26 May 2004
Fan Critics - Interesting Quote...
I was reading through Henry Jenkins' Textual Poachers today, and thought I'd share an interesting quote with which he introduces a chapter on Fan Critics. It's about Star Trek, but I think the underlying point is clear and without a doubt related to the way that online pop music communities criticise artists and musical directions.
"Many of us who are fans of Star Trek enjoy Star Trek despite its faults, not because we think Star Trek is perfect and not because we do not think it cannot be improved. To criticise Star Trek, then, means that we enjoy Star Trek enough to want it to be the best it can be, and we wish to point out flaws in the hope of improvement (that is, to learn from mistakes, rather than to pretend they do not exist). If we didn't care, we wouldn't criticise." (Joan Marie Verba, quoted in Jenkins 86)
It's hardly rocket science, but the quote definitely articulates a common trait among music fans - it's personal opinion that creates the tension among individuals in these communities, but is this such a bad thing?
By the way, I can't stand Star Trek - I'm a Star Wars geek myself.
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"Many of us who are fans of Star Trek enjoy Star Trek despite its faults, not because we think Star Trek is perfect and not because we do not think it cannot be improved. To criticise Star Trek, then, means that we enjoy Star Trek enough to want it to be the best it can be, and we wish to point out flaws in the hope of improvement (that is, to learn from mistakes, rather than to pretend they do not exist). If we didn't care, we wouldn't criticise." (Joan Marie Verba, quoted in Jenkins 86)
It's hardly rocket science, but the quote definitely articulates a common trait among music fans - it's personal opinion that creates the tension among individuals in these communities, but is this such a bad thing?
By the way, I can't stand Star Trek - I'm a Star Wars geek myself.
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Dammit, now I'm addicted to Quizzes...
Thanks to my last entry, I'm now in "quiz mode" and thought I'd share with you all which Transformer I am. Nothing whatsoever to do with music, but hey... I'm back into Transformers big time, and Mum always told me to share.
You Are Ratchet!
You are caring and compassionate.
Which Transformer Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
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You Are Ratchet!
You are caring and compassionate.
Which Transformer Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
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"An Appreciative Fan"
Well, since I don't appear to be attending this morning's lecture due to the unfortunate balancing act required in the last two weeks of semester (and impending unclehood, for which I'm travelling to Sydney), I figure I should at least do something...
...so, I did Triple J's quiz ("What Sort of Fan are You?"), found on Andrew's Blog.
As it turns out, I'm an "Appreciative Fan":
You've got nothing to prove. You like exploring new music. Your remarkably creative point of view lets you enjoy all sorts of tunes - whatever makes you move and groove. You're passionate about music but you like to have a life outside of it. You don't chase fame but if you do meet a band you can easily charm them with your open, personal style. You're the kind of fan that bands love buying them beers. Hell, they might even spot the odd one back your way. Just don't tell them about your passion for plaster casting private parts and you'll be fine.
I like that answer. Suits me well, I think... although I'm not so sure about the plaster-casting. Curious idea, though. Maybe I'll ask the Live boys next time they're in town.
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...so, I did Triple J's quiz ("What Sort of Fan are You?"), found on Andrew's Blog.
As it turns out, I'm an "Appreciative Fan":
You've got nothing to prove. You like exploring new music. Your remarkably creative point of view lets you enjoy all sorts of tunes - whatever makes you move and groove. You're passionate about music but you like to have a life outside of it. You don't chase fame but if you do meet a band you can easily charm them with your open, personal style. You're the kind of fan that bands love buying them beers. Hell, they might even spot the odd one back your way. Just don't tell them about your passion for plaster casting private parts and you'll be fine.
I like that answer. Suits me well, I think... although I'm not so sure about the plaster-casting. Curious idea, though. Maybe I'll ask the Live boys next time they're in town.
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25 May 2004
New Media & Popular Music Criticism
For anyone interested in new media and music criticism (as I am), Steve Jones has written a fantastic - and extremely readable - piece, titled "Popular Music, Media, and the Written Word". As an introduction to a collection of essays titled Pop Music and the Press, the piece looks at attitudes toward rock music criticism and touches on a number of issues concerning new media and online fan communities - noting that new media "may be a proving ground for aspiring critics.... [where] the boundaries between fans and critics are blurred as never before".
If anyone's interested, here's some reviews and chapter information as well.
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If anyone's interested, here's some reviews and chapter information as well.
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Attention: All students doing the Film & TV major...
Just another little side-thought (since I'm kinda good at those):
I have just one course left in my Film & Television major, now that Scriptwriting has been added to the list (nice surprise, as I did it last year), and I'm keen on doing more creative electives for my final semester. As such, I need to choose between From Buddha to Bruce Lee and Film & History (which, I must admit, sounds a tad boring).
Has anybody studied either of these and, if so, what were the pros and cons, in your opinion?
I could always give Australian Cinema a go, but I won't for two reasons: my opinion of Australian films is pretty low in general; and no more Alan McKee! I'm really cut about that today, aren't I?
Anyway, I've studied enough enjoyable courses (and done better in them as a result) to know I don't want to waste my last semester with dry, uninteresting ones.
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I have just one course left in my Film & Television major, now that Scriptwriting has been added to the list (nice surprise, as I did it last year), and I'm keen on doing more creative electives for my final semester. As such, I need to choose between From Buddha to Bruce Lee and Film & History (which, I must admit, sounds a tad boring).
Has anybody studied either of these and, if so, what were the pros and cons, in your opinion?
I could always give Australian Cinema a go, but I won't for two reasons: my opinion of Australian films is pretty low in general; and no more Alan McKee! I'm really cut about that today, aren't I?
Anyway, I've studied enough enjoyable courses (and done better in them as a result) to know I don't want to waste my last semester with dry, uninteresting ones.
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And off I go...
Thanks to Jean, I've come across an academic I can almost guarantee is going to whet my appetite for fan theory surrounding "popular" culture. For anyone who misses Alan McKee's brilliant teaching style now that he's abandoned us for the "real world" university (as opposed to our "ideal world" one... and the other, "Coles New World" one...), Henry Jenkins seems to have much the same approach to ideas of popular culture and the academic snobbery that often accompanies it.
While I've only scanned the page so far, I was attracted to Jenkins' style of thought by this quote:
When I first began studying media in graduate school, I was enormously frustrated with academic representations of media consumption, because their vision of isolated, passive, and ideologically vulnerable consumers were so at odds with my highly social, engaged, empowered, and creative experiences as a fan.
I look forward to reading more and hope this may be of use to anyone else studying popular fan cultures.
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While I've only scanned the page so far, I was attracted to Jenkins' style of thought by this quote:
When I first began studying media in graduate school, I was enormously frustrated with academic representations of media consumption, because their vision of isolated, passive, and ideologically vulnerable consumers were so at odds with my highly social, engaged, empowered, and creative experiences as a fan.
I look forward to reading more and hope this may be of use to anyone else studying popular fan cultures.
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