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tencrushThere's been a lot of guff on my friendslist about Chibnall's defense of the rape spray incident in Torchwood. If you're not aware of it, the gist being that Chibnall is of the opinion that because TPTB never INTENDED for the pheromone scenario to come across as date rape, those of us who see it that way ARE WRONG.
I think this attitude of authorial intent >>> audience perception is one that's very prevalent among the DW/TW powers that be at the moment, and it's one that bugs me immensely. Russell, for example, I'm sure, didn't INTEND for me to infer from the Doctor's refusal to take Mr. Copper along in the TARDIS in VotD, that the Doctor was holding out for a gullible blonde. But that IS how I saw it, and I'm not alone. And I'm sorry, Russell, because, yes, I'm talking to you, but that's just one of those things that happens. And I can understand why you call us ming mongs, because it's annoying when those sorts of things happen, and I sympathise, I really do, but the problem is, when things like that happen, you should treat is as a learning experience and sit down and evaluate what you're doing wrong. THINK MOAR, WRITE BETTER, that sort of thing. Instead, all we seem to get from you is a big two-fingered salute to the ming mongs who think things and see stuff you didn't mean for us to see. A big DEAL WITH IT, fuck you, here's your rape spray flashback because we're going to hit you about the head with our intent until you shut up.
I, personally, found the on screen portrayal of the relationship between Jack and Ianto in Torchwood ultimately unsatisfying, and, again, I think that's a problem of intent. Here, the problem gets even stickier, because not only does INTENT seem to be justification for glaring sins of omission (Example? Witness the BBCA Captain's Blog for the episode Adrift and the widely quoted quote from Jack "After Gwen had gone home, I just held on to Ianto for a couple of hours, as tightly as I could." Now, see, IF THAT IS YOUR INTENT, to show us a relationship in which that scenario might happen, then SHOW US a relationship in which that scenario does, or could happen. TELLING US your intent in the Captain's Blog doesn't work and just annoys the living crap out of us. YOUR INTENT IS PASTEDE ON.), but, what's worse is nobody seems to be making sure everybody intends the same thing. Remember that piece of A4 paper I suggested when it comes to Torchwood? There's another bit of advice I've got that goes along with it: That page? Make sure everyone's got THE SAME ONE.
Here's what I think you should do, Russell, I think you should THINK MOAR, and I think you should write better. I think you should embrace the vocal fanbase you have and see them, rightly, as the voice of the people. The ming mongs like myself, yeah, we're loud and we're annoying, but we're only SHOUTING AT YOU because we don't think we're being heard. Do you really think that if I met you down the pub, Russell, I would sit you down and should "LOL RUSSELL U RETARD" at you? No. I wouldn't. I'd offer you my constructive opinion on the various and assorted things I think need improving and I'd buy you a drink and praise and credit you for all the things you've done RIGHT. But I don't have that opportunity, so I shout at you loudly on the interwebs, because I KNOW you're reading, despite your declarations to the contrary, and I HOPE SINCERELY that you'll take away maybe 5% of what I'm saying and take it to heart. Because, funnily enough, if you scratch away the other 95% of righteous indignation and frustration, you'll probably be left with a few salient points that reasonably accurately sum up the viewpoints of your audience AS A WHOLE, not just the ming mongs. (I know FOR A FACT that there are normal fans out there who call Owen a rapist. Fans who don't read the internets and who don't vent their opinions anywhere, just normal people who thought Owen used a date rape drug and thought that made him a bit of a twat. TRUFAX, Russell, trufax.)
So that salient 5% point at the moment is this: SHOW ME WHAT IT IS YOU INTEND FOR ME TO SEE. PRETEND I DON'T KNOW YOUR INTENT AND MAKE IT CLEAR IN THE STORYTELLING. WHEN I SEE SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T INTEND, OR I DON'T SEE SOMETHING YOU DID, GO BACK, THINK MOAR, AND WRITE BETTER NEXT TIME. (AND BUY SOME A4 PAPER LIKE I SAID LAST TIME, SERIOUSLY.) We love our big gay shows, Russell, if we didn't, we'd STOP WATCHING AND SHUT THE HELL UP. So listen, learn your lessons, and appreciate that there are people out there who are willing to vocalise them. Do that for me and I'll happily get the drinks in and let you call me a ming mong ALL NIGHT LONG. I think it's kind of sexy.
I think this attitude of authorial intent >>> audience perception is one that's very prevalent among the DW/TW powers that be at the moment, and it's one that bugs me immensely. Russell, for example, I'm sure, didn't INTEND for me to infer from the Doctor's refusal to take Mr. Copper along in the TARDIS in VotD, that the Doctor was holding out for a gullible blonde. But that IS how I saw it, and I'm not alone. And I'm sorry, Russell, because, yes, I'm talking to you, but that's just one of those things that happens. And I can understand why you call us ming mongs, because it's annoying when those sorts of things happen, and I sympathise, I really do, but the problem is, when things like that happen, you should treat is as a learning experience and sit down and evaluate what you're doing wrong. THINK MOAR, WRITE BETTER, that sort of thing. Instead, all we seem to get from you is a big two-fingered salute to the ming mongs who think things and see stuff you didn't mean for us to see. A big DEAL WITH IT, fuck you, here's your rape spray flashback because we're going to hit you about the head with our intent until you shut up.
I, personally, found the on screen portrayal of the relationship between Jack and Ianto in Torchwood ultimately unsatisfying, and, again, I think that's a problem of intent. Here, the problem gets even stickier, because not only does INTENT seem to be justification for glaring sins of omission (Example? Witness the BBCA Captain's Blog for the episode Adrift and the widely quoted quote from Jack "After Gwen had gone home, I just held on to Ianto for a couple of hours, as tightly as I could." Now, see, IF THAT IS YOUR INTENT, to show us a relationship in which that scenario might happen, then SHOW US a relationship in which that scenario does, or could happen. TELLING US your intent in the Captain's Blog doesn't work and just annoys the living crap out of us. YOUR INTENT IS PASTEDE ON.), but, what's worse is nobody seems to be making sure everybody intends the same thing. Remember that piece of A4 paper I suggested when it comes to Torchwood? There's another bit of advice I've got that goes along with it: That page? Make sure everyone's got THE SAME ONE.
Here's what I think you should do, Russell, I think you should THINK MOAR, and I think you should write better. I think you should embrace the vocal fanbase you have and see them, rightly, as the voice of the people. The ming mongs like myself, yeah, we're loud and we're annoying, but we're only SHOUTING AT YOU because we don't think we're being heard. Do you really think that if I met you down the pub, Russell, I would sit you down and should "LOL RUSSELL U RETARD" at you? No. I wouldn't. I'd offer you my constructive opinion on the various and assorted things I think need improving and I'd buy you a drink and praise and credit you for all the things you've done RIGHT. But I don't have that opportunity, so I shout at you loudly on the interwebs, because I KNOW you're reading, despite your declarations to the contrary, and I HOPE SINCERELY that you'll take away maybe 5% of what I'm saying and take it to heart. Because, funnily enough, if you scratch away the other 95% of righteous indignation and frustration, you'll probably be left with a few salient points that reasonably accurately sum up the viewpoints of your audience AS A WHOLE, not just the ming mongs. (I know FOR A FACT that there are normal fans out there who call Owen a rapist. Fans who don't read the internets and who don't vent their opinions anywhere, just normal people who thought Owen used a date rape drug and thought that made him a bit of a twat. TRUFAX, Russell, trufax.)
So that salient 5% point at the moment is this: SHOW ME WHAT IT IS YOU INTEND FOR ME TO SEE. PRETEND I DON'T KNOW YOUR INTENT AND MAKE IT CLEAR IN THE STORYTELLING. WHEN I SEE SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T INTEND, OR I DON'T SEE SOMETHING YOU DID, GO BACK, THINK MOAR, AND WRITE BETTER NEXT TIME. (AND BUY SOME A4 PAPER LIKE I SAID LAST TIME, SERIOUSLY.) We love our big gay shows, Russell, if we didn't, we'd STOP WATCHING AND SHUT THE HELL UP. So listen, learn your lessons, and appreciate that there are people out there who are willing to vocalise them. Do that for me and I'll happily get the drinks in and let you call me a ming mong ALL NIGHT LONG. I think it's kind of sexy.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-09 04:24 pm (UTC)Elsewhere. Magazines, mostly, not that I read any of them, I just read transcripts online when he calls everyone ming mongs again and everyone gets all upset because they think he's calling us ugly mongoloids, when in fact he is not.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-09 07:59 pm (UTC)Also: ming mongs?