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Stargate watching.
I though about posting this on a list where, miracles of miracles, we are having a great, calm, rational discussion about Chimera, but it really doesn't fit that topic. I tried to pin down my thoughts on the subject - to define which "side" I'm on, and I've really found it difficult. My mind kept wandering off to more of an overall philosophy when I watch the show or for that matter, any TV show.
And like how the famous Carly Simon song goes: "You're so vain. You probably think this post is about you..." (or something like that.) It's not. This post is about me, me, me. It's not about you. (Ninety people just said, "who me?") Trust me. It's not. This isn't to slight anyone or to try and annoy anyone or to try and make myself appear superior to anyone. *thwacks everyone on the nose* Get it?? This isn't about you! This is about *me*. (*sigh* And why do I feel like people will *still* think I'm secretly talking about them?)
And just a warning - if you're sitting in the first five rows, you will experience rambling but will not be spoiled.
*
I've always been fascinated with stories. At a young age instead of watching TV, my mom would read to us chapters from novels. It really was the highlight of the day - we'd get in the den, sit cross-legged in the beanbags (heh) ready to be told a story. Mystery. Humor. Drama. Adventure. It didn't matter what kind - they were all worlds ready to be explored. It was our version of the age-old storytelling tradition. One that goes back millennia.
As I got older, movies and TV came into my life (the parents put very strict limits on TV as a kid but the limits lessened as we got older). That same hunger to be told a story carried over. Some of my favorite childhood memories are riding bikes with my brother down to the movie theater and sitting in the dark, cool room watching things like Indiana Jones, Return of the Jedi and Back to the Future. Say what you want critically about those movies - those were fantastic *stories*.
As I read more and saw more, my tastes developed and changed, as anyone's would. I took literature and media classes throughout high school and college and so began to recognize things like form, pacing, characterization, and in general what makes for a good story or a bad story. But even with all this knowledge at the ready, one thing carried over from my childhood:
When I read a book or watch a scripted TV show or a movie, I metaphorically sit cross-legged on the floor, look up and say, "tell me a story."
The stories in books are not mine to tell. The stories in movies are not mine to tell. The stories in TV shows are not mine to tell. I am merely the listener. And so with that in mind, I *personally* can't tell the storyteller what I want them to say - it destroys the storytelling experience for me. Does that mean I might end up with an unhappy ending or just a bad story? Yep. But I've gotten what I've wanted all along - to be told a story.
Now does that mean that after I've seen the show/movie or read the book that I sit there with a 5-year-old's expression on my face, say "thanks mommy!" and then toodle off to bed? No. I've had all that edumacation (and simply have existed in the world longer) to recognize the good, the bad and the ugly.
Some stories evoke strong emotions in me. Some stories make me want to mock them. And some stories (more recently in my life) inspire me to say, "Let *me* tell you a story."
Now, is this a better philosophy than anyone else's? No. Is it a worse one? No. It's just mine.
And like how the famous Carly Simon song goes: "You're so vain. You probably think this post is about you..." (or something like that.) It's not. This post is about me, me, me. It's not about you. (Ninety people just said, "who me?") Trust me. It's not. This isn't to slight anyone or to try and annoy anyone or to try and make myself appear superior to anyone. *thwacks everyone on the nose* Get it?? This isn't about you! This is about *me*. (*sigh* And why do I feel like people will *still* think I'm secretly talking about them?)
And just a warning - if you're sitting in the first five rows, you will experience rambling but will not be spoiled.
*
I've always been fascinated with stories. At a young age instead of watching TV, my mom would read to us chapters from novels. It really was the highlight of the day - we'd get in the den, sit cross-legged in the beanbags (heh) ready to be told a story. Mystery. Humor. Drama. Adventure. It didn't matter what kind - they were all worlds ready to be explored. It was our version of the age-old storytelling tradition. One that goes back millennia.
As I got older, movies and TV came into my life (the parents put very strict limits on TV as a kid but the limits lessened as we got older). That same hunger to be told a story carried over. Some of my favorite childhood memories are riding bikes with my brother down to the movie theater and sitting in the dark, cool room watching things like Indiana Jones, Return of the Jedi and Back to the Future. Say what you want critically about those movies - those were fantastic *stories*.
As I read more and saw more, my tastes developed and changed, as anyone's would. I took literature and media classes throughout high school and college and so began to recognize things like form, pacing, characterization, and in general what makes for a good story or a bad story. But even with all this knowledge at the ready, one thing carried over from my childhood:
When I read a book or watch a scripted TV show or a movie, I metaphorically sit cross-legged on the floor, look up and say, "tell me a story."
The stories in books are not mine to tell. The stories in movies are not mine to tell. The stories in TV shows are not mine to tell. I am merely the listener. And so with that in mind, I *personally* can't tell the storyteller what I want them to say - it destroys the storytelling experience for me. Does that mean I might end up with an unhappy ending or just a bad story? Yep. But I've gotten what I've wanted all along - to be told a story.
Now does that mean that after I've seen the show/movie or read the book that I sit there with a 5-year-old's expression on my face, say "thanks mommy!" and then toodle off to bed? No. I've had all that edumacation (and simply have existed in the world longer) to recognize the good, the bad and the ugly.
Some stories evoke strong emotions in me. Some stories make me want to mock them. And some stories (more recently in my life) inspire me to say, "Let *me* tell you a story."
Now, is this a better philosophy than anyone else's? No. Is it a worse one? No. It's just mine.
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God, weren't they though? Talk about entertainment.
We never had the story telling thing in my home...or at least, not to the degree you apparently did :) But that's pretty much the way I feel. It's not my job to tell anyone what to do - and as it happens, I pretty much love what they do anyway. Woo hoo! *g*
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Oh yeah! And that's why I'm thoroughly in love PotC too!
We never had the story telling thing in my home...or at least, not to the degree you apparently did :) But that's pretty much the way I feel. It's not my job to tell anyone what to do - and as it happens, I pretty much love what they do anyway. Woo hoo! *g*
Oh yeah! I don't watch Stargate because it's a critically great show. *cough* I watch because it's a *fantastic* trip! :)
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Stargate is the most character-oriented SF action/adventure I've ever seen. And that is what makes it so wonderful. It's been a looong time since I cared about TV characters this much, heck, maybe ever.
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They really are fantastic characters! Just love them! :)
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Fun fun fun! I hadn't thought of that before...it really is the same kind of movie, isn't it? Hee! God knows I've watched Indiana Jones countless times...
Oh yeah! I don't watch Stargate because it's a critically great show. *cough* I watch because it's a *fantastic* trip! :)
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
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Yep! Just a fun adventure that totally pulls you into its world! Love those movies where I feel like I'm there. :)
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*hums Indiana Jonas theme*
Duh duh duh duuuh
duh duh duuuuuuh
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It's hard to say. Everyone approaches things in different ways in life. But even the same approach doesn't guarantee the same experience.
I'm just too damn philosophical today! *g*
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No it doesn't guarantee that you'd enjoy it the same way. But if the way you're doing something doesn't seem to be giving you enjoyment, maybe you need to be trying something else. Or not. ;)
I'm just too damn philosophical today!
Yes it's very calm and collected of you. And maybe just a little scary.
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Oh hell yeah.
Yes it's very calm and collected of you. And maybe just a little scary.
Very scary. ;)
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