The Wonderful Future

I'm the worst person about keeping this journal active, ever. In fact, I'm so bad that I'm not even going to comment on the randomness of my entries again. There.

I'm currently in the process of contemplating a tattoo for myself. The thing is, I want it to be original, interesting, and artistic. So, it's giving me problems. I wonder if the base of the neck text is too cliche? I think that it is. I think that I want the word 'Engine' but I'm not sure......... and an old-fashioned airplane. frustrating. I need to make sure that whatever it is, I'd never be ashamed to show anyone.

I really like how people use words like "period" at the end of their statements and think that that settles the argument. For instance: "Being gay is a choice, period". Is it? Is it REALLY? Of course it's not, and all modern science backs this up. This sentence construction is a tool of ignorant people who can't argue their point because there is no evidence to support their empty and backwards point of view.

Every time I start to feel better about this situation, I run into some new piece of idiocy spouted by people like Rep. Sally Kern. Now, because I have a masochistic streak a mile and a half wide, I always read the comments on these articles, sometimes just to remind myself how horrible people can be. I forget sometimes. Lately, I've noticed a common thread amidst all the cracked-out religious frothing - an increasing tendency to rail against 'political correctness'.

I admit, sometimes the verbal acrobatics we have to go through to avoid offending people annoy even me. But really? NOT indulging in hate speech is not the same thing as being politically correct. They are significantly different.

I've blown off my real creative writing assignment... oops.

SPOILERS FOR EPISODE 2x02, SLEEPER

Okay, so, much as it pains me to admit, I had high hopes and mixed feelings for this episode. Since I inevitably spoil myself rotten for every episode, I knew what the outcome would be - not that it couldn't be guessed from the trailers - which took a bit of the suspense out of the whole mystery thing. We KNEW she was an alien before the episode began, although that doesn't explain how JACK did.

Seriously, when it comes to Torchwood I will suspend my disbelief to hell and back, but this episode tried even my generous willingness to just go along with it. First, as I'm sure it's been pointed out: Why did Torchwood investigate in the first place? Random policework isn't usually their thing. Good thing it turned out to be an alien invasion, right? -_- Second, since when do they kidnap people and bring them back to the Hub? Especially since Beth hadn't, at this point, shown any indication that she was an alien, and not, you know, a regular old murderer. Where they proceed to subject her to a rigorous interrogation. Personally, I didn't see any evidence at this point that the situation was dire in any way yet.

Which brings me to my absolute biggest problem with this episode: Jack himself. WTF, writers? We know that Jack can be tough at times, when there's no other choice. We get it. We also know that he isn't a bad person, and is really quite gentle-natured at heart. Jack's best and most meaningful moments are the quiet, compassionate ones, and as a character, he generally has excellent judgment about the right times to apply force. Which is why it was utterly bewildering to me to see him acting like such an overblown ass all episode. The shouting was painful to watch and made me wince (Never quite thought I'd say that about JB). Since when does Captain Jack flip a shit on a terrified woman? Very out-of-character. It didn't need to be broadcasted quite so loud that Jack is a FOILFOILFOIL for Gwen. We've got it, thanks.

In general I thought the characters were uneven throughout the episode, making for a jarring view. Tosh was unusually useless and Ianto (whom I usually adore and who can't do much wrong as far as I'm concerned) bothered me a lot. I understand that they're trying to lighten up his character after the excessive emo-ness of last season, but they've badly overshot their mark on this one. Like Jack, Ianto's best moments are the quiet ones. GDL is really an excellent actor, really subtle and in this episode they've pretty much gone from one extreme to another. To an extent I could make excuses for it: Ianto's really young, after all, maybe this was his personality before Lisa, happier now, Jack's back, blah blah blah. But I don't really buy it. His character can be really powerful, and I'm afraid they're going to go and make him the comic relief instead of the resident weepy teenager. They're cheapening his character by making pretty much all his lines zingy one-liners. Funny, but - necessary? No. Out of place? Yes, often. They need to tone it back. Keep it to one or two an episode, please.

That said, the scene with Jack after the interrogation? Tickled me to death. It was adorable and very well acted. And on a purely shallow basis, they have genuine chemistry and complement each other really well. I would keep that scene, and also the one where he's talking to Gwen about Jack in bed. That one was also cute. My favorite Ianto scene in this episode is, surprisingly, the one with Gwen in the morgue. He holds his arm out to her and the expression on his face is very soft and compassionate, much more in-character and moving. I would have expected him to be much more sensitive throughout the episode, because when he's dicking around, Jack acts like Daddy, and I find that incredibly creepy. D:

Strangely enough, my favorite part of the episode would be Gwen. Here, we finally get to see her the way I have a sneaking suspicion the creators had intended from the start. I got a genuine vibe of compassion and caring instead of the bleeding-heart whininess of earlier episodes. Bravo, Gwen. Also, I'm digging the platonic friendship between Jack and Gwen. They really do work well together and THANK YOU for not slapping me upside the head with a doomed romance.

In other notes, the guest star, as in some of my favorite Who episodes, really stole the show. I thought she acted beautifully; I really felt for Beth by the end of the episode. I was tearing up a little bit when she accidentally murders her husband whom she loves absolutely.

All in all, I was a bit underwhelmed by this one, though it's not keeping me from greatly anticipating next week. Tosh much?

Since it's safely been almost a week since I've seen it, and since I have continued in a condition generally termed 'squee' since I did, I thought it was about time to sort through my reactions to the episode.

SPOILERS!

As a whole, I thought the episode lived up to my excessive anticipation. The creators promised to fix the problems of the first season, and they delivered. From a purely narrative perspective, the new series flowed much better. Leaving that, I'd like to get my one issue with the new series off my chest before I embark on the praising. This would be, unsurprisingly, the character of Gwen.

My main problem with the character of Gwen is the incongruency between what we (the audience) are supposed to think of her and what her character actually comes across as. From the beginning of the first episode, Gwen is supposedly established as the 'heart' of the team. This is only reinforced by the Exposition-Fish's assessment of the team in KKBB. The problem is that Gwen doesn't read to me as an overly empathetic character; instead, she has a lot of big vague watery feelings for strangers (Carys) and cannibals (Countrycide) but is remarkably insensitive to the feelings of the people closest to her.

Unlike most of fandom, it seems, I liked Gwen at the start. I even liked her quite a bit during her affair with Owen; I really enjoyed the way the show portrayed the sometimes-messy nature of real-life relationships. But, please, do not try to sell her to me as the height of Torchwood's morality. First, because of her treatment of Tosh during her fling with Owen. It's obvious that Tosh has feelings for him, and while that wouldn't necessarily stop Gwen from pursuing a relationship with him, it should have warranted a bit of discretion and sensitivity on Gwen's part. Second, during the same time period, her treatment of the loyal boyfriend Rhys. The way Gwen deals with her relationship is, to me, absolutely appalling and motivated by selfishness rather than love. She *drugs* him while at the same time begging for forgiveness. Her treatment of Rhys is also reflective of the general way she treats the people from her old life (PC Andy); with a thin layer of condescension. She's become too *good* for them.

In 2x01 we get more of the same from Gwen. Once again, I took a deep breath and said, 'Gwen, I COULD like you, if you'd only give me the chance. Everyone's got problems and Owne's a wanker too but I like him all the same'. I loved her little hissed "drives me crazy" line in the opening scene. Unfortunatey, the writers have again insisted on making her unpalatable to me in several ways. Gwen has no subtlety, and her ego seems to have outstriped her skill level. In a bizarre move, she decides that she knows better how to deal with Captain John than Jack himself doesn't take Jack seriously when he warns her about him, and gets burned for it. What concrete skills does Gwen have, anyway? 'Carer'? Really?

The Jack/Gwen scene in that episode hit me like a punch in the face or an anvil dropped from the sky. The expression 'dead horse' comes to mind. This scene bothered me for several reasons. The first is the awkward placement; it interrupts the otherwise engaging narrative flow and pacing of the show, resulting in an unpleasant jolt for the viewer. The second is the actual content and portrayal of the characters during the scene. I believe they were shooting for ambiguity, and in a sense that's what they achieved - though it was less ambiguity and more confusion. Is Jack jealous? What is he feeling? Why is he touching her so intimately? Why are her eyes so freaking wide? Jack spent most of the first season pushing Gwen back into her regular life with Rhys. I've personally never seen any evidence that he has feelings for her; he was amused when she was with Owen, a bit pissed off at her treatment of Rhys, but I never got the sense of personal emotional involvement beyond her role as his friend and confidante.

I've read that there's been Jack/Gwen subtext building since the first series, although I never picked up on it apart from the gun-training scene, which was amusing and attractive but typical Jack behavior - nothing out of the ordinary for an extremely physically demonstrative man who enjoys flirtation of all kinds. Their body language doesn't typically indicate attraction or chemistry. The strangeness of this scene in the context of the rest of the show forced me to consider the creators' motivations for including it and after considering, I think it probably serves a similar function to Exposition-Fish. Because the show's on a new channel this series, it's pulling in an entirely new audience, one that perhaps isn't completely familiar with the characters yet. This scene just screams to me, 'Look! Jack's not gay! Really!' - bit cynical, but he has his scenes with both Captain John and Ianto in the rest of the episode, so I get the vibe they're just evening the score.

I will be upset if they pull an Anne Rice and have Jack ride off into the sunset with his woman, because Gay Never Works Out in the End.

JK Rowling outs Dumbledore as gay! Alright, I'm SO behind the 8-ball on this rant. My roommate and I were discussing this earlier, so it just popped into my mind as I was procrastinating on a photography paper dealing with gender and sexuality. (:/ people are going to be so bored with me as this is all I seem to study and/or talk about.)

But anyway, I find this interesting for a few reasons. Number 1, although there is subtext like woah in the bit concerning Dumbledore's backstory, I didn't pay that much attention because this is the form of narrative referred to as 'infodump' and it's terribly boring to me.

Number 2: Rowling, if you're so concerned about tolerance, why not make this more explicit in the books? Yes, in an ideal world, heterosexuality would not be the automatic norm, but since this is not the case, a major, gay, role model character in a WILDLY RIDICULOUSLY ENORMOUSLY popular children's series is a BIG DEAL. The problem is, now it's post-book, and some people just don't consider that canon.

NOTE: I am especially angry about this part because I was recently fired up over the incident of some piece of shit scrawling the word 'fag' on one of our elevators. Thanks so much for alientating about 95% of our population. WHY DO YOU GO HERE? GET OFF MY CAMPUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Number 3: The public's reaction. 'Oh no! This might make our children gay! The HORROR!' Really, people? I mean, seriously? This makes be boil a little bit inside. I am SICK and TIRED of homophobia in our society. Some person, commenting, said:

"I will not see the remaining movies and the books, dvd's and games I already own are now in the trash. I will never read another word J.K. Rowling writes and will, in time, completely forget the Harry Potter story I really enjoyed because it was based on a false premise - that the story was about the innocence of youth being thrust into the timeless war of good against evil."

This comment, I think reflects the fundamental prejudice of our society today. Homosexuals can never be a part of the ideal of innocence, because the very fact of their sexual orientation excludes them from virtue. You know what? Gay people are equally as likely as straight people to place value on sex. Your preference has NO BEARING WHATSOEVER on the choices you make concerning sex.

Also, to everyone who complains about homosexuality being shoved down their throats: how is this ANY different from what the mainstream, white heterosexual media does? Now, I won't go quoting some seriously dense academic papers at you because this is a goddamn RANT and I'm angry, but this is a construct of the dominant in society, meant to keep minorities subjugated.

I LOVE children's books and media. I ADORE them. As a child, I read extensively, and I still do, but my favorite are still the classic books geared towards children. Based on mine and others' experience, the existence of a gay character in children's media is not likely to do more than broaden their sense of humanity. It will not somehow magically turn them gay. Nothing I've experienced as a child was in any way 'tainted' by the existence of gay characters.

Returning to the more specific case of Dumbledore, I knew as soon as I heard the news that there would be disgusting references made to his mentor relationship with Harry. That deserves a rant all by itself. Suffice to say, homosexuality does NOT EQUAL, AND HAS NEVER EQUALED, pedophilia.

Also, some retard has just said she feels 'unsafe' with all the references to sexuality in the books. I really, honestly want to rip my hair out. I might end up dedicating my life's work to combating prejudice and ignorance, because I HATE IT. YES! have diversity in children's books, because impressions about the world are formed early.

In fact, I have to say that the only comfort I'm gleaning from this episode is the joyful and understanding reactions of the children in the audience. It kind of warms my heart a little bit, because deep down, I really just want us all to be friends, and haters stand in the way of that.

Goddamn, now I think I'm foaming at the mouth just a little bit. And still no paper.

ETA: 'Just live your lives and be quiet about it.' NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!! And do you fuckers know what? There is NO SUCH THING as a 'simple story' and that an author shouldn't let her own feelings get in the way of a story. Where do you think stories COME from?

Now I have to go to a rally. Where the candidate doesn't support gay rights because of his religion. I'm REALLY going to be frothing then.

No, this post has nothing to do with weed. And as a preface to my usual weekly rants, do you remember how GREAT Coldplay was before they started sucking? Maybe having a kid called Apple does something to your talent. Like making it disappear.

So this evening, I was watching the local Boston news and they had a story about a girl who checked out a copy of Gossip Girl from her local library, opened it up, and out popped some porn. I have to say, I've been searching for some Gossip Girl porn since I started watching the show, although this is somewhat off-topic because I'm depraved and this girl (13) apparently is not. But anyway, what 13-year-old finds a picture of a naked chick and is so traumatised she brings it straight to her mother? And if this is a typical reaction amongst this age group, we've got a national problem. Children this age are HAVING SEX.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: If you're uncomfortable with nudity, you probably aren't ready to have sex. That is all.

Also, America as a whole needs to pull that stick out of its collective ass. Has anyone else noticed that we are a nation of puritan prudes? Europe would have scoffed at this. They're not like, OMG! Boobs! It's not like children have never seen BOOBS before. And seriously, a picture of one naked girl with her legs crossed barely even counts as soft-core porn.


***

In other news, I have discovered the existence of a genre called 'christian fiction', and no, it does not warrant a capital letter. This is what happens to kids who don't discover online porn by 13. This sort of story, in my opinion, is nothing more than spiritual masturbation. As far as I know, non-Christians don't read this shit and instantly convert. It's marketed towards Christian teens who can't consume media like the rest of us, because it might taint them.

***

Bleh. Speaking of unclean, I have to pitch a speech to my class tomorrow. I borrowed a topic from my very sweet suitemate, and I think I just don't have the personality to carry it off. Because, you know, I just don't care about the state of humanity in general. I'm that much of a bitch.

Bones, why? I love you. Really, I do. But did you think I wouldn't notice? There was a commercial two minutes before! So please tell me why it was necessary to insert some stilted dialogue, jolting me out of enjoying the great dynamic between Bones and Booth, to make a useless product placement for your idiotic reality show, 'Smarter than a 5th Grader'? You know something, I AM smarter than a fifth grader. I'm sure there are areas of trivia wherein a fifth grader would know more than me. I'm also sure that my cognitive skills are more advanced than those of a fifth grader. It's CHEATING when you take dumbasses and put them on your show. This program has been brought to you by a concerned citizen who only wants to go back to sick murder and maddening-but-oh-so-wonderful URST.

You know, the thing I really love about 'Bones' is the attention that has been paid to detail and the slow development of the relationship between Booth and Bones. It's the sneaky background thread that has been slowly growing in prominence since the very beginning. I love it! It's entirely believable, because they have made it develop like a real-life connection. Also, Booth and Bones DON'T agree on everything, but they're also not your stereotypical-infuriating-bickering couple. There's tangible, mutual affection there.

The one complaint I have this season is the over-the-top freakishness of Zack. He was such a great character and the best thing about him was his enthusiasm and naivete. Yes, I realize he went to Iraq and is now supposed to be all PTSD, but I feel that this mutation into zombie-like automaton has been at the unfortunate cost of the character's charm. Hopefully this will develop better as the season progresses.

In other news, House is fucking sick. Aside from a few minor slips in dialogue (Foreman, what the fuck?) and WTF brand new characterization (Chase, I loved you when you were a spineless bundle of issues, and NOT with Cameron), the show is great. You know has completely taken me by surprise this season is WILSON. His character, in the absence of the team, has really gotten some time in the spotlight, and I'm liking what I'm seeing. He and House are so adorable, and did anyone else catch that little nod to the slashers in the hospital room? Anyway, RSL is completely adorable and may turn out to be my TV crush of the season, at least until January when Torchwood begins airing in England.


All right, that was what is fantastic on TV, let's move onto the things that are pissing me off. Aaaand for the moment there's only 1: Tila-fucking-Tequila. Or whatever her name is. And her retarded new love show and her supposedly-bisexual self. What is up with that... "I'm a bisexual freak"? What is that implying? One thing our culture really doesn't need right now is a portrayal of bisexual people as being rabid sex fiends (Captain Jack SO doesn't count). Maybe she really is bi. I don't know. I can't tell. But this stupid show is reading to me like a ridiculous publicity stunt. And I want it gone.

(It annoys me even more than the Hills, Kid Nation, Smarter than a Fifth Grader, and pretty much everything else on MTV).

I've come to the unhappy realization that I am One of Those People, one of those writers who wants to talk about nothing but their work, or their craft in general. This must be a significant explanation for why artists and writers are generally so awkward.

On the other hand, I only have to wait until Friday to have my camera!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(after which point I will be ENTIRELY insufferable).

Good news! I've pretty much decided that I'm going to be using Story #1 for my NaNoWriMo, because so much of the preliminary has been done, and I actually have some sound character motivations as well as complex emotional lives for them. :D

Of course, this enthusiasm for my creative project directly correlates to how little work I've done for my classes this weekend.

So I've just signed up for NaNoWriMo (or National Novel Writing Month) 2007. Feel free to point and mock if, in November, I am occupied by activities other than writing.

So, today a professor of mine shared with the class a comment made by another professor at our college. According to this professor (British and unnamed, although I might guess who he is), our generation is 'leftist only when it comes to our genitalia'; we are otherwise extremely conservative. The professor sharing this story deigned not to comment on this statement; as an anthropologist she rarely shares her opinions in the lecture. (This doesn't stop the students from interrupting with pointless conjecture about the nature of our society. Well, I've got a statement about our society: we're so self-centered we can't pull our heads out of our asses for five minutes to reflect on a topic in an objective manner).

Anyway, this comment struck me as being particularly astute. I've felt for a while that the youth of this country doesn't truly understand liberalism. Sure, most of them identify as anything from moderately liberal to extremist, but judging by their general discourse, I feel that they lack the insight into culture and society that seems to be the basis for forming an educated opinion of politics.

On another nerdy note, I got an A on my first college paper. I feel so validated.

So. It's time for my weekly...daily... hourly... whatever. Since I spent all of my time yesterday watching television instead of working on my speech, I figured I'd at least exercise my writing chops and start commentating.

So, I had been waiting eagerly for months for the season premieres of Fox's Bones and House. I think it's because I was feeling incredibly ill last night, but for some reason I wasn't entraptured by the premieres.

I liked Bones, but I wasn't feeling the passion and liveliness that is usually a feature of the show. The Booth/Bones interaction felt a little bit forced, and although I love them as a couple, I'm used to the dynamic being much more understated, subtle. I think the shift from 'awkward platonic yet devoted friends with lots of URST' to 'look, now we're touching and sharing our feelings'. I like that they've created a running case for the season; it looks interesting and I feel like they'll get their footing within an episode or so. Premieres... eh.

And as for House, I'm not sure that I have a definite verdict. There were quite a few honest-to-God laugh-out-loud moments, which were totally unexpected and completely delightful, mostly growing out of the adorable interaction between House and Wilson. The case, however, was less than enthralling. My suitemate called the twist about 15 minutes before it actually happened. And the 'ghost' visions of the ex-team? Not buying. They're coming back, goddammit! I've known since last season and you can't fool me like that. (Speaking of shit I'm not buying: that atomic bombshell Captain Jack future-spoiler they dropped at the end of Doctor Who season 3? I'm choosing to ignore. The sad thing is, my brain has already started trying to rationalize and it makes sense on some levels...)

At the moment I'm taking a break from working and watching the CW's new hit, Gossip Girl. Well, it turns out to be pretty much what I expected: super one-dimensional characters, lots of contrived angst, and frequently cringe-worthy dialogue. So why am I watching it? It might have something to do with the cast. The acting is actually really good, and it doesn't hurt that the guys of the show are all really cute. I'm a little disgusted with myself for falling for the whole handsome-but-tortured routine played by one of the main guys... but you've gotta admit, I've never had a chance against that type. Big blue eyes, soulful pout, carefully tousled hair. Also, the rock star dad is pretty hot. And, oh yeah. I like their clothes. But I still don't buy the over-the-top bitchiness. It's not natural. Although that is the effect they're going for... (For a sample of some 'juicy' dialogue: 'What are you doing right now? How about me?) LOL. (On the other hand, the soundtrack is still excellent. Props for that).

In other news, I've begun listening almost exclusively to female artists. I think it has something to do with the many, many gender/feminist themed projects I've been doing, but suddenly I'm really into some serious woman power. I like the ones that really belt it. One CD that's currently on heavy rotation on my homework list is All This Time, by Heartless Bastards.

So. This morning I was 10 minutes late from class, due to an unfortunate circumstance involving an alarm clock that, for some reason, never went off. And as much as I ordinarily love sitting around looking at slides of old photographs, this class is deadly boring. It takes photography and makes it somehow dull. (!) And I resent that.

But moving right along, I've discovered that living with five other people is something of an eye-opening experience. There's a lot of opportunity to expand into new fields of entertainment viewing. Which is why last night found me sitting around in front of the tv, watching the premiere of the CW's tv adaption of the popular chick-lit series, 'Gossip Girl'. (It was on after 'America's Next Top Model' which is a whole other field of guilty pleasure.)

Anyway, I resolved to view the series with an open mind, making a serious effort to suspend my disbelief and run with it. And to my surprise, I found it extremely watchable, even enjoyable. Of course, there were several moments that fumbled. I'll get to those in a bit.

As far as I can gather, (having never read the book series) the television show draws loosely from the book canon. The narrator is a mysterious, disembodied voice from the blogosphere, obsessively recording the drama of the lives of the main characters. After I got over my initial snarkiness, (It's a show about a girl who's stalking her classmates) I found myself identifying with this gossiping narrator. After all, what are writers but very keen observers? My imagined connection with the narrator turned out to be an extremely effective point in the show, because I didn't identify with any of the other main characters, and, I believe, neither did 95% of the other viewers.

I'll stop here for a moment, because this structure is the one element that took what would have been a flat, mediocre and insincere dramatization of an obnoxiously wealthy brat pack and elevated it to a level of, if not high art, at least quality entertainment in the time-honored tradition of the romance novel. Because the narrator is so resolutely anonymous, she is like a blank page: without a personality of her own, it is easy for the viewer to substitute herself into the role of this all-knowing character, thereby giving her the ticket to the so-called 'inner circle'. It allows the viewer to become absorbed in the show without necessarily being a part of the exclusive world of the characters. Because I don't know about you, but I don't get served expensive martinis in posh hotel bars, and without the mechanism of the self-insert character, I probably wouldn't care about people who do.

Okay. The characters. It's only the first episode, but we've been slammed by a lot of backstory in a tiny amount of time. As a result of this, a lot of it falls flat, feeling contrived, like a universe populated by stock characters. I mean, we've got the reformed bitch/slut with the suicidal brother and her ultra-thin cardboard cutout of a mother; the angsty, invisible kid with an ex-rockstar art-gallery-owning socialist father (and yet he sends his kids to an elite private school in Manhattan?); we've got this blushing not-so-much-a-virgin-anymore (oops!) kid who only wants to get out from under his controlling father (I lol'd) and... well, I could go on, but you get the picture. These kids and their *problems*. But like I said, I'll give some leeway because it was the first episode.

The only part(s) I found well and truly jarring were the two abrupt instances of attempted rape. I think this was a huge mistake for a pilot episode, for a few reasons. One of my biggest pet peeves is rape being used as a plot device. And to be honest, that's what it felt like. One minute there's Air softly playing in the background, the next I'm like, holy shit! And then it's over. There was, for all purposes, no actual fallout. And then, by the end of the episode, it happens again! The same kid! And it felt stilted, and I'm offended by the casual use of rape. So that's my only real nitpick.

Overall, I thought the show was entertaining; I'd watch it again. Hopefully the writers work out the kinks and the plausibility (two kids in high school, dating since kindergarte, haven't had sex yet? There better be a damn good reason!) But for something that I thought was going to suck spectacularly, I was pleasantly surprised.

Or maybe it is. Ever seen the BBC version of 'The Tempest'? SUBTEXT much, in giant blaring neon lettering?

(WARNING: THIS IS A BITCH OF A RANT HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PERSONALITIES AND GENERAL WORTH OF THE PEOPLE I MAY OR MAY NOT BE DESCRIBING)

But I digress. One of the major perils of attending a prominent, extremely liberal college for the arts is you tend to get lumped in with a lot of opinionated idiots. Let me clarify this: having a pulse does not automatically give you the right to inflict your uninformed blatherings on the world at large. Specifically, me. Because it wreaks havoc on my blood pressure. Here's an example: in class discussion dealing with Edward Said's 'Orientalism'. Good points are made. The text is dissected. Suddenly, we're creating examples of binary symbiotic relationships; i.e., relationships where one element is defined by and cannot exist without the other. The starting point of this is the West and the Orient during the seventeenth century. Valid. Many other examples, also valid. You know what's NOT valid? America and Iraq in 2007.

I know that attempting to relate the material to the present day is good for discussion. But please, think about the definitions. Can the definition of America exist without the definition of Iraq? I think it can. Can Iraq exist without America? I think it can. Two countries at war are not necessarily defined by each other, especially not in the modern age. The West and the Orient were NOT two countries at war. They were broad terms describing a two massive ideas of civilization, encompassing within many different cultures, developed entirely based upon their differences from each other. Which is, after all, the point of the text we were discussing.

Back to the present day. As an American, I reject classification based upon my leader's foreign policy. As Americans, we should realize that we hold the power to make CHANGES. Which is sort of the whole point of the country. You hate what's going on? Stop crying like a bitch and take a real stand. We belong to a culture, and that culture cannot be summed up in a neat little package named the War with Iraq. Yes, it does bring to light several facets of our culture that are undesirable to the educated. But you know what makes me want to throw you out of that group? Randomly inserting mocking cries of 'George Bush is stupid!' into conversation where there is no immediate relevance. Actually, I'd argue for the removal of that sentence from your repertoire entirely. Because simply claiming that someone else is stupid (and the guy DID attend Yale, and we can't take that away from him) is not constructive. Such a claim with such base language makes YOU look stupid and, I assure you, has no impact on the quality of Mr. Bush's sleep at night.

In other words, stop helping, you're making us look bad! Because I, too, feel offended at the way Bush has abused his power in the presidency. I hate his foreign policy. I hate the way this administration has made the American people look in the eyes of the rest of the world. I LIKE where I come from, goddammit, and I refuse to feel ashamed for that. Yes, there's a LOT wrong with America today. I resent Bush's ultra-conservative 'moral majority' not-so-secret agenda. I resent the fact that gay marriage is still illegal. I resent the foreign policy that still reeks of imperialism and entitlement. I resent the lingering lack of social equality. But you know something else? I resent the way Americans as a whole refuse to face the problem. Bush is a goddamn awful public speaker and the spokesperson for our so-called 'War on Terror'. It is so tempting to foist all the blame off on him and his stupid drawling crimes against linguistics. But at the same time, I know this won't solve any of our problems. In fact, I'm still not sure if Kerry wouldn't have been worse. The problems of our culture were not created by Mr. George Bush. When he's gone, we'll still be dealing with ignorance and prejudice and probably the disdain of the whole world. We let this happen, and it's up to us to turn it around.

(p.s. - Youth culture icon or no, I still think Al Gore is batshit crazy and I fervently hope he never becomes president or I'm going to go ex-pat. Hilary Clinton is sort of looking like an inevitability; I might get hives if I vote for her but I can't see how ANY of the current candidates are better. Guiliani tried to shut down an ART museum! What a ... anyway. But now I'm of age and have a responsibility to vote...)

Alright. Because as we all know I am probably the most dedicated procrastinator alive, I am looking for a distraction. I should be composing a two page response comparing Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' with Columbus' journals of the New World... ahem. I have decided to instead write about the art of entertainment, which interests me far more. So, it is likely I will be awake all night...

As I wrote in a previous entry, my new favorite thing is Torchwood, the British sci-fi show about a super-secret organization dedicated to catching aliens, saving the earth, and having lots of kinky gay sex. (I can't wait for the premiere of Season 2 in January; spoilers indicate much more focus on the Jack/Ianto relationship dynamic. Yay!) But moving on, I decided to examine why I liked it so much (besides the prominence of on-screen innuendo and kissing.) I decided that the dialogue is so-so, the characterization is difficult to pin down for most of the characters (though this may be attributed to the small number of episodes and the different writers contributing), and some of the plot lines seem to come out of left field and smack you in the face. Of course, all these things can be easily fixed in the second season. Hopefully.

But what really makes the show stand out, makes it sparkle, is the way it turns viewer expectations and the rules of conventional storytelling on their proverbial heads. It's all set up, like you would expect any average television drama to be set up: We're introduced to the heroine in the first episode. She's cute, smart, and compassionate, everything that should be just the thing to melt Captain Jack's cold exterior and win his heart. According to what we are trained to expect, she'll leave her average, slightly pudgy boyfriend to persue her male opposite, who's handsome, charming, and mysterious. Instead, she decides to have an affair (jumping off her pedastal of moral high ground. bad herione, bad!) with Owen, the team's physician and resident dickhead. She doesn't leave her boyfriend, and when she finally tells him, she drugs him so he won't remember and leave her. I was absolutely delighted! I should have known; just when I was starting to grumble that it was all a lie, that Jack and Gwen were getting thrown together in every possible way, we get an out-of-the-blue proposition from Ianto, the team's coffeeboy and general handyman, who gets about two seconds of screen time per episode, and he becomes the love interest of the male lead (Jack) (It can be argued that 'love interest' is a bit of a strong term; 'fuck buddies' might be more appropriate; but still. the progressiveness of it all is getting me hot and bothered).

The other quality that attracted me to the show, despite its early inconsistencies (the Cyberwoman episode jumps to mind), is the unapologetic normalcy of the characters. This quality is especially striking in a show about aliens; the main characters are all completely and totally human. Gwen (female lead) has good intentions but is pushy, overly sensitive, and unfaithful to the supposed love of her life. Tosh is withdrawn, pining over Owen, and has an unrelenting stick up her ass. Owen is pretty much a complete prat, over-sexed, arrogant, and insensitive. The great thing about these characters is that it's easy to relate to them. I make mistakes, so do you, so do they.

Which leads me to: what's with the hate in the fandom? Everyone seems to hate Gwen. Why? My guess is because she's committed the unforgiveable sin of having a vagina. What's with all the girl hating, people? Do you honestly feel that threatened by the 'existence' of a fictional woman? What is it about straight women that makes other straight women hate them? Tosh isn't hated because of her relationship with Mary. I mean, Jesus. It makes no sense to me, but I suppose that must be because I'm self-sufficient and relatively mentally stable...

For our Orientation Week, we heard this guy speak, called "The Date Doctor" or, "America's Real-Life Hitch". It was pretty interesting and the guy had a few good points, although a point of irritation for many of our students was the fact that he seemed to be making a point of comparison between being gay and being sexually attracted to microphone stands...

TORCHWOOD:

Why, oh why can't I get the BBC on my TV? I'm so jealous of the British that they get to watch this as it comes out. I've only just seen Season 1 of this awesome show and I absolutely can't wait for Season 2! For the record, John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness) is fucking hot. In fact, the entire show is fucking hot. It's got everything. This is definitely a program that understands chemistry and isn't afraid to push the envelope. Some... personal highlights were the... okay, I admit it. I love the 'snogging' (as the British say) between Jack/original Jack, Jack and Ianto, Gwen and Owen, and Tosh with that hot alien chick. Besides the numerous sexcapades, the actual plot revolves around the Torchwood team as they investigate alien phenomenon. One review I read described it as 'x-files meets Queer as Folk', so those of you who know me probaly can guess why I like it so much.

Plus, I heard that it's premiering on BBC America this fall. Maybe I'll persuade my family to watch it without warning them first...

BONES:

Back to the world of heterosexual American TV, things look like they're finally starting to heat up for Bones and her partner. That's basically all I have to say from the trailers but this show is pretty awesome.

HOUSE:

Wow, I'm getting to be a real television addict. Season 3... or is it 4? is here and you just know they're going to bring back Chase, Foreman, and Cameron. Cameron they can leave behind, but Chase and Foreman are pretty hot. (do I have any other reason for watching tv?) Oh, in this one I rather love the sparkling dialogue and medical mysteries.

CRIMINAL MINDS:

This is currently my favorite crime drama. I'm not really sure why: there aren't exactly standout performances among the cast, but everything just seems to work really well together. One critic called this 'the best mediocre show out there' and I suppose that's kind of true. It's addictive, though, and a satisfying hour of TV. The only problem is that Mandy Patinkin has left the show which will be a bit of a jolt for the new season.

ALL THE BAD TV ON FRIDAY NIGHTS:

This is kind of the one family tradition that I will miss. Sit in front of the television and snark at all the drivel they pass off as entertainment on friday night. It's pretty fun. You should try it.

Let me preface this rant by declaring that I absolutely adore fanfiction. I have probably spent about half my life cruising various archives, all in search of that delicious pleasure and satisfaction that comes from the continuation of a beloved story. With that said, I have recently come to the conclusion that I am unable to derive any pleasure at all from fanfiction based from novels, and that this type of fanfiction irritates me more often than not. Ordinarily, this would not be a problem. My policy for dealing with annoyance is usually to ignore the problem if it's not directly affecting my life. 

And therein lies a large part of the problem. Each author possesses his or her own unique voice. In many of the books I read, I am unable to separate the author's style from the story. This is especially true in works of great literature, and stories that are particularly memorable.

Even if it is possible to overcome the stylistic jolt that results from a clashing author's style, a piece of Lord of the Rings fanfiction would still face serious obstacles in its quest for effectiveness. There is also the enormously detailed body of canon to worry about. I would not dare to write a sentence of LoTR history, for fear of breaking canon in some small but vital point. In most cases, I am hardly a canon purist. Most authors haven't invented an entire world, complete with history and language. To me, LoTR fanfiction is somewhat akin to sacrilege. (Or it would be, if I were religious at all).

My final point is purely a personal squick, and that is the over-sexualization of Tolkien's world. Now, I really, really enjoy reading smut, but thinking about Lord of the Rings sex makes me a little nauseous. It's like pickles in potato chips. Tolkien made a place for sex in his universe. It is a very small, very controlled space. I am not saying that I agree with this view in terms of our world, but while playing in Tolkien's sandbox I would play by his rules.

As I said earlier, I'm not really a part of the LoTR fandom. Nor do I have any desire to be part of it. I'm sure there are many excellent writers out there; it's just not for me. And that's my politeness-disclaimer.

Prologue of a short memoir I wrote for a creative writing class recently.

( Preface )

You know those days when life just sucks so much that you can't do anything except browse through entire community archives of House, M.D. fanfiction that you've already read?

.... Okay, maybe that's just me.