rusty_halo | (no subject)


The institution of marriage is pretty stupid. But intolerance sucks.

Still feeling like complete shit over the Angel cancellation.

I am completely disgusted with some of the haughty, condescending, lectury responses that I've seen. You're glad the show is over? You don't like fan campaigns? Fine, don't participate. But that doesn't make you a better person than I am. Get off your high horse and stop acting like you're superior to those of us who care.

[rant directed only to those who are acting snooty, not to those who just don't care for whatever reasons]

I wasn't particularly enjoying Angel this season. I'm still completely disgusted that it was cancelled. A bad episode of AtS is still better than damn near anything else on television. At least they're trying to do something original, to make people think, to break boundaries, instead of just appealing to the lowest common denominator.

It's fucked up that this culture venerates mediocrity. It's fucked up that passionate, intelligent, creative people either have to dumb down their work or face constant struggles and very little chance of success. It's fucked up that Charmed got renewed instead of Angel, or that The Cruxshadows and Common Rotation are struggling in near-obscurity while Britney Spears sells millions of records. It's fucked up that my high school cancelled the challenging, quality-and-art-focused Media Arts class in favor of the lame, propogandistic, poorly-produced Television Production class. That's just the way our culture is.

Anyway. I have barely slept all week, so I'm very incoherent right now.

I went to see Common Rotation in Connecticut today. A "living room show" -- they come to people's houses and play in their living rooms. It was pretty neat--I took the train up with

soulmate815, we went to this woman's house, ate party food and drank beer, watched the band play in the living room. There were maybe ... 20? 30? people there. I suck with numbers. The band members were around and talking, which was neat, though I didn't talk to any of them--I'm content to enjoy their music, but I wouldn't really call myself a fan. Well, fan in the casual "I enjoy your art" sense, not in the "I care enough to wonder about you as a person" sense. Anyway, it was fun. Then

thefangirl and her friend drove us back to Manhattan, which was nice, and it was good to hang out with

thefangirl. (And it was her birthday. Happy birthday, again!)

Anyway. Then I came home, read Joss's message, and started crying. Stupid WB.

I hate watching fandom fade away. I know a lot of people will stick around, and there will still be a core group years and years from now. But a lot of people will leave, and it's going to suck. Watching my favorite writers disappear, watching my favorite websites shut down, watching my website become irrelevant ... it's all going to suck.

Also (inspired by a discussion with some people tonight about the politics of friending): If you want to defriend me, for god's sake, please do. I'm not going to have a crying fit or hate you forever because of it. Interests diverge, personalities conflict, it happens.

I have a lot of people on my flist because I want to keep up with their fic, btw, and I know that we have little in common and that they're probably annoyed or bored by my posts. Don't feel obligated to keep me on your flist; just post your fic publicly to make sure I don't miss it. ;)

Oh, and *hugs* to everyone who IM'd me the other day. It really helped to have people to talk to. I apologize for being slow to answer--I got a little overwhelmed a couple of times. But, anyway, thanks.

I just read this over, and damn, this is a schizophrenic post. Political, bitchy, sad, happy, sad, depressed, bitchy, grateful. Huh. Must go catch up on sleep....

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A bad episode of AtS is still better than damn near anything else on television. At least they're trying to do something original, to make people think, to break boundaries, instead of just appealing to the lowest common denominator.

This is so very, very true. And yes, what society chooses to value culturally is shocking. It makes me all the more encouraged to see so many people care enough about not just this TV show, but about the state of culture in general, to do something about this.

You make so many valid points here. I feel like a total schizophrenic because just about every post I've read I can identify with some of the emotions expressed - I am grateful for what we've had, and I am determined to focus on that, but that doesn't stop me being hurt, and frustrated, and disappointed. And beyond my own reaction, I'm devastated for people who put so much time and effort and investment into the fandom, and of course for the cast and crew of the show. But however I express my reaction I'm going to upset somebody, because everybody feels stabbed in the back already. I think "lecturey" posts are as much a way of working through emotions as any other kind of reaction - the lectures are aimed at the lecturer themselves, more than anyone else, I think. God, now I sound lecturey, and that's not what I meant at all! I'm not making excuses, but I'd hate to think I'd said anything that undermines anyone's feelings. As usual, you've made me see that I probably have.

I just wanted to thank you for highlighting the points you have, and, once again, for making me see how important your viewpoint is, which is something you always do, even when I don't agree with you. You always make me think and re-assess my own views, and I'm grateful for that.

I meant to add, too, that I'm very much of the same opinion as other commenters here, that websites of the calibre of yours will be all the more valuable when the show ends. One of the treats for me, when Buffy ended, was finally having the time and motivation to go and read and re-read all the fanfiction I'd long been meaning to seek out. I'm so grateful to you and your wonderful archive for providing so many resources that fill the hole left by the end of Buffy so well, and I think when Angel is done the same will be true. It doesn't make it any the less sad that things will change, of course.

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