you down or the story I know you have in you by, I don't know, losing the plot as it were (that was a bad joke, get used to them, they'll be following you around for all of November).
Because other than knowing you and your brother and a few ideas about general happenings, I have no idea how this is going to go; who you're going to meet, what food you want to eat, if you'll cry or even if you'll get out of this alive. Sorry, that makes it seem like you are completely in my hands but really, it's the other way round. I need you to let me know what you want, where you go, who you love and whether this ends well for you. Because until I meet you on November first, I am just as clueless about your life as I am about my own.
Because then, when I pick up my MacBook for what I'm sure will be the hundredth time that day, open TextEdit and make the document, I will finally get inside your head and understand you. And I'm so excited to finally meet you. I just know you'll be one of the best I ever write, best I ever meet even, because you are already three dimensional up here in my mind before you've even got a plot or friends to interact with. So you must be pretty charismatic.
The reason I love NaNoWriMo so much is because this month, your life and my life will merge and even the times I'm not with you, I'll still be thinking about you. It'll be a little bit like you're my husband, only it'll only last thirty days and you only exist in words. I hope we have a good time regardless of whether we win. We're in this together and it'll only work if we get on. So try not to be over complicated or do things out of character I then have to delete or get lost in a plot hole I have to work you out of. Just be yourself - no pressure. But let me know if I'm going wrong. Yell or scream or just hit a dead end. Anything.
I know you can't reply. I mean, you can but it'll really just be me and so... you can't. And also, if you were real and got this you'd be thinking you'd lost your mind. But just so you know, it's really helped me to write to you. I feel like it's really beginning and I'm nervous because, unlike last time, I know what I'm getting into; and I just want it to be as intense and wonderful as last year. So it's important to me that you're on my side in making this work.
I hope you're excited about this like I am. Japan means I won't be able to plan the way I want to, or might have done. And it also means the first chapter of your great American escapade will be tainted with jet-lag and the smell of a days worth of travel. But it'll be good - I promise! Or at least, I promise I believe that it will be.
So, by the end of the first of November I'll have given you a road-map, a car and a lot of emotional baggage. What we do with it is up to you.
Lots of love and lots of luck,
Grace
Your Writer
PS. I write much better when it's fiction. Promise!
If you want to know more about Julian or my novel, just comment or @ me. Or you can wait til it's over.
Thursday 8 October 2009
My Father and Books
Sorry it's been so long since I've blogged - sometimes I'm in the place and sometimes I'm not!
Felt like a lot of significant things have changed over the last year and a couple of things have crept up on me which are serious wake-up calls to just how close I am to being a fully functional human being.
The first is, obviously, UCAS. UCAS is not only scary because of the ever present possibility of me not getting in anywhere and having to take an enforced gap year, but because of all the other things that go along with applying to university. This time next year (hopefully) I will be living alone - and more scary than plans for university are plans for money, travel, things I need to bring, things I need to buy, general skills I can see I am lacking...
But that's not even the scariest thing. More recently, the relationship with my parents has changed slightly. I am an only child, meaning in general I have no choice but be relatively close to my parents. We live in a small but perfectly formed flat, but as with all families, we tend to trip over each other as much as we sit in mutual contentment.
I think the scariest thing is how, gradually, the relationship I have (and I'm going to be specific about my dad not because I love him more but simply he reads more and listens to music) with my dad has been more equal. This month I have reccommeneded my dad two books: 'The Mysteries of Pittsburgh' by Michael Chabon and 'Paper Towns' by John Green. And he's liked them both.
This may seem ridiculously small a moment to, after weeks of silence, warrant a blog post. And it's not like it's the first time my dad has valued my opinion or taking my advice over art or media of some description. But it feels a little bit like, after years of my parents essentially saturating me in culture and art that has influenced my tastes, opinions and, possibly, career ideas, I can start to pay them back.
The things my parents have opened my eyes to are some of the most valued parts of my life. Writers like Raymond Carver or Douglas Coupland, art like Peter Blake or Richard Hamilton, films like Heathers or The Royal Tenenbaums. It's not as though I never would have found these things on my own, but it means an awful lot to me that these things have come with my parents, and I can discuss them with them. It has formed a huge part of my relationship.
And now, it seems, my life has started to break away from theirs. Now I am becoming an individual person, who has interests outside of those of my parents and specifically my daily use of the Internet to find things, I can start to find gems of my own (like the two books mentioned to name but a few) and give these experiences back to my parents.
Turning this relationship into more of an exchange than a hierarchy (not that we were really ever like that, I had them wrapped around my finger) is the next stage of our relationship. We won't be living together, we won't share day to day experiences and so it is comforting to know that a relationship of cultural exchange will still exist, stronger than ever, which means we can stay close wherever I end up. I want my own life - but it's important that as many people as possible from this life can fit into that. My parents have already found their place, and that is as scary as it is heartening.
I am aware this has been happening gradually over some time - but it is just this week it hs truly hit me the implications. This time next year, whatever happens with UCAS, I'll be an adult. And being treated like one won't be a luxury but a way of life.
Incidently, if I would reccommend them to my dad I would reccommend them to anyone! You should read both/either because they truly are thoughtful, simply tales of haunting stories with characters that are both interesting and who ring true. Very different but equally wonderful.
Felt like a lot of significant things have changed over the last year and a couple of things have crept up on me which are serious wake-up calls to just how close I am to being a fully functional human being.
The first is, obviously, UCAS. UCAS is not only scary because of the ever present possibility of me not getting in anywhere and having to take an enforced gap year, but because of all the other things that go along with applying to university. This time next year (hopefully) I will be living alone - and more scary than plans for university are plans for money, travel, things I need to bring, things I need to buy, general skills I can see I am lacking...
But that's not even the scariest thing. More recently, the relationship with my parents has changed slightly. I am an only child, meaning in general I have no choice but be relatively close to my parents. We live in a small but perfectly formed flat, but as with all families, we tend to trip over each other as much as we sit in mutual contentment.
I think the scariest thing is how, gradually, the relationship I have (and I'm going to be specific about my dad not because I love him more but simply he reads more and listens to music) with my dad has been more equal. This month I have reccommeneded my dad two books: 'The Mysteries of Pittsburgh' by Michael Chabon and 'Paper Towns' by John Green. And he's liked them both.
This may seem ridiculously small a moment to, after weeks of silence, warrant a blog post. And it's not like it's the first time my dad has valued my opinion or taking my advice over art or media of some description. But it feels a little bit like, after years of my parents essentially saturating me in culture and art that has influenced my tastes, opinions and, possibly, career ideas, I can start to pay them back.
The things my parents have opened my eyes to are some of the most valued parts of my life. Writers like Raymond Carver or Douglas Coupland, art like Peter Blake or Richard Hamilton, films like Heathers or The Royal Tenenbaums. It's not as though I never would have found these things on my own, but it means an awful lot to me that these things have come with my parents, and I can discuss them with them. It has formed a huge part of my relationship.
And now, it seems, my life has started to break away from theirs. Now I am becoming an individual person, who has interests outside of those of my parents and specifically my daily use of the Internet to find things, I can start to find gems of my own (like the two books mentioned to name but a few) and give these experiences back to my parents.
Turning this relationship into more of an exchange than a hierarchy (not that we were really ever like that, I had them wrapped around my finger) is the next stage of our relationship. We won't be living together, we won't share day to day experiences and so it is comforting to know that a relationship of cultural exchange will still exist, stronger than ever, which means we can stay close wherever I end up. I want my own life - but it's important that as many people as possible from this life can fit into that. My parents have already found their place, and that is as scary as it is heartening.
I am aware this has been happening gradually over some time - but it is just this week it hs truly hit me the implications. This time next year, whatever happens with UCAS, I'll be an adult. And being treated like one won't be a luxury but a way of life.
Incidently, if I would reccommend them to my dad I would reccommend them to anyone! You should read both/either because they truly are thoughtful, simply tales of haunting stories with characters that are both interesting and who ring true. Very different but equally wonderful.
Wednesday 26 August 2009
The 'Unfortunate Event' Question
I should start by saying that this blog will most probably contain Harry Potter spoilers for both the sixth and seventh book. Although I doubt many people would read a HP blog post who had not read the books, I still thought it better to warn you.
So, today I was redoing the walls in my bedroom. When I redo my walls, it involves a lot of standing on the bed, making creative decisions, cutting bits of paper: you know, general merriment. And usually I couple this with a podcast catch-up. Today, it was the Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo Film Review podcast from Radio 5 Live. This detail is only important because it is, quite simply, the best hour of radio and as someone who lives in a household saturated in 5 Live, it is the only 5 Live Show I enjoy outside of my dad's company. Basically, you should all download the podcast. You will not regret it.
Anyway, this is all off-topic. While listening through the reviews of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (which I would like to clarify was amazing, my favourite of the films so far and true enough to the book to retain the humour and the darkness), a point came up which I had noticed but was purposely avoiding dwelling on. I thought this film was magical, and therefore did not want to ruin my enjoyment of it by dwelling too much on the details (anyone who has ever watched a film with me will know I tend to dwell *quite* a lot).
The problem is in the ending. I will do this as quickly as possible: Dumbledore dying in the tower is slightly different in the book than in the film. While in both Harry is under his Invisibility Cloak and therefore unseen, in the book he had been stupefied and is thereofre unable to act in stopping Snape killing Dumbledore; whereas in the film, he simply 'chooses' not to. Of course, Dumbledore had made him promise not to and asked him to trust Snape. But still, Harry's choice to remain under the cloak is a exercise of free will. This may seem minor but it had one major effect - I did not cry.
I mean, I did. Anyone who has ever watched a film with me knows I would cry, but not at the same point I did in the book. What is so sad in the book is the frustration Harry feels about being physically unable to act. He is at one with the audience, together with us having to watch events play out of which we have no control, however much we might want to change it. As a dramatic decision, this pumps up the sadness and empathy to the max. This is mirrored in Sirius' death and the 'Black Veil' which Harry cannot cross and Cedric's, which came too quickly for any action to even be imagined by the mind of a grieving teenager. In the film, it is the score that made me cry and Fawkes (it was most certainly not Ginny's hugging of Harry considering her acting is worse than mine would have been).
This frustration about being unable to act is not a simply moment in the story, it is a theme of the books as a whole. Destiny. Harry is not in charge of anything that happens to him, anything he does; it was all meant to happen, it has been foretold in the prophecy. Although since this was not fully explored in Order Of Phoenix: The Movie, then it is no surprise this would not be considered here. But it is so important. As readers (I'll come back to film audience's in a minute), we know how much Harry feels like a fraud and always has done. Not dying at the end of the Killing Curse was not an action or proof of power but a fluke. In fact, most of Harry's 'triumphs' have, in his mind, been of luck and in fact, when he has tried to act heroically ('saving' Sirius at the Ministry), it was often backfired. Harry's free-will in this scene detracts from his destiny and raises a lot of religious questions which, frankly, the story does not warrant nor need. There are religious connotations to many HP arcs but this is not one of them.
If nothing else, this paints a very poor portrait of Dumbledore - something the films have done more than once (I am of course referring to his essential assault on Harry in GoF). Dumbledore knows Harry, maybe better than anyone, and should KNOW that Harry would want to act and, despite promising Dumbledore he wouldn't, how difficult it would be for Harry to remain in the shadows and keep his promise to his idol and mentor. To do that to a young boy whom you have just revealed a task which is essentially insurmountable is not fair, out of character and dangerous. Had Harry acted, it would have jeopardised Snape's position within the Death-Eaters as a spy and Harry's life which, if lost, would mean all knowledge of Horcruxes dying with him and any chance of peace for wizard kind. See, it is ridiculous that Dumbledore would do that.
Harry feeling like a pawn in someone else's game, and the insecurities in his own abilities that that brings, is vital to the playing out of 'The Deathly Hallows' and therefore, considering how pinnacle a moment Dumbledore's death is in this feeling, should have been explored faithfully to the story. More than anything, it makes the scene more heart-rending and gives the audience more of a chance to feel empathy for Harry who, in the films I suspect, is harder to empathise with. As a member of the audience who has not read the books (of course, here I can only speculate), I fear many feel the same as most secondary characters in the story do: that Harry is a hero, contantly saving the day. Whereas readers know he is a boy who has had a title of greatness thrust upon him before he can prove himself either way. However, it is a mistake to remove Harry's bravery in all situations (he would have acted against Snape had he been able, he is a Griffindor after all) as a shorthand for 'not as great as we think'. This is insulting to the character and the audience of non-Harry geeks who would have come to the same conclusion had Sirius' death been handled probably (but that is another blog for another time).
I can see the counter-arguments - Harry's seeming trust in Snape (as reflected in Dumbledore's trust) and choosing not to act because he thought Dumbledore was safe (which I doubt considering the words Snape was saying, their proximity to a long fall and Harry's inherent distrust of Snape) makes Snape's betrayal more poignant. Or not. Because I do not believe that Harry ever trusts Snape and, in fact, that is Snape's greatest asset to hiding within the Death Eaters. Had Harry ever trusted him, it would have suspicious for Voldemort and, if he found Harry had let him act out of belief he was good, Snape would have been dead. Fast. The betrayal Harry feels is therefore not of his own trust but of Dumbledore's, in some ways this makes him more angry with Snape and makes the betrayal *worse* because it has been done to a man wise enough to know better than to be betrayed.
Another argument that this will lead Harry to feel guilt. Well, probably not considering how much plot the next two films have but still - this 'guilt' is unnecessary. Harry has enough emotion what with no parents, the weight of the wizarding world on his shoulder, doubts in Dumbledore, doubts in himself, grief for over nine major deaths, worry for Ginny, worry for all the wizards he knows and loves, the ever present threat of Voldemort, no wand, no owl, no plan... I could go on.
Wow, this went on a long time. A lot of words to say 'what seems a small mistake is in fact a big mistake'. And, what's worse is how pointless a mistake it is: the spell would take less than 2 seconds to utter but make this world of difference. Let's hope they make less of these in the next two films - because after them, there will be no time to redeem them.
(I would like to reiterate that I loved this film despite this and other small mistakes [including Ginny's acting, lack of discussion on the Horcruxes and not enough development on the Harry-Ginny relationship to make it mean something] and will be able to watch it again without getting angry. You know, until the end.)
So, today I was redoing the walls in my bedroom. When I redo my walls, it involves a lot of standing on the bed, making creative decisions, cutting bits of paper: you know, general merriment. And usually I couple this with a podcast catch-up. Today, it was the Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo Film Review podcast from Radio 5 Live. This detail is only important because it is, quite simply, the best hour of radio and as someone who lives in a household saturated in 5 Live, it is the only 5 Live Show I enjoy outside of my dad's company. Basically, you should all download the podcast. You will not regret it.
Anyway, this is all off-topic. While listening through the reviews of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (which I would like to clarify was amazing, my favourite of the films so far and true enough to the book to retain the humour and the darkness), a point came up which I had noticed but was purposely avoiding dwelling on. I thought this film was magical, and therefore did not want to ruin my enjoyment of it by dwelling too much on the details (anyone who has ever watched a film with me will know I tend to dwell *quite* a lot).
The problem is in the ending. I will do this as quickly as possible: Dumbledore dying in the tower is slightly different in the book than in the film. While in both Harry is under his Invisibility Cloak and therefore unseen, in the book he had been stupefied and is thereofre unable to act in stopping Snape killing Dumbledore; whereas in the film, he simply 'chooses' not to. Of course, Dumbledore had made him promise not to and asked him to trust Snape. But still, Harry's choice to remain under the cloak is a exercise of free will. This may seem minor but it had one major effect - I did not cry.
I mean, I did. Anyone who has ever watched a film with me knows I would cry, but not at the same point I did in the book. What is so sad in the book is the frustration Harry feels about being physically unable to act. He is at one with the audience, together with us having to watch events play out of which we have no control, however much we might want to change it. As a dramatic decision, this pumps up the sadness and empathy to the max. This is mirrored in Sirius' death and the 'Black Veil' which Harry cannot cross and Cedric's, which came too quickly for any action to even be imagined by the mind of a grieving teenager. In the film, it is the score that made me cry and Fawkes (it was most certainly not Ginny's hugging of Harry considering her acting is worse than mine would have been).
This frustration about being unable to act is not a simply moment in the story, it is a theme of the books as a whole. Destiny. Harry is not in charge of anything that happens to him, anything he does; it was all meant to happen, it has been foretold in the prophecy. Although since this was not fully explored in Order Of Phoenix: The Movie, then it is no surprise this would not be considered here. But it is so important. As readers (I'll come back to film audience's in a minute), we know how much Harry feels like a fraud and always has done. Not dying at the end of the Killing Curse was not an action or proof of power but a fluke. In fact, most of Harry's 'triumphs' have, in his mind, been of luck and in fact, when he has tried to act heroically ('saving' Sirius at the Ministry), it was often backfired. Harry's free-will in this scene detracts from his destiny and raises a lot of religious questions which, frankly, the story does not warrant nor need. There are religious connotations to many HP arcs but this is not one of them.
If nothing else, this paints a very poor portrait of Dumbledore - something the films have done more than once (I am of course referring to his essential assault on Harry in GoF). Dumbledore knows Harry, maybe better than anyone, and should KNOW that Harry would want to act and, despite promising Dumbledore he wouldn't, how difficult it would be for Harry to remain in the shadows and keep his promise to his idol and mentor. To do that to a young boy whom you have just revealed a task which is essentially insurmountable is not fair, out of character and dangerous. Had Harry acted, it would have jeopardised Snape's position within the Death-Eaters as a spy and Harry's life which, if lost, would mean all knowledge of Horcruxes dying with him and any chance of peace for wizard kind. See, it is ridiculous that Dumbledore would do that.
Harry feeling like a pawn in someone else's game, and the insecurities in his own abilities that that brings, is vital to the playing out of 'The Deathly Hallows' and therefore, considering how pinnacle a moment Dumbledore's death is in this feeling, should have been explored faithfully to the story. More than anything, it makes the scene more heart-rending and gives the audience more of a chance to feel empathy for Harry who, in the films I suspect, is harder to empathise with. As a member of the audience who has not read the books (of course, here I can only speculate), I fear many feel the same as most secondary characters in the story do: that Harry is a hero, contantly saving the day. Whereas readers know he is a boy who has had a title of greatness thrust upon him before he can prove himself either way. However, it is a mistake to remove Harry's bravery in all situations (he would have acted against Snape had he been able, he is a Griffindor after all) as a shorthand for 'not as great as we think'. This is insulting to the character and the audience of non-Harry geeks who would have come to the same conclusion had Sirius' death been handled probably (but that is another blog for another time).
I can see the counter-arguments - Harry's seeming trust in Snape (as reflected in Dumbledore's trust) and choosing not to act because he thought Dumbledore was safe (which I doubt considering the words Snape was saying, their proximity to a long fall and Harry's inherent distrust of Snape) makes Snape's betrayal more poignant. Or not. Because I do not believe that Harry ever trusts Snape and, in fact, that is Snape's greatest asset to hiding within the Death Eaters. Had Harry ever trusted him, it would have suspicious for Voldemort and, if he found Harry had let him act out of belief he was good, Snape would have been dead. Fast. The betrayal Harry feels is therefore not of his own trust but of Dumbledore's, in some ways this makes him more angry with Snape and makes the betrayal *worse* because it has been done to a man wise enough to know better than to be betrayed.
Another argument that this will lead Harry to feel guilt. Well, probably not considering how much plot the next two films have but still - this 'guilt' is unnecessary. Harry has enough emotion what with no parents, the weight of the wizarding world on his shoulder, doubts in Dumbledore, doubts in himself, grief for over nine major deaths, worry for Ginny, worry for all the wizards he knows and loves, the ever present threat of Voldemort, no wand, no owl, no plan... I could go on.
Wow, this went on a long time. A lot of words to say 'what seems a small mistake is in fact a big mistake'. And, what's worse is how pointless a mistake it is: the spell would take less than 2 seconds to utter but make this world of difference. Let's hope they make less of these in the next two films - because after them, there will be no time to redeem them.
(I would like to reiterate that I loved this film despite this and other small mistakes [including Ginny's acting, lack of discussion on the Horcruxes and not enough development on the Harry-Ginny relationship to make it mean something] and will be able to watch it again without getting angry. You know, until the end.)
Sunday 5 July 2009
Musing On Me
So, I've been thinking lately a lot about... stuff. I know that I said that this blog would be more issue-based. But what's the point in having a blog if you can't indulge in an emo, self-reflective, self-involved rant every now and then?
I've been thinking a lot about writing at the moment. Partly in preparation for NaNoWriMo and partly down to all this future preparation I'm being forced into at every turn. For the last few months, I've been writing a lot. FanFic, random stories, plots, scripts, even the odd feeble attempt at serious fiction. But doesn't every teenager have one of those crazy dreams of how their life's are going to pan out, and it never happens?
The problem is I am far too self-reflecting for my own good. I spend half my time trying to second guess the future me. Because a part of me never wants to look back on what I'm doing now and feel embarrassed or ashamed of what I've written and thought. But isn't that an inevitable part of life? That in the future you'll look back with part nostalgia and part... muted regret? And I think I'm so afraid of having dreams for fear that they won't come true and I'll be embarrassed to have had them. Now it's fine. Because it could happen. But when it doesn't happen, will I regret wanting it?
Then it got me thinking about what I write... how I've never written from a female perspective. Maybe because I can't separate the women of my imagination with my own consciousness. I've also never written about real experiences... maybe because they all happened so recently it'd be too raw right now?
But maybe, years from now, when there are different people in my life and the view from my window is different, I will write about now. And what will I think about it? What will other people think?
So, yeah. Just some musing. Needed to write it down to prove either way if I'm crazy or not. Haven't quite made up my mind...
I've been thinking a lot about writing at the moment. Partly in preparation for NaNoWriMo and partly down to all this future preparation I'm being forced into at every turn. For the last few months, I've been writing a lot. FanFic, random stories, plots, scripts, even the odd feeble attempt at serious fiction. But doesn't every teenager have one of those crazy dreams of how their life's are going to pan out, and it never happens?
The problem is I am far too self-reflecting for my own good. I spend half my time trying to second guess the future me. Because a part of me never wants to look back on what I'm doing now and feel embarrassed or ashamed of what I've written and thought. But isn't that an inevitable part of life? That in the future you'll look back with part nostalgia and part... muted regret? And I think I'm so afraid of having dreams for fear that they won't come true and I'll be embarrassed to have had them. Now it's fine. Because it could happen. But when it doesn't happen, will I regret wanting it?
Then it got me thinking about what I write... how I've never written from a female perspective. Maybe because I can't separate the women of my imagination with my own consciousness. I've also never written about real experiences... maybe because they all happened so recently it'd be too raw right now?
But maybe, years from now, when there are different people in my life and the view from my window is different, I will write about now. And what will I think about it? What will other people think?
So, yeah. Just some musing. Needed to write it down to prove either way if I'm crazy or not. Haven't quite made up my mind...
Friday 3 July 2009
London Nerdfighter Gathering 2009
Okay, so this is quite a late post, and is no reflection on how awesome the day was (because it was incredibly awesome) that it took me so long to post.
If you don't know what a nerdfighter is... well, essentially the gathering was a lot of people meeting up on the Southbank in London; and all we had in common was a shared set of YouTube subscriptions and that we spend our time (in one way or another) trying to reduce world suck. For more information about Nerdfighters, search 'vlogbrothers' in YouTube and prepare to be amazed!
So, we met up. The gathering was organised by Maureen Johnson (YouTuber, nerdfighter and YA novelist) and charlieissocoollike (vlogger, fan-girl inducing, fiveawesome guy, member of Chameleon Circuit). But lots of other 'famous' YouTubers showed up (I am not putting famous in inverted commas because I was not impressed or excited, but that I get the impression most other human beings wouldn't be). In fact, one of the best moments of the day was chest bumping Tom Milsom (hexachordal) because of our shared johnnydurham19 attire. In fact, it is the first time anyone had even recognised my t-shirt as the awesome that it is.
But I digress. Firstly, we went on a hunt around London. We got into groups, got clues (handwritten by Maureen and part inspired by her novel '13 Little Blue Envelopes). There were five challenges and I ended up in the best group. We didn't win - we lost to 'the Nerimons' who, to be fair, were the famous ones and very, very quick. I like to think we were second... But we had fun and made our way back to the Southbank for a hang.
Then, we went on a walk. To see Harry Potter being filmed. At Scotland Yard. First we went to the wrong Scotland Yard... and then found it was being filmed the next day. So we went BACK to the Southbank and stayed there until it began to rain. Once it got murky enough for us to actually worry we might drown, we went in search of shelter. And, ironically, about eight people ended up soaking themselves in the fountain, inculding Maureen herself. I have footage. And it is funny.
So what was left of us (we had lost quite a large number by the time we ended up inside, some people had to leave which is sad times) we went into the Royal Festival Hall and settled down by the cloakroom. We chatted, signed stuff, watched two grown men fight for a copy of Maureen's new book and generally had fun. Then, some of us (about seven) headed off to see Julia Nunes play in Kilburn. A couple of groups of people were already on their way, and some (inculding Maureen) could no longer make it. But we set of. Singing 'Mrs. Nerimon'. Which was annoying. But nice.
Me and Charlotte, as the locals, helped plan a route. Which went wrong. About seven times. And it took forever. And ever. And I'm sure put some of our number of the Tube forever. But we got there - and didn't even miss a single support act. And they were all amazing. By the time Julia was on, our number were by the front, and she was awesome. As was Greg. And Laura. We were all singing along, to the point where Julia was singing the refrain to her own song because we wouldn't stop. And then we got sweaty hugs and signatures.
And then it was hometime. Sadly. I had a great day. It was nice to see how many people came from so many different places, and how quickly we all got on. There was little division and everyone wanted to know everyone else. And that... camaraderie is such a big part of nerdfighteria that, before now, I had never experienced first hand.
So, I wanna thank Charlotte, Pippa, Don, Cara, Julia, Greg, Laura, Abz, the yellow umbrella, that puppet thing, Tom Milsom, Charlie, TFL (I say with scarcasm), Tobias, Ana and everyone else who was there who I didn't speak to directly and those I forgot the mention.
Because I had a great day. And I hope you all did too.
If you don't know what a nerdfighter is... well, essentially the gathering was a lot of people meeting up on the Southbank in London; and all we had in common was a shared set of YouTube subscriptions and that we spend our time (in one way or another) trying to reduce world suck. For more information about Nerdfighters, search 'vlogbrothers' in YouTube and prepare to be amazed!
So, we met up. The gathering was organised by Maureen Johnson (YouTuber, nerdfighter and YA novelist) and charlieissocoollike (vlogger, fan-girl inducing, fiveawesome guy, member of Chameleon Circuit). But lots of other 'famous' YouTubers showed up (I am not putting famous in inverted commas because I was not impressed or excited, but that I get the impression most other human beings wouldn't be). In fact, one of the best moments of the day was chest bumping Tom Milsom (hexachordal) because of our shared johnnydurham19 attire. In fact, it is the first time anyone had even recognised my t-shirt as the awesome that it is.
But I digress. Firstly, we went on a hunt around London. We got into groups, got clues (handwritten by Maureen and part inspired by her novel '13 Little Blue Envelopes). There were five challenges and I ended up in the best group. We didn't win - we lost to 'the Nerimons' who, to be fair, were the famous ones and very, very quick. I like to think we were second... But we had fun and made our way back to the Southbank for a hang.
Then, we went on a walk. To see Harry Potter being filmed. At Scotland Yard. First we went to the wrong Scotland Yard... and then found it was being filmed the next day. So we went BACK to the Southbank and stayed there until it began to rain. Once it got murky enough for us to actually worry we might drown, we went in search of shelter. And, ironically, about eight people ended up soaking themselves in the fountain, inculding Maureen herself. I have footage. And it is funny.
So what was left of us (we had lost quite a large number by the time we ended up inside, some people had to leave which is sad times) we went into the Royal Festival Hall and settled down by the cloakroom. We chatted, signed stuff, watched two grown men fight for a copy of Maureen's new book and generally had fun. Then, some of us (about seven) headed off to see Julia Nunes play in Kilburn. A couple of groups of people were already on their way, and some (inculding Maureen) could no longer make it. But we set of. Singing 'Mrs. Nerimon'. Which was annoying. But nice.
Me and Charlotte, as the locals, helped plan a route. Which went wrong. About seven times. And it took forever. And ever. And I'm sure put some of our number of the Tube forever. But we got there - and didn't even miss a single support act. And they were all amazing. By the time Julia was on, our number were by the front, and she was awesome. As was Greg. And Laura. We were all singing along, to the point where Julia was singing the refrain to her own song because we wouldn't stop. And then we got sweaty hugs and signatures.
And then it was hometime. Sadly. I had a great day. It was nice to see how many people came from so many different places, and how quickly we all got on. There was little division and everyone wanted to know everyone else. And that... camaraderie is such a big part of nerdfighteria that, before now, I had never experienced first hand.
So, I wanna thank Charlotte, Pippa, Don, Cara, Julia, Greg, Laura, Abz, the yellow umbrella, that puppet thing, Tom Milsom, Charlie, TFL (I say with scarcasm), Tobias, Ana and everyone else who was there who I didn't speak to directly and those I forgot the mention.
Because I had a great day. And I hope you all did too.
Friday 5 June 2009
Yes, I'm Blogging A Poem Even Though It Is Incredibly Precocious
Speak
When you are young,
Everything you say is true;
Seeped in meaning that's
Too clever for you.
When you are older,
The words aren't yours;
When you find them buried
In your CD drawers.
When you are old,
Everything you say is true;
But bloated with experience,
Who will listen to you?
When you are young,
Everything you say is true;
Seeped in meaning that's
Too clever for you.
When you are older,
The words aren't yours;
When you find them buried
In your CD drawers.
When you are old,
Everything you say is true;
But bloated with experience,
Who will listen to you?
My Big Big Brother Rant In The Form Of An Open Letter
Dear Channel 4,
Now, to start off, this is not a rant that is anti-Big Brother. I don't hate Big Brother. There have been years where I have followed it, enjoyed it even. I see the appeal - laughing at stupidity, picking sides in arguments, water-cooler moments; and all the better because it's not fictional. I get that. I do. My rant is about you, Channel 4.
Now, again, love Channel 4. Queer As Folk, Hollyoaks, Friends, Desperate Housewives, ER... the list of shows I would never have seen without Channel 4 goes on for a LONG time. And it is by far the channel I watch the most. Hell, I was brought up on Jon Snow on Channel 4 News as his jazzy ties and Paxman attitude. But... with Big Brother, we fall out.
I understand the Big Brother show. I understand BBLB. I can almost get with the Big Mouth programme if I pretend the concept is not instantly annoying. And, again, I do not hate Big Brother. And I love you with my whole TV watching heart. Truly. But why do you destroy your E4 schedule with constant, mind-numbing Live Coverage?!
I get that maybe you have it constantly on digital, so people can choose to plug in at any time; or constantly streaming online in case your at your desk and want to be sure nothing monumental has happened, but deep down hope it has so you can tell everyone and be the hero. But turning E4 into a constant stream is annoying on so many levels.
Even when I watch Big Brother, I detest Live Coverage. The fun is the hour-long heavily-edited segment where you don't have to watch people brushing their teeth or cooking pasta. I trust your editors to show me the best bits, and cleverly edit it to show me who I should evict. So I find it hard to believe enough people are constantly watching Live Coverage that it is worth moving my shows around on E4.
Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe you'll reply with viewing figures that contradict me. But the shows you put out every other day of the year must have viewers. Loyal viewers, who make up the basis on which your channel exists. And you are betraying us to people who will leave you when Big Brother ends? It's not right.
I don't have Sky+ out of choice, but now, thanks to your scheduling, I am prevented from watching Gilmore Girls, Friends, Scrubs et al at the times in which I have become accustomed. In fact, I will miss weeks of Gilmore Girls episodes entirely because some of us have lives which prevent us watching at 1.30 in the afternoon!
I just thought I'd let you know one girls opinion. For me, it is sad that a channel I hold so dear to my heart is taking away my opportunity to follow a show they helped me fall in love with. And that I will have to find other ways to spend that time other than watching death-defyingly dull Live Coverage.
I don't care if Big Brother goes on indefinitely into the void of time and space: just sort out how you present it to us! Because there are so many others ways to make Live Coverage successful and accessible than ruining the enjoyment of the many who do not wish to watch it.
Grace Organ
Loyal E4 Viewer
Now, to start off, this is not a rant that is anti-Big Brother. I don't hate Big Brother. There have been years where I have followed it, enjoyed it even. I see the appeal - laughing at stupidity, picking sides in arguments, water-cooler moments; and all the better because it's not fictional. I get that. I do. My rant is about you, Channel 4.
Now, again, love Channel 4. Queer As Folk, Hollyoaks, Friends, Desperate Housewives, ER... the list of shows I would never have seen without Channel 4 goes on for a LONG time. And it is by far the channel I watch the most. Hell, I was brought up on Jon Snow on Channel 4 News as his jazzy ties and Paxman attitude. But... with Big Brother, we fall out.
I understand the Big Brother show. I understand BBLB. I can almost get with the Big Mouth programme if I pretend the concept is not instantly annoying. And, again, I do not hate Big Brother. And I love you with my whole TV watching heart. Truly. But why do you destroy your E4 schedule with constant, mind-numbing Live Coverage?!
I get that maybe you have it constantly on digital, so people can choose to plug in at any time; or constantly streaming online in case your at your desk and want to be sure nothing monumental has happened, but deep down hope it has so you can tell everyone and be the hero. But turning E4 into a constant stream is annoying on so many levels.
Even when I watch Big Brother, I detest Live Coverage. The fun is the hour-long heavily-edited segment where you don't have to watch people brushing their teeth or cooking pasta. I trust your editors to show me the best bits, and cleverly edit it to show me who I should evict. So I find it hard to believe enough people are constantly watching Live Coverage that it is worth moving my shows around on E4.
Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe you'll reply with viewing figures that contradict me. But the shows you put out every other day of the year must have viewers. Loyal viewers, who make up the basis on which your channel exists. And you are betraying us to people who will leave you when Big Brother ends? It's not right.
I don't have Sky+ out of choice, but now, thanks to your scheduling, I am prevented from watching Gilmore Girls, Friends, Scrubs et al at the times in which I have become accustomed. In fact, I will miss weeks of Gilmore Girls episodes entirely because some of us have lives which prevent us watching at 1.30 in the afternoon!
I just thought I'd let you know one girls opinion. For me, it is sad that a channel I hold so dear to my heart is taking away my opportunity to follow a show they helped me fall in love with. And that I will have to find other ways to spend that time other than watching death-defyingly dull Live Coverage.
I don't care if Big Brother goes on indefinitely into the void of time and space: just sort out how you present it to us! Because there are so many others ways to make Live Coverage successful and accessible than ruining the enjoyment of the many who do not wish to watch it.
Grace Organ
Loyal E4 Viewer
Monday 27 April 2009
A Blog In Defence Of Twitter
A Blog In Defence of Twitter
So, I meant to write this blog a while ago but Spanish Oral Exams have been getting in the way of my blogging.
For the last couple of days/weeks/months, I have been reading/watching/generally hearing from a variety of sources a lot about how Twitter is a waste of time, a pointless exercise in self-indulgence and overall a negative internet fad. But I, as a prolific Tweeter (I think that is the word), I have a few objections to the stereotype.
I think Twitter is a brilliant website: and in some ways, the embodiment of what is so great about the Internet. Not only is it a mass of information, but it's all user generated. Of course some of it is mundane, and hardly 'useful', but that sharing of information between you and your followers is a valuable part of what make the Internet. Sharing ideas, experiences, links, opinions and culture is surely the sole purpose of the Internet - and no website does it better or more instantaneously than Twitter.
People have been calling it 'a waste of time' and 'self-indulgent' to Tweet things like 'Drinking Tea', and in some ways I agree. Although personally, I like these more personal, mundane Tweet's. It's nice to to see how other people spend their day, what other people value and I truly believe you can tell a lot about people from what they Tweet. Like all online output, and unlike real-life social interactions, you can control how you come across over Twitter, and often Tweet what you want people to hear. And I value knowing those things about my friends - what it is they would like me to know, or maybe even, what they wish they were like. For me, this is sometimes the most interesting part of someone's social-networking personality, in it's differences from their RL personalities.
As for self-indulgent, again I can only partly agree. Of course, all services in which we discuss ourselves and our opinions is slightly self-indulgent - part of believing your ideas matter or have a place in the world. But I think that is an integral part of human nature; to want to feel a part of something bigger. And that's another thing the Internet is so good at. Twitter is a way of consolidating your actions and opinions, getting feedback, hearing people feel the same or are interested in what you are doing. This has been at the heart of art for thousands of years - and I believe Twitter, and instant social-networking as a whole, comes for that instinctive place where we just want to be understood and validated.
I also think it's interesting how communities congregate over the Internet, and meet on Twitter as a kind of place to really get to know people. For example, lots of people whose username you know from comments etc. follow you and suddenly you can chat about the videos and ideas, possibly in a way you cannot with your real life friends (I say that almost as if I have first-hand experience). Having an odd obsession has never before made you feel more included than secluded than when you have a group of Twitter friends to discuss it with! Of course, I have no weird obsessions, so this is an entirely academic paragraph ;p
So, in defence of Twitter, there are those who don't understand it, or don't want it and that's fine. But there is a huge community and you can't dismiss them ALL as self-involved people with too much time on their hands. Some of us just enjoy the new, modern form of contact and hope that Twitter, in whatever form, will exist for a long time to come!
Bring on the advertisements!
And just FYI, Nuke is so good at the moment. Expect my next post to be a review of the year of Gay television so far!
Oh, and also, I won ScriptFrenzy! Badge on the side...
So, I meant to write this blog a while ago but Spanish Oral Exams have been getting in the way of my blogging.
For the last couple of days/weeks/months, I have been reading/watching/generally hearing from a variety of sources a lot about how Twitter is a waste of time, a pointless exercise in self-indulgence and overall a negative internet fad. But I, as a prolific Tweeter (I think that is the word), I have a few objections to the stereotype.
I think Twitter is a brilliant website: and in some ways, the embodiment of what is so great about the Internet. Not only is it a mass of information, but it's all user generated. Of course some of it is mundane, and hardly 'useful', but that sharing of information between you and your followers is a valuable part of what make the Internet. Sharing ideas, experiences, links, opinions and culture is surely the sole purpose of the Internet - and no website does it better or more instantaneously than Twitter.
People have been calling it 'a waste of time' and 'self-indulgent' to Tweet things like 'Drinking Tea', and in some ways I agree. Although personally, I like these more personal, mundane Tweet's. It's nice to to see how other people spend their day, what other people value and I truly believe you can tell a lot about people from what they Tweet. Like all online output, and unlike real-life social interactions, you can control how you come across over Twitter, and often Tweet what you want people to hear. And I value knowing those things about my friends - what it is they would like me to know, or maybe even, what they wish they were like. For me, this is sometimes the most interesting part of someone's social-networking personality, in it's differences from their RL personalities.
As for self-indulgent, again I can only partly agree. Of course, all services in which we discuss ourselves and our opinions is slightly self-indulgent - part of believing your ideas matter or have a place in the world. But I think that is an integral part of human nature; to want to feel a part of something bigger. And that's another thing the Internet is so good at. Twitter is a way of consolidating your actions and opinions, getting feedback, hearing people feel the same or are interested in what you are doing. This has been at the heart of art for thousands of years - and I believe Twitter, and instant social-networking as a whole, comes for that instinctive place where we just want to be understood and validated.
I also think it's interesting how communities congregate over the Internet, and meet on Twitter as a kind of place to really get to know people. For example, lots of people whose username you know from comments etc. follow you and suddenly you can chat about the videos and ideas, possibly in a way you cannot with your real life friends (I say that almost as if I have first-hand experience). Having an odd obsession has never before made you feel more included than secluded than when you have a group of Twitter friends to discuss it with! Of course, I have no weird obsessions, so this is an entirely academic paragraph ;p
So, in defence of Twitter, there are those who don't understand it, or don't want it and that's fine. But there is a huge community and you can't dismiss them ALL as self-involved people with too much time on their hands. Some of us just enjoy the new, modern form of contact and hope that Twitter, in whatever form, will exist for a long time to come!
Bring on the advertisements!
And just FYI, Nuke is so good at the moment. Expect my next post to be a review of the year of Gay television so far!
Oh, and also, I won ScriptFrenzy! Badge on the side...
Saturday 18 April 2009
Record Store Day, April 18th
Hello
So, I promised you more issue posts and here is the first of (hopefully) many.
After a (lovely) late-night at Alex's yesterday (and possibly a whole two weeks of late-nights catching up with me), I spent too long in bed today to go to Rough Trade to celebrate Record Store Day.
Here's the thing: Record Store Day is a commendable idea; one day in the year where people are encouraged to support the few local record stores we have left in the UK. The sad thing is that we need to create a whole day for this purpose.
Now, people who know me know I am a big fan of record stores and a big fan of CD's over music downloads. It runs in my blood - my father used to own a record shop and has instilled a passion not only for music but for music shopping into me. Nothing for me is more fun than spending a day trekking across London on my usual musical pilgrimage - Rough Trade in Portobello (my local) to Fopp in Tottenham Court Road and then Rough Trade East (on Brick Lane) before home.
But now, independent music stores are few and far between. I, personally, prefer physical CD's. I like the way they feel in your hand, flicking through the sleeve notes the band have designed for you, looking at the cover art and putting it in a rack surrounded by other different CD's. It's like books - for me, I will always rather have a real book than a e-book: I just like the feel. I also want to buy LP's - so much thought has gone into the songs production and order, that to listen to everything in single tracks does no justice to that effort or the music itself. But I understand that everything evolves - and that, at some point, my love for CD's will be a niche market and I will have to seek them out.
But there is the one thing that annoys me about Record Store Day: that people who will partake in it will feel like they've done a good deed shopping in an independent record shop for a day. If you love them so much, if you don't want to see them disappear, you have to use them!
I don't begrudge music stores Record Store Day - it's good PR and, unfortunately, they need to do it. I just wish they didn't!
It kind of brings me onto to illegal downloads: something else which annoys me. Now, it is not to say all of my music comes from CD's I have bought. Me and my dad are huge believers in 'sharing' music; not in a 'Pirate Bay' way, but in a 'I buy a CD I think you'll like so I burn it for you' way. Since popular music began, there has been copying and sharing. But now, the music that is being shared has come from illegal means and the musicians make nothing.
I love music, and I love music stores, and I want to give them as much money as I possibly can so they can keep providing me with something which has and will bring me endless enjoyment. Why are people so awful about giving money to things they enjoy?
It's the same way I feel about people complaining about YouTube re-designs, or Twitter advertising. If you want something, you have to accept that they have to make money to produce it. And, somewhere along the line, you have to compromise.
In one way, it's a shame I missed out on Record Store Day. But in another, everyday is Record Store Day for me. And it won't be a year before I end up in one again.
(Again, this is just a rant. It's not that I have NO illegally downloaded music, but that it is a tiny percentage. And that I don't want to see Record Stores die out when they have such a rich history and so much to give to the industry that the Internet will never be able to provide)
So, I promised you more issue posts and here is the first of (hopefully) many.
After a (lovely) late-night at Alex's yesterday (and possibly a whole two weeks of late-nights catching up with me), I spent too long in bed today to go to Rough Trade to celebrate Record Store Day.
Here's the thing: Record Store Day is a commendable idea; one day in the year where people are encouraged to support the few local record stores we have left in the UK. The sad thing is that we need to create a whole day for this purpose.
Now, people who know me know I am a big fan of record stores and a big fan of CD's over music downloads. It runs in my blood - my father used to own a record shop and has instilled a passion not only for music but for music shopping into me. Nothing for me is more fun than spending a day trekking across London on my usual musical pilgrimage - Rough Trade in Portobello (my local) to Fopp in Tottenham Court Road and then Rough Trade East (on Brick Lane) before home.
But now, independent music stores are few and far between. I, personally, prefer physical CD's. I like the way they feel in your hand, flicking through the sleeve notes the band have designed for you, looking at the cover art and putting it in a rack surrounded by other different CD's. It's like books - for me, I will always rather have a real book than a e-book: I just like the feel. I also want to buy LP's - so much thought has gone into the songs production and order, that to listen to everything in single tracks does no justice to that effort or the music itself. But I understand that everything evolves - and that, at some point, my love for CD's will be a niche market and I will have to seek them out.
But there is the one thing that annoys me about Record Store Day: that people who will partake in it will feel like they've done a good deed shopping in an independent record shop for a day. If you love them so much, if you don't want to see them disappear, you have to use them!
I don't begrudge music stores Record Store Day - it's good PR and, unfortunately, they need to do it. I just wish they didn't!
It kind of brings me onto to illegal downloads: something else which annoys me. Now, it is not to say all of my music comes from CD's I have bought. Me and my dad are huge believers in 'sharing' music; not in a 'Pirate Bay' way, but in a 'I buy a CD I think you'll like so I burn it for you' way. Since popular music began, there has been copying and sharing. But now, the music that is being shared has come from illegal means and the musicians make nothing.
I love music, and I love music stores, and I want to give them as much money as I possibly can so they can keep providing me with something which has and will bring me endless enjoyment. Why are people so awful about giving money to things they enjoy?
It's the same way I feel about people complaining about YouTube re-designs, or Twitter advertising. If you want something, you have to accept that they have to make money to produce it. And, somewhere along the line, you have to compromise.
In one way, it's a shame I missed out on Record Store Day. But in another, everyday is Record Store Day for me. And it won't be a year before I end up in one again.
(Again, this is just a rant. It's not that I have NO illegally downloaded music, but that it is a tiny percentage. And that I don't want to see Record Stores die out when they have such a rich history and so much to give to the industry that the Internet will never be able to provide)
Friday 17 April 2009
No post since January?!
I've been a bad blogger, I know. No updates for months? I could say I'd been very busy (which would be true) but it is no excuse for radio silence.
Quick catch-up on my life:
NEW YORK WAS THE MOST AMAZING THING EVER.
I turned 17: and feel exactly the same as I did before. Here's hoping 18 brings some come of severe emotional change.
My grandma died: went to Scotland for the funeral etc. but to be honest, it's still all a bit of a blur.
Had a couple of school trips: a day of Hardy, Spanish Civil War lecture (where we managed to witness some historical beef) and a day at Cambridge (which comforted and freaked me out in equal measure)
This month is Script-Frenzy: the scripting equivalent of NaNoWriMo. Already finished my 100-word screenplay and it's not bad!
I've been living by Lost recently - it has taken over my life! I am completely addicted, and in some ways, pleased it's got an end-date because now, things are getting interesting!
Back to writing TBLAJ - the novel I wanted to write in NEW YOKR but NEW YORK was so amazing, I had no time. But I'm really enjoying writing it - I may blog about it at some point. You know, if I ever get around to starting it proper.
Bought a JohnnyDurham t-shirt: one of only 120. Was a very exciting day it came in the post and I love it! And my blob. (JohnnyDurham is a YouTuber for those who don't know, he is way cool: check him out!)
John Green's (vlogbrothers, more YouTubers, are also very cool) news that his new book is only available through ThisIsNotTom (online riddle game, to put it mildly!) has re-sparked my interest in the site. I'm still not clever enough to solve the riddles... thank God for spoilers!
I got Dailybooth - a website where you take a picture of yourself every day. Check me out! http://dailybooth.com/giantlawnmower
So, yeah, stuff been happening which has kind of taken over from blogging. Got exams in April/May/June so, may be a while before I'm in a swing again. However, I can feel a couple of blogs about STUFF rather than my own (boring) life coming up so be warned!
GAY UPDATE: You'd think after months of silence, there'd be loads to say. And there's a bit to say. NUKE wins these few months hands down! I have really been enjoying it recently: there have been no break-ups, more kissing, more character development, better acting (if that was possible) and now they're all tied up! Dislike the twins, but then I'm supposed to so... excited for the next few weeks of Damian et al. HollyOaks has nothing (sad times) and it was a sad day when John Paul and Craig left the Gays Of Daytime banner: they will be missed. Ollian... step up a gear! I mean, they're still a couple, still cute but they need their own story-line. And soon! There's a serious drought over here! New Dutch story-line hasn't started yet, but I think it should be good. At I've been neglecting Brothers and Sisters but there has been little Kevin + Scotty action. Jason Lewis' return this week sets to change that...
Yeah, so the idea is, this blog is going to be less about me and more about stuff in the coming months. So... see you when I have some ideas!
Quick catch-up on my life:
NEW YORK WAS THE MOST AMAZING THING EVER.
I turned 17: and feel exactly the same as I did before. Here's hoping 18 brings some come of severe emotional change.
My grandma died: went to Scotland for the funeral etc. but to be honest, it's still all a bit of a blur.
Had a couple of school trips: a day of Hardy, Spanish Civil War lecture (where we managed to witness some historical beef) and a day at Cambridge (which comforted and freaked me out in equal measure)
This month is Script-Frenzy: the scripting equivalent of NaNoWriMo. Already finished my 100-word screenplay and it's not bad!
I've been living by Lost recently - it has taken over my life! I am completely addicted, and in some ways, pleased it's got an end-date because now, things are getting interesting!
Back to writing TBLAJ - the novel I wanted to write in NEW YOKR but NEW YORK was so amazing, I had no time. But I'm really enjoying writing it - I may blog about it at some point. You know, if I ever get around to starting it proper.
Bought a JohnnyDurham t-shirt: one of only 120. Was a very exciting day it came in the post and I love it! And my blob. (JohnnyDurham is a YouTuber for those who don't know, he is way cool: check him out!)
John Green's (vlogbrothers, more YouTubers, are also very cool) news that his new book is only available through ThisIsNotTom (online riddle game, to put it mildly!) has re-sparked my interest in the site. I'm still not clever enough to solve the riddles... thank God for spoilers!
I got Dailybooth - a website where you take a picture of yourself every day. Check me out! http://dailybooth.com/giantlawnmower
So, yeah, stuff been happening which has kind of taken over from blogging. Got exams in April/May/June so, may be a while before I'm in a swing again. However, I can feel a couple of blogs about STUFF rather than my own (boring) life coming up so be warned!
GAY UPDATE: You'd think after months of silence, there'd be loads to say. And there's a bit to say. NUKE wins these few months hands down! I have really been enjoying it recently: there have been no break-ups, more kissing, more character development, better acting (if that was possible) and now they're all tied up! Dislike the twins, but then I'm supposed to so... excited for the next few weeks of Damian et al. HollyOaks has nothing (sad times) and it was a sad day when John Paul and Craig left the Gays Of Daytime banner: they will be missed. Ollian... step up a gear! I mean, they're still a couple, still cute but they need their own story-line. And soon! There's a serious drought over here! New Dutch story-line hasn't started yet, but I think it should be good. At I've been neglecting Brothers and Sisters but there has been little Kevin + Scotty action. Jason Lewis' return this week sets to change that...
Yeah, so the idea is, this blog is going to be less about me and more about stuff in the coming months. So... see you when I have some ideas!
Saturday 24 January 2009
Obama
So, every blogger in the land has made a bog about the inauguration so I feel it's best if I do the same.
Now, clearly, I am not American. And yet the emotional response I had to Obama's speech as well as the whole occasion was far more than I have ever felt at any British general election (although I can see myself getting teary about voting for the first time). For one thing, he said all the things the world has been waiting for him to say. That things will get bad. It takes time for change. That he understands the sanctity of the office he now holds.
He said things I was very pleased to hear him say, not least his nod to non-believers and to the advancement of science. His knocks at the Bush administration's loss of morals in their war against terror. But he mentioned things that he knew the American people needed to hear: that they will be back on top, rule the world once again. And while the whole world watched his speech, it was clearly written for the American people.
I think it is commendable that he did not sugar-coat anything, pretend things would be easy or quick or cheap. But rather, tell the truth about the struggle he and the American people are undertaking, setting a standard of honesty for his campaign. And inspire, something he proved he is very good at during his campaign, to be a part of the process in order to feel the greatest achievement when America reaches it's goal as one.
From a more personal perspective, Obama will in my mind always be the first American President who I understood and believed in. I was far too young when Clinton was President to truly understand the office or his place within it. And, while my political understanding has grown while Bush has been in government, I have never felt he was someone I trusted with that level of power, nor did I agree with many of his policies.
So Obama for me is important in restoring my faith in America, and politics as a whole, because he is the first campaign I have hoped for and been a part of in any small way I could be. And so many people feel the same. Because it is not only what he represents in terms of his race which is so important, but what he represents in terms of the momentum behind him. Of the people who look to him to make the change they believe he can make; people who will not give up on him for as long as he leads.
Good luck, President Obama. You changed things before you even took the oath: let's hope you can continue the trend!
Now, clearly, I am not American. And yet the emotional response I had to Obama's speech as well as the whole occasion was far more than I have ever felt at any British general election (although I can see myself getting teary about voting for the first time). For one thing, he said all the things the world has been waiting for him to say. That things will get bad. It takes time for change. That he understands the sanctity of the office he now holds.
He said things I was very pleased to hear him say, not least his nod to non-believers and to the advancement of science. His knocks at the Bush administration's loss of morals in their war against terror. But he mentioned things that he knew the American people needed to hear: that they will be back on top, rule the world once again. And while the whole world watched his speech, it was clearly written for the American people.
I think it is commendable that he did not sugar-coat anything, pretend things would be easy or quick or cheap. But rather, tell the truth about the struggle he and the American people are undertaking, setting a standard of honesty for his campaign. And inspire, something he proved he is very good at during his campaign, to be a part of the process in order to feel the greatest achievement when America reaches it's goal as one.
From a more personal perspective, Obama will in my mind always be the first American President who I understood and believed in. I was far too young when Clinton was President to truly understand the office or his place within it. And, while my political understanding has grown while Bush has been in government, I have never felt he was someone I trusted with that level of power, nor did I agree with many of his policies.
So Obama for me is important in restoring my faith in America, and politics as a whole, because he is the first campaign I have hoped for and been a part of in any small way I could be. And so many people feel the same. Because it is not only what he represents in terms of his race which is so important, but what he represents in terms of the momentum behind him. Of the people who look to him to make the change they believe he can make; people who will not give up on him for as long as he leads.
Good luck, President Obama. You changed things before you even took the oath: let's hope you can continue the trend!
A few things...
Feel I have been slightly neglecting this blog, and since the excitment of Nuke having sex has passed I might do a normal post with no mention of them. Was planning to save this kind of post for the end of the month, but seeing Milk on Monday and will probably post a review on that...
So hello, hope all is well since NFHS-Day (a term everyone was using by the end and I like to think I coined) as it has been with me. Since being back at school, everything has been good. I feels like I have been in Year 12 for far more than a term but already, with exams looming, I can feel the time speeding up. I am planning to apply for a week's intense history learning at Eton in the summer and they already want university choices... ARGH! Got a few prospectus' which will hopefully help...
Everyone went out for Alex's birthday, which was lovely. The boys had a very alpha-male eating contest by each eating over 2 pizzas while we all watched in a mix of disgust and awe. But had a lovely time none the less... Happy birthday Alex! Saw Slumdog Millionaire with my parents and Nick, and really enjoyed it! It was vivid, emotional, sensational but without being melodramatic. Loved it, and has re-affirmed my love for Danny Boyle.
*checking iCal for what else I have been doing* Went to a meeting about my trip to New York with school in February and am now more excited than ever. Have started a new story (novel?) which will be partly set in New York. Plan to fill a notebook with description while I'm there... everything looks so amazing! Especially the opening night at an Awesome 80s Prom Show... cheesy but more American than I know what to do with! In fact, my February plans are coming together very well, because on my birthday, I have bought tickets to a folk festival playing at Union Chapel with Johnny Flynn, Laura Marling and Jeffrey Lewis! So excited... :)
And... LOST returned! It has been the first time in a long time I have physically gasped at television and honestly, although only LOST could get away with saying some of the lines they say, I am loving it. Even just for the line:
'I thought Sayid was your friend'
'He is. He just has this double life where he does ninja moves and spy stuff.'
Went to a quiz at the Welsh school Thursday with Charlotte, Emma and Gentiana which was fun, even if we came joint last. When the first film question was about Milk, it was quite jokes. And yesterday went out for Karimah's birthday... although her gift is to come (from New York) it was a lovely meal, and I cannot believe she is going to be 17!! Happy birthday Karimah :)
I know you're looking for the GAY UPDATE but... with NUKE clearly ahead due to the afterglue of their love-making, and Olli still away, and the Kris/Ravi/Nancy love triangle so dull, and no Scotty in Brothers and Sisters... there is very little to say. Hopefully Nuke this week... althought I haven't heard anything :(
So, just one more thing. My Envision project, homophobiaaware, is starting to take shape. We need a website, which will hopefully come quite soon, but we do have a blog: http://www.homophobiaaware.blogspot.com/
Visit, comment, bookmark and expect updates as early as next week with some more detailed plans for our campaign!
And no, I haven't forgotten about Obama. He gets his own post...
xXx
So hello, hope all is well since NFHS-Day (a term everyone was using by the end and I like to think I coined) as it has been with me. Since being back at school, everything has been good. I feels like I have been in Year 12 for far more than a term but already, with exams looming, I can feel the time speeding up. I am planning to apply for a week's intense history learning at Eton in the summer and they already want university choices... ARGH! Got a few prospectus' which will hopefully help...
Everyone went out for Alex's birthday, which was lovely. The boys had a very alpha-male eating contest by each eating over 2 pizzas while we all watched in a mix of disgust and awe. But had a lovely time none the less... Happy birthday Alex! Saw Slumdog Millionaire with my parents and Nick, and really enjoyed it! It was vivid, emotional, sensational but without being melodramatic. Loved it, and has re-affirmed my love for Danny Boyle.
*checking iCal for what else I have been doing* Went to a meeting about my trip to New York with school in February and am now more excited than ever. Have started a new story (novel?) which will be partly set in New York. Plan to fill a notebook with description while I'm there... everything looks so amazing! Especially the opening night at an Awesome 80s Prom Show... cheesy but more American than I know what to do with! In fact, my February plans are coming together very well, because on my birthday, I have bought tickets to a folk festival playing at Union Chapel with Johnny Flynn, Laura Marling and Jeffrey Lewis! So excited... :)
And... LOST returned! It has been the first time in a long time I have physically gasped at television and honestly, although only LOST could get away with saying some of the lines they say, I am loving it. Even just for the line:
'I thought Sayid was your friend'
'He is. He just has this double life where he does ninja moves and spy stuff.'
Went to a quiz at the Welsh school Thursday with Charlotte, Emma and Gentiana which was fun, even if we came joint last. When the first film question was about Milk, it was quite jokes. And yesterday went out for Karimah's birthday... although her gift is to come (from New York) it was a lovely meal, and I cannot believe she is going to be 17!! Happy birthday Karimah :)
I know you're looking for the GAY UPDATE but... with NUKE clearly ahead due to the afterglue of their love-making, and Olli still away, and the Kris/Ravi/Nancy love triangle so dull, and no Scotty in Brothers and Sisters... there is very little to say. Hopefully Nuke this week... althought I haven't heard anything :(
So, just one more thing. My Envision project, homophobiaaware, is starting to take shape. We need a website, which will hopefully come quite soon, but we do have a blog: http://www.homophobiaaware.blogspot.com/
Visit, comment, bookmark and expect updates as early as next week with some more detailed plans for our campaign!
And no, I haven't forgotten about Obama. He gets his own post...
xXx
Monday 12 January 2009
Getting what you wish for!
So, exactly a week since I posted my 2009 wish-list, and my second wish for the year has been granted. Luke and Noah, the sexiest couple in American soap opera As The World Turns, finally had sex.
This may not seem like a big step, so if you don't know, here is a brief back-story. Noah joined the soap last summer, a love interest for the long-standing but newly-out Luke Synder. He struggled to hide his feelings but failed: and his and Luke's first kiss has been watched over a million times on YouTube. After two kisses they stopped kissing for over 200 days: and the cock-blocking began.
There has been self-hate, denial, girlfriends, paralysis, Green-Card marriage's, 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell', farmhouse rules, ex-crushes, step-grandfathers with inappropriate crushes and conversations about meat (if you know what I mean). The kiss clock has been ended, with those back on a regular basis, but then the fans started asking why they were the only couple on the show not to be having sex. Everyone's doing it: the underage, the elderly, the married (and not to their spouses in most cases). In total, it's been over 500 days since they meet until they had sex. And, as we know, that day was today.
But with all that waiting, you may ask why I kept watching? Well, that's simple. I love them. Now, anyone who knows me will know I am a McDeaner to the end. But Luke and Noah are different. Similarly to the great QaF debate, Nuke are a far more American story: focusing around a love of family, of commitment and companionship over the immediate need to feed your hormones. And, as frustrating as waiting for them has been, you have to admire the show for trying to draw their gay couple away from the stereotype that homesexuality is all about sexual desire: a very damaging assumption and one the soap should be proud of denying in it's ground-breaking storyline.
What I love about Nuke is what I love about today's episode. They argue, and they make up. They have a support network, who recognise how much they love each other. They are friends as much as they are in love. They kiss and you believe it. They have issues that don't disapear when it's convienent for the writers. Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann are two actors completely at ease with the roles and with a genuine talent. Even when the writing is stale, the acting is witty and engaging. It's a show unafraid of happy endings, or of sad ones, and keeps enough element of melodrama without (most of the time) slipping into the absurd. I honestly believe this is in part to the actors and the fans, some of the most vocal in the fandom community.
There are things that are missing in these clips as in Nuke as a whole: a decent storyline, for one, and a lack on on-screen bedtime antics is another. They need to move in together, and start doing this on a regular basis. But I honestly believe that is to come: the show has consistently proved me wrong when it comes to how far they will go, and the first time they give us what we want is always the tamest. I think things will heat up...
And here it is, in all it's glory:
Overall, what is so beautiful about Luke and Noah is the fairytale element that American shows seem to love to add to the equation. Now normally, cynical as I am, I brush this under the carpet as them being afraid to tell an honest story. But, in reality, I believe it is more daring. Rather than making this a modern story, pushing the boundaries, it is a soap storyline before anything else: with all the melodramas and repressions that go with that. And in doing that, they capture not only the magic of the characters but the magic of the genre.
So, to summarise, Happy Nuke-finally-had-sex Day everyone! I can honestly say it was worth waiting for! Who'll join my campaign to make it a national holiday??
xXx
This may not seem like a big step, so if you don't know, here is a brief back-story. Noah joined the soap last summer, a love interest for the long-standing but newly-out Luke Synder. He struggled to hide his feelings but failed: and his and Luke's first kiss has been watched over a million times on YouTube. After two kisses they stopped kissing for over 200 days: and the cock-blocking began.
There has been self-hate, denial, girlfriends, paralysis, Green-Card marriage's, 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell', farmhouse rules, ex-crushes, step-grandfathers with inappropriate crushes and conversations about meat (if you know what I mean). The kiss clock has been ended, with those back on a regular basis, but then the fans started asking why they were the only couple on the show not to be having sex. Everyone's doing it: the underage, the elderly, the married (and not to their spouses in most cases). In total, it's been over 500 days since they meet until they had sex. And, as we know, that day was today.
But with all that waiting, you may ask why I kept watching? Well, that's simple. I love them. Now, anyone who knows me will know I am a McDeaner to the end. But Luke and Noah are different. Similarly to the great QaF debate, Nuke are a far more American story: focusing around a love of family, of commitment and companionship over the immediate need to feed your hormones. And, as frustrating as waiting for them has been, you have to admire the show for trying to draw their gay couple away from the stereotype that homesexuality is all about sexual desire: a very damaging assumption and one the soap should be proud of denying in it's ground-breaking storyline.
What I love about Nuke is what I love about today's episode. They argue, and they make up. They have a support network, who recognise how much they love each other. They are friends as much as they are in love. They kiss and you believe it. They have issues that don't disapear when it's convienent for the writers. Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann are two actors completely at ease with the roles and with a genuine talent. Even when the writing is stale, the acting is witty and engaging. It's a show unafraid of happy endings, or of sad ones, and keeps enough element of melodrama without (most of the time) slipping into the absurd. I honestly believe this is in part to the actors and the fans, some of the most vocal in the fandom community.
There are things that are missing in these clips as in Nuke as a whole: a decent storyline, for one, and a lack on on-screen bedtime antics is another. They need to move in together, and start doing this on a regular basis. But I honestly believe that is to come: the show has consistently proved me wrong when it comes to how far they will go, and the first time they give us what we want is always the tamest. I think things will heat up...
And here it is, in all it's glory:
Overall, what is so beautiful about Luke and Noah is the fairytale element that American shows seem to love to add to the equation. Now normally, cynical as I am, I brush this under the carpet as them being afraid to tell an honest story. But, in reality, I believe it is more daring. Rather than making this a modern story, pushing the boundaries, it is a soap storyline before anything else: with all the melodramas and repressions that go with that. And in doing that, they capture not only the magic of the characters but the magic of the genre.
So, to summarise, Happy Nuke-finally-had-sex Day everyone! I can honestly say it was worth waiting for! Who'll join my campaign to make it a national holiday??
xXx
Monday 5 January 2009
My 2009 Wish-List
So, I'm not doing resolutions this year: mainly because I'd rather decide things I want to do as and when them come to me rather than struggle to come up with some now, and also because I never meet them!
So, instead, I'm going to write a wish-list. Not just for my year but for media, politics and 2009 in general.
- I'd like the Supreme Court judgments on the same-sex marriages which took place in California before Prop 8 passed to again rule the ban unconstitutional, and over-rule Prop 8. If not, by the end of the year, I would like it to have been revoked in some other way, in any shape or form necessary.
- I'd like Luke and Noah to have sex. This may seem trivial, and shallow, but in reality I honestly think a teen gay couple having sex on daytime American television is a step which we should all support if the country is going to catch up with Europe in terms of tolerance in society and the law.
- I'd like Barack Obama to have a successful first year. Not only because it is an important year politically for the States, but because with all the pressure on him to make radical change, it would be a shame for him to loss that momentum before he has really had the chance to begin.
- I'd like David Tennant's final Doctor Who episode's to be entertaining and memorable. I really hope that the last, not only David Tennant but Russell T Davies episodes, will stand out in my mind as some of the best. I would feel better about saying goodbye if they went out in style.
- I would like to complete ScriptFrenzy and NaNoWriMo for a second year. I found NaNoWriMo, whatever the product, a very rewarding experience and it certainly made me question what I most enjoy in terms of what to do with my life. Before I become merchanary about writing, I would like to have two more months of pure, unadulterated creativity.
- I would like to see some of the bands we have been enjoying for nearly two years to enjoy to success they are predicted. Here, I am talking about White Lies, Nick Harrison, Mumford and Sons, Florence and the Machine etc. who are pipped as this years big bands (while we've known about them for ages!) They deserve all the success coming their way.
- I would like to get the grades in my AS exams I need to have the widest possible choice of Universities and would like to make sensible choices about them. My greatest fear is going somewhere and not enjoying it, so it's a summer of research I think. And some vague career idea (not plan, just idea) would be helpful with that...
- I would like to see some serious progress in countries who have faced the hardest 2008's: for example, Palestine and Zimbabwe.
- I would like to have a fruitful time in New York - of course, I'm going to enjoy it, but I feel like wasting the spare hours in the city (like I'm going to sleep!) would be a missed opportunity and would like a project. More writing maybe? But what?
- I would like to read newspapers on a more regular basis than I do. I read them on a very random basis, and am very selective on what I read, and feel it is becoming increasingly necessary for me to understand. If everything goes according to plan, we should be voting in the next election and I would hate to be mis-informed.
- I would like to have a summer of working to earn money, and reading. I feel I have not read enough novels in 2008, and would really like to get some solid reading down in 2009.
- I would like a film which everyone agrees is the Best Picture of the year to win the Oscar. There is no need to go for an outsider Academy - sometimes the best film is the one we all love too!
- And, possibly the most out-there, I would really like to film whatever I write in ScriptFrenzy this year. I have a couple of ideas, and I think they would not be that difficult to film, and I think it would be something lovely to look back on and work on with my friends.
So, this is what I would like to see. How many will happen? I don't know. I'm not going to go out of my way to see these things happen above my own sanity, but they are things I hope we would all love to see!
xXx
So, instead, I'm going to write a wish-list. Not just for my year but for media, politics and 2009 in general.
- I'd like the Supreme Court judgments on the same-sex marriages which took place in California before Prop 8 passed to again rule the ban unconstitutional, and over-rule Prop 8. If not, by the end of the year, I would like it to have been revoked in some other way, in any shape or form necessary.
- I'd like Luke and Noah to have sex. This may seem trivial, and shallow, but in reality I honestly think a teen gay couple having sex on daytime American television is a step which we should all support if the country is going to catch up with Europe in terms of tolerance in society and the law.
- I'd like Barack Obama to have a successful first year. Not only because it is an important year politically for the States, but because with all the pressure on him to make radical change, it would be a shame for him to loss that momentum before he has really had the chance to begin.
- I'd like David Tennant's final Doctor Who episode's to be entertaining and memorable. I really hope that the last, not only David Tennant but Russell T Davies episodes, will stand out in my mind as some of the best. I would feel better about saying goodbye if they went out in style.
- I would like to complete ScriptFrenzy and NaNoWriMo for a second year. I found NaNoWriMo, whatever the product, a very rewarding experience and it certainly made me question what I most enjoy in terms of what to do with my life. Before I become merchanary about writing, I would like to have two more months of pure, unadulterated creativity.
- I would like to see some of the bands we have been enjoying for nearly two years to enjoy to success they are predicted. Here, I am talking about White Lies, Nick Harrison, Mumford and Sons, Florence and the Machine etc. who are pipped as this years big bands (while we've known about them for ages!) They deserve all the success coming their way.
- I would like to get the grades in my AS exams I need to have the widest possible choice of Universities and would like to make sensible choices about them. My greatest fear is going somewhere and not enjoying it, so it's a summer of research I think. And some vague career idea (not plan, just idea) would be helpful with that...
- I would like to see some serious progress in countries who have faced the hardest 2008's: for example, Palestine and Zimbabwe.
- I would like to have a fruitful time in New York - of course, I'm going to enjoy it, but I feel like wasting the spare hours in the city (like I'm going to sleep!) would be a missed opportunity and would like a project. More writing maybe? But what?
- I would like to read newspapers on a more regular basis than I do. I read them on a very random basis, and am very selective on what I read, and feel it is becoming increasingly necessary for me to understand. If everything goes according to plan, we should be voting in the next election and I would hate to be mis-informed.
- I would like to have a summer of working to earn money, and reading. I feel I have not read enough novels in 2008, and would really like to get some solid reading down in 2009.
- I would like a film which everyone agrees is the Best Picture of the year to win the Oscar. There is no need to go for an outsider Academy - sometimes the best film is the one we all love too!
- And, possibly the most out-there, I would really like to film whatever I write in ScriptFrenzy this year. I have a couple of ideas, and I think they would not be that difficult to film, and I think it would be something lovely to look back on and work on with my friends.
So, this is what I would like to see. How many will happen? I don't know. I'm not going to go out of my way to see these things happen above my own sanity, but they are things I hope we would all love to see!
xXx
Saturday 3 January 2009
The new Doctor Who...
So, the wait is over. Here is an interview with Matt Smith, the new Doctor Who.
I heard on the radio he was a possibility this morning, but have never seen him in anything to have a firm judgment. But, just from the interview above, there are a few things I decided.
- He has a really great look. Unconventional but in mystical way. That's a good thing, even if it doesn't sound like it.
- He is obviously a very normal, nice guy and think definitely down to Earth enough to survive the pressure.
- He is going to be a very different Doctor from David Tennant, and that is exactly what we need. Someone trying to be Tennant will just be a pale imitation. So I'm glad they went for someone different.
- His age will make for really interesting dynamics: maybe his companion will look much older, and his age may make people less likely to trust him.
- Everyone is really enthusiastic about him and the new series. And that is only going to make for a great series.
So, overall, I think it will take seeing him in action before I can make up my mind fully. But so far, I am quite excited to see where it goes! In fact, now I am more excited about Matt Smith than sad about David Tennant. I guess that's what they were hoping for when they announced him.
Good luck Matt! You have most of us on your side...
xXx
I heard on the radio he was a possibility this morning, but have never seen him in anything to have a firm judgment. But, just from the interview above, there are a few things I decided.
- He has a really great look. Unconventional but in mystical way. That's a good thing, even if it doesn't sound like it.
- He is obviously a very normal, nice guy and think definitely down to Earth enough to survive the pressure.
- He is going to be a very different Doctor from David Tennant, and that is exactly what we need. Someone trying to be Tennant will just be a pale imitation. So I'm glad they went for someone different.
- His age will make for really interesting dynamics: maybe his companion will look much older, and his age may make people less likely to trust him.
- Everyone is really enthusiastic about him and the new series. And that is only going to make for a great series.
So, overall, I think it will take seeing him in action before I can make up my mind fully. But so far, I am quite excited to see where it goes! In fact, now I am more excited about Matt Smith than sad about David Tennant. I guess that's what they were hoping for when they announced him.
Good luck Matt! You have most of us on your side...
xXx
 |  |
Friday 2 January 2009
Christmas & New Year
Hello, hope you had a Merry Christmas and that you're enjoying 2009 so far. I've got to be honest, so far, it feels very similar to 2008!
So I had a lovely Christmas. Just me and my parents with lovely food, surprisingly good TV (I watched a lot of Christmas specials) and some lovely gifts. 'Santa' got me a cushion, a Banksy print, a calendar, a Russell Howard DVD (in which you can see our faces over and over again) among many other things. Charlotte got me a pop-up toaster (I love it, but where shall it live?) and a lovely Julian Opie style print of me, Charlotte and Emma which is totally getting framed! Emma got me a money-box, Karimah gave me Amazon vouchers and I got a lovely bag from my mum's friend Elaine (among many others!).
Loved Doctor Who, loved Gavin and Stacey, loved The Royle Family... in fact, every Christmas special I watched I liked (it was a classic Midsummer Murders). So once the festivities were over, I did absolutely nothing for several days. Saw Charlotte a lot after that: we watched Moonlight all the way through the night until 6:15 in the morning, went to the Royal Festival Hall and saw people waltzing to Harry Potter themes and watched Religulous at Alex's.
New Year's Eve was equally jokes, we saw Emma and had THE BIGGEST BREAKFAST EVER in Jack's. Then I spent the rest of the night at Charlotte's chatting, drinking champagne, iChatting and listening to Charlotte's brother talk about the amateur fireworks display happening outside (There's a guy with no education setting off fireworks outside! He owns a chip shop, he can handle stuff!) So all in all, a very good night.
New Year's Day was equally joyous: went over to Acton to see Keith and his family, Ilo is so big and so sweet I thought I might steal him. Had a nice meal and got my usual speech from Keith about how much he loves me and my parents. Lovely. And Rana gave my a lovely bangle I'm sure I'll be wearing all year long! So this is quite short because I'm saving the space for the mega edition of...
GAY UPDATE: Why so epic? I'll be passing judgment on all my programmes from this year (I know, more important than the Oscars this). But first... it's easy to give the Christmas prize, but I think it would have won even with competition. As the only thing airing, NUKE wins. I have really enjoyed these episodes: shamelessly romantic, dramatic and setting up for what should be a very interesting start to the year. Fixed and broke my heart in consecutive weeks. I enjoyed HollyOaks but unfortunately, not because of any gay content: and until Olli comes back Ollian will not be winning.
So let's start with Ollian. It was a late edition to my repertoire, but valued none the less. The great thing about Ollian is not even the epic scenes, as heart-rending as the kisses and arguments are, but the subtle things that set them up as such a strong and loving couple even when they are not the main focus. And for that, they are clearly the best representation of gay reltionships I have seen this year.
Nuke... *sigh*. There are so many reasons why I should hate it: the unrealistic stories, the cock-blocking, the lack of physical contact but... when Nuke is good, it is up there. I admire them for taking Luke and Noah in a different direction: they're in love, it's not all about sex. And as much as it frustrates me, I am still completely hooked. Maybe it's the acting or maybe it's the characters. Either way, I'm not giving up and for me, they have the highest expectations for 2009.
Torchwood is probably my favourite BBC program of the year, and there have been many. For me, it is good in it more than just the relationship between Jack and Ianto, as much as I love them both as individual characters and a couple. It's a show about so many things: love, humanity, leadership, greed. For that, it is certainly best all-round show of 2008; hope a change of format in 2009 will not change that.
Roman and Deniz... when they are together there is such chemistry, and splitting them up was clearly a mistake. But one no one seems to be rushing to fix so for that, they are simply the best almost couple of the year. A shame what could have been so good was not allowed to develop...
Brothers and Sisters has had a good year: I liked Jason, love Scotty and am so proud of their marriage. For one thing, it gives all those Prop 8 supporters something to think about, and for that I think the deserve best statement of the year. Nora's speech made me cry and they're the most functioning couple in the show!
I have made my thoughts on QaF clear, and while it may not be this year in real time it is in mine, and I am the first to admit I was wrong. QaFUSA is good: Brian and Justin up there amoung my favourites, and while Micheal will never be Vince, I can accept the change.
So, the overall winner? It wasn't to be anything else. HOLLYOAKS wins, for so many reasons. I had been waiting for a year for the Sunset Ending, and while it was rushed, I think it did the characters justice. And the hole John Paul has left in the soap for me is frightening! They are the perfect couple for me, in their imperfections and flaws they honestly love each other. Whatever insecurities, whatever problems there is love. And the speed of the Sunset Ending was a testament to that: nothing else matters. It was an end of an era for me and so many others: not only saying good bye to the couple and amazingly talented actors but to Bryan Kirkwood who has truly regenerated the soap into something I am proud to call myself a fan of. It's light when it needs to be, serious when it needs to be and has given the internet the best gay couple in the land. For that, I thank everyone involved. And promise, with BlogSpot as my witness, I will never stop loving John Paul & Craig, and never stop believing in their happy live in Dublin. Forever may it last.
So, that's it. But tomorrow I will be posting another not real post about my thoughts on... THE NEW DOCTOR WHO! The announcment is being made at 17:35 GMT, so expect a verdict at around 18:00. Hope to see you then...
xXx
So I had a lovely Christmas. Just me and my parents with lovely food, surprisingly good TV (I watched a lot of Christmas specials) and some lovely gifts. 'Santa' got me a cushion, a Banksy print, a calendar, a Russell Howard DVD (in which you can see our faces over and over again) among many other things. Charlotte got me a pop-up toaster (I love it, but where shall it live?) and a lovely Julian Opie style print of me, Charlotte and Emma which is totally getting framed! Emma got me a money-box, Karimah gave me Amazon vouchers and I got a lovely bag from my mum's friend Elaine (among many others!).
Loved Doctor Who, loved Gavin and Stacey, loved The Royle Family... in fact, every Christmas special I watched I liked (it was a classic Midsummer Murders). So once the festivities were over, I did absolutely nothing for several days. Saw Charlotte a lot after that: we watched Moonlight all the way through the night until 6:15 in the morning, went to the Royal Festival Hall and saw people waltzing to Harry Potter themes and watched Religulous at Alex's.
New Year's Eve was equally jokes, we saw Emma and had THE BIGGEST BREAKFAST EVER in Jack's. Then I spent the rest of the night at Charlotte's chatting, drinking champagne, iChatting and listening to Charlotte's brother talk about the amateur fireworks display happening outside (There's a guy with no education setting off fireworks outside! He owns a chip shop, he can handle stuff!) So all in all, a very good night.
New Year's Day was equally joyous: went over to Acton to see Keith and his family, Ilo is so big and so sweet I thought I might steal him. Had a nice meal and got my usual speech from Keith about how much he loves me and my parents. Lovely. And Rana gave my a lovely bangle I'm sure I'll be wearing all year long! So this is quite short because I'm saving the space for the mega edition of...
GAY UPDATE: Why so epic? I'll be passing judgment on all my programmes from this year (I know, more important than the Oscars this). But first... it's easy to give the Christmas prize, but I think it would have won even with competition. As the only thing airing, NUKE wins. I have really enjoyed these episodes: shamelessly romantic, dramatic and setting up for what should be a very interesting start to the year. Fixed and broke my heart in consecutive weeks. I enjoyed HollyOaks but unfortunately, not because of any gay content: and until Olli comes back Ollian will not be winning.
So let's start with Ollian. It was a late edition to my repertoire, but valued none the less. The great thing about Ollian is not even the epic scenes, as heart-rending as the kisses and arguments are, but the subtle things that set them up as such a strong and loving couple even when they are not the main focus. And for that, they are clearly the best representation of gay reltionships I have seen this year.
Nuke... *sigh*. There are so many reasons why I should hate it: the unrealistic stories, the cock-blocking, the lack of physical contact but... when Nuke is good, it is up there. I admire them for taking Luke and Noah in a different direction: they're in love, it's not all about sex. And as much as it frustrates me, I am still completely hooked. Maybe it's the acting or maybe it's the characters. Either way, I'm not giving up and for me, they have the highest expectations for 2009.
Torchwood is probably my favourite BBC program of the year, and there have been many. For me, it is good in it more than just the relationship between Jack and Ianto, as much as I love them both as individual characters and a couple. It's a show about so many things: love, humanity, leadership, greed. For that, it is certainly best all-round show of 2008; hope a change of format in 2009 will not change that.
Roman and Deniz... when they are together there is such chemistry, and splitting them up was clearly a mistake. But one no one seems to be rushing to fix so for that, they are simply the best almost couple of the year. A shame what could have been so good was not allowed to develop...
Brothers and Sisters has had a good year: I liked Jason, love Scotty and am so proud of their marriage. For one thing, it gives all those Prop 8 supporters something to think about, and for that I think the deserve best statement of the year. Nora's speech made me cry and they're the most functioning couple in the show!
I have made my thoughts on QaF clear, and while it may not be this year in real time it is in mine, and I am the first to admit I was wrong. QaFUSA is good: Brian and Justin up there amoung my favourites, and while Micheal will never be Vince, I can accept the change.
So, the overall winner? It wasn't to be anything else. HOLLYOAKS wins, for so many reasons. I had been waiting for a year for the Sunset Ending, and while it was rushed, I think it did the characters justice. And the hole John Paul has left in the soap for me is frightening! They are the perfect couple for me, in their imperfections and flaws they honestly love each other. Whatever insecurities, whatever problems there is love. And the speed of the Sunset Ending was a testament to that: nothing else matters. It was an end of an era for me and so many others: not only saying good bye to the couple and amazingly talented actors but to Bryan Kirkwood who has truly regenerated the soap into something I am proud to call myself a fan of. It's light when it needs to be, serious when it needs to be and has given the internet the best gay couple in the land. For that, I thank everyone involved. And promise, with BlogSpot as my witness, I will never stop loving John Paul & Craig, and never stop believing in their happy live in Dublin. Forever may it last.
So, that's it. But tomorrow I will be posting another not real post about my thoughts on... THE NEW DOCTOR WHO! The announcment is being made at 17:35 GMT, so expect a verdict at around 18:00. Hope to see you then...
xXx
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