| Subject: Re: Episodic Quote of the Week |
Author:
TechnoAtheist
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Date Posted: 16:05:53 06/13/02 Thu
In reply to:
Kira the Evil Eppy Empress
's message, "Re: Episodic Quote of the Week" on 15:05:09 06/13/02 Thu
Kira did proclaim:
>Aw, kvetch, kvetch, kvetch, can'tcha do anything else?
Sure, I sleep on occasion too.
>And in fact, if you'd
>read the whole thing in context, the writer is
>remarking that he wants more emphasis on the
>fantasy elements -- more descriptions, more graphics.
(more on that idea in a bit)
>
>Speaking of graphics (and the reason people harped on
>Mu for the lack of 'em in the episode area): Mu
>is, after all, a series based heavily on the
>anime/fantasy genre. The author is skilled at
>graphics but for whatever reason has included none in
>the actual episode pages.
I'm guessing it's for the same reason that he doesn't publish a manga himself. Graphics take A LOT of effort to do. One of the most frustrating thing about being an artist is that what takes you hours to do often gets ignored.
>This makes these pages look
>stark and oddly out of place with the rest of the
>site, which throughout uses lovely anime-inspired
>pictures for illustration. Some images here and there
>on the somewhat bleak, white-text-on-black page would
>make it far more captivating on the eyes.
Maybe. Maybe not.
It all depends on the tone that the author is trying to present. By defining what a character looks like, you remove a bit of imagination from the reader. In some respects, I've fought myself from really describing any of the characters in my series unless their features or some aspect of them added to the plot. I'd also note that a large number of very good manga aren't really that visual. There are certain aspects that can be breathtaking as the author takes advantage of the media, but I've also seen some anime that run 30 minutes with two heavily shaded immobile characters simply speaking to each other.
>Second, most of the series the Eppy covers are
>very text-intensive. I'faith, so is my own
>series, although it's got graphics too, to liven
>things up a little. But by and large, these series
>are certainly no online comic books.
Yep, because your audience consists of folks who are writers. Talk About Comics (oddly) is base more on art and comics than serialized stories.
>Ironically,
>there's a whole 'nother segment of snarkers who
>complain that the Eppy is TOO text-based and doesn't
>show enough interest in video- or animated series.
>I'm not sure how we could simultaneously be such
>anti-text snobs and backwards
>anti-video/graphics neo-luddites. Quite a talent!
Nah, no one is ever satisfied.
>
>To me, the Web is a medium that's driven by both text
>and images (and sounds, to a lesser extent). IMHO,
>variety is key to keeping the audience's interest.
>Relying solely on text or on graphics to tell
>one's story isn't always the best thing. Honestly,
>when I come across either a text-only site or a fully
>animated series ... I tend to long for a less
>all-or-nothing solution.
>
>Anyway, the whole purpose of the workshop is to get
>people to think outside of the box, to process new
>ideas. Suggesting that Dave (Mu's producer) add
>images to enhance his episode pages is simply one way
>of getting him to make a choice that he may not have
>considered before.
Good points.
>
>Finally ... so bloomin' what if they're not
>that knowledgable of the fantasy genre?
Not such a good point.
I don't watch soap operas. For me, they're dull, repetitive and unoriginal. Ok, so she's a nun with strong Mafia ties caught between the love of a good man and running her family Alpaca farm. But without a clear story line and a foreseeable conclusion eventually the author will fall into the same cliches that every other soap opera falls into.
Mind you, it's precisely the use of those familiar themes and story lines that strike a chord with the audience and make them want to read more. They're milestones that an audience expects the story to reach, and if it doesn't it's either viewed as disappointing or "breakthrough".
Mu has some of those same types of elements for Manga, but if you don't realize them, or try to have it fit a different model, it just doesn't work as a whole.
I'd also note that having read a bit of Mu, I didn't really find it that compelling to complete for other reasons.
Would Schuller Falls benefit from my suggestion that they add an intense rivalry between two cybernetically enhanced rivals of an ancient criminal ring who both love the same manipulative woman? Maybe, but I don't think that it makes sense in the world that you've established.
Still, I readily concede your point that the reviews were written by folks from the areas that they understand.
>Everyone has
>to get their first taste somewhere. They're coming to
>the genre as newcomers, as many of Mu's audience is as
>well. (Yes, I'm sure most of Mu's visitors come to
>it through anime-related links, but I'm also sure
>there are several who've discovered the site in other
>ways.) Our workshop participants represent such
>newcomers. Why not? Shouldn't they be represented?
Absolutely, and they're input should be balanced accordingly.
>
>Now, ahem, maybe if one of you guys had taken part in
>this workshop before, you could have represented the
>more fantasy-knowledgable sector of the audience.
>When I opened the workshop, I specifically stated that
>I wanted a variety of series in each group -- I'd love
>it if each participant produced a different type of
>series. But that can't happen without people like
>you. (Yipe, why do I suddenly feel like this is a PBS
>membership drive?)
>
>But instead you stay away from the Eppy kvetching that
>we're too soapy. Exactly how are we supposed to get
>non-soapy, when producers/readers such as
>yourselves don't participate in the forum or respond
>to info requests?
I'm not sure, really.
granted, I was only peripherally aware of episodicReview when I started. Being interested in getting exposure, I went to your site and scanned it. The eleven featured spots were all web-soaps, the general discussions focused on web-soaps, and even the recaps featured web-soaps.
I really didn't find anywhere for humor, fantasy, or anything of the sort.
I didn't dismiss it because it's a web-soap forum, I decided that it wasn't for me because I didn't feel I had anything attractive to the bulk of the audience.
>
>I mean, cripes, I can extend the invitation and throw
>my welcoming arms out from now till doomsday, but
>until some of you get off your high horses and
>unclench the ol' buttocks enough to join in, nothing's
>going to change, is it?
True. It's my fault for not noticing the welcoming arms.
>So stop yer whining and start taking part in the
>Episodic, which I'm really, really certain is becoming
>more and more reflective of the many interesting
>genres and subgenres out there. If you guys don't want
>to take part, that's your choice, not because
>I'm unwelcoming or the Eppy's too soap-based.
>
>But it would be a shame if you made that decision,
>because the Episodic would truly be enriched by your
>participation. And you would be, too.
True as well, I'll send my write up as soon as I get a chance.
Thanks for your comments!
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