New Website ...

[pault]

Hi all,

myself and an ex-colleague have started a critical TV review site (non-profit, purely for fun)

the division of labour is that he does the surreal, funny stuff and I do the dark and bitter stuff

check it out on ...


http://www.xportmedia.co.uk/tvsmash/

apologies in advance to Euro friends if it's UK-centric, but there's current affairs/World events stuff too - we'll also be doing some US TV critiques that people might access on satellite/cable in Europe

best for now,

Paul.

[Gouezeri]

It was all going so well... until I read a positive review of Classic FM and critical comments (some erroneous) on 'Lost'... pot... kettle?
The day I listen to Classic FM will be when they start playing Cage's 4'33" and not something which is available on their own compilation cd's and isn't program music (without wanting to exclude music used in adverts. Karl Jenkins anyone?)!

Good looking site, but it would be good if you automatically created links to the forum to discuss the editorials or allowed people to respond directly on the same page, à la '/.' .
Good luck with the venture though and I will be checking back (you've been warned ! We academics are such a supportive bunch )
D

[pault]

Hi Dom,

thanks for the feedback - your sarcasm detector obviously wasn't working because the Classic FM article was satirical

the "Lost" one I wrote - I'm sorry but watching it was like being hit on the head with a mallet of unsubtlety - be interested to know what the "erroneous" points were??

best,

Paul.

[Paul L]

Don'y you think that ClassicFM is a bit like Starbucks actually. To the unitiated it is a specialist in something altogether classier, but we know that it only makes a passing and rather weak attempt at it. Joe Public knows no different.

Brilliant marketing has put the brand firmly in the mind of the public, those seriously into their craft give it a wide berth except for those times when looking for a no-effort, background experience. Or put another way the classical equivalent of Chicken-Ping or Take-Away. I can't say I listen to it, but it's often on in the car quietly or when working from home - if you know what I mean.

Paul

[pault]

Don'y you think that ClassicFM is a bit like Starbucks actually. To the unitiated it is a specialist in something altogether classier, but we know that it only makes a passing and rather weak attempt at it. Joe Public knows no different.

Paul

I hear what you say - it's all about predictability and standardization because that's what can be most easily packaged for sale (and artistic/real coffee considerations take a back seat). The response tends to be "Well, let the punters buy what they want" - problem is they tend to "want" what they're told they want.

Whether it's Classic FM or what Charbucks do to real coffee - it's an old conundrum - is it better people have an awful version of classical music/good coffee or no version at all? The problem is there tends to be a dominant third option - the awful version pushes out the good version till it's the only thing that remains. E.g. even if you try and go to see a full concert/opera - increasingly the repetoire is limited to easily recognisable pieces ("best-sellers") that people have already heard on Classic FM, give a novice a well-made coffee and they criticize it because it isn't served with a mountain of foam and chocolate on top ...

One big irony is that if you point out that people are consuming substandard stuff and deserve better, you're an "elitist" - meanwhile those cynically making money out of their low expectations of the public are somehow non-elitist.

This all reminded me of a quotation (forgotten the source):

"Great works of art have survived centuries of oblivion and neglect, I very much doubt, however, if they can survive an entertaining version of what they have to say"

Here endeth the lesson ...

[simonp]

There is another point being missed here, in that I truly believe that a large number of people actually prefer bland carp, be it music, coffee, or food.
Is it that blandness & crap is pushed, so crap is what sells, or that it is pushed BECAUSE it is what sells. I fear it may be the latter.

A lot of people seem to dislike music that is challenging to the ear, and demands that you actually LISTEN to it. I find the same with food/drink etc. Most of the people I have tried with good espresso, or brewed coffee don't like it, it is too intense for them, and they prefer instant.

Look at all the (in my opinion) rubbish reality TV and soaps that are on TV, yet they constantly achieve massive viewing figures. I truly believe that the majority of people actually like what we call crap.
Scary

[pault]

yep, predictability is the keyword for me - people like to feel safe and unchallenged

and like you I've had the same response when giving someone a good espresso - the intensity is off-putting

same with wine - pass me an alchopop!!!

[Gouezeri]

thanks for the feedback - your sarcasm detector obviously wasn't working because the Classic FM article was satirical

Hmm, late at night, and the socratic irony was a little overwhelming. You also hit upon one of my biggest bugbears. I loathe 'Classic FM' with a passion (only superceded by Kenny G). Think 'sprinkles' on cappas

Paul L makes some salient comments. Classic FM is very much like *$ especially in the way that everything is watered down, overly saccharine and over priced. For me, listening to Classic FM would be like drinking blends all the time; there is just no challenge, no excitement.

the "Lost" one I wrote - I'm sorry but watching it was like being hit on the head with a mallet of unsubtlety - be interested to know what the "erroneous" points were??

I know where you are coming from. The plot is highly formulaic, but then most people don't realise that such formulas even exist. The problem I have with 'Lost' is that they then bend the rules (which the story depends upon) when they want to. Menace is created for dramatic effect, but once it has served its purpose it is forgotten about as soon as it is seen to no longer advance the 'plot' (cue romance story). It is also highly stereotypical, and does nothing really to disparage this. But then this is popular tv - dramatic action at that - for the masses. I'm not sure that subtlety is ever part of the brief, it certainly doesn't require it for effect and most american visual media is all about effect. Can it really be criticised, therefore, for lacking something it was probably never expected to possess? I suppose the advantage that I had when watching it was the ability to see all of the episodes 'back to back.'

Ok, let's look at your own points a little closer
Lost is highly original and contains such unprecedented themes as:

· A "novel" plot?
Surely, both 'Lost' and 'SR' are situationist, involving a degree of isolation. Neither is breaking boundaries, in theatrical terms, by their use of location.

· Something scary in the woods
I believe the technical term is 'jungle' Except sadly our 'something scary' is only there when needed. Though things aren't necessarily what they seem. Just ask Locke.

· Something sexy in the skimpy clothes left by the blast
You clearly missed the equality being employed here... there is totty for all, tattoos and all. Surely they are making an important political and social comment here It also features the disabled and the disenfranchised... no boxes left un-ticked

· Something ethnic - e.g. an Iraqi played by a man from the Indian Subcontinent (near enough on the colour chart) and an inscrutable Japanese man.
Ah, you see, except you didn't watch all of the episodes did you He's not Japanese (racial stereotyping on your behalf?) he is obviously Korean (both in the plot and racially irl) As for the Iraqi, I have more of a problem with his Guildhall accent, hardly common in Tikrit. Now if you had mentioned a Yugoslavian playing a mad French woman, then I might have agreed with you

Anyway, Lost might not be a work of art, but it does more or less what it was meant to do (the cuprinol effect) and is somewhat of a brief respite from the next overacted period drama
How about a review of 'Crash' instead? Or rather than picking on poor old Richie, how about a comment on how the magnanimous defeat of the aussies has since turned into a witch hunt. Is there no such thing as a deserved win anymore?
Keep it coming
D

[pault]

thanks Dom

I agree with most of your points including your pedantic distinction between "woods" and "jungle" - you knew what I meant

yep - I only watched the 1st episode and was sure they'd said he was Japanese - apologies if I'm guilty of my own stereotyping - although given the US casting I'm having a go at it's quite possible he is Japanese and they have him playing a Korean ...

The "novel" plot comment was again satirical (hence the "Lord of the No-Flies" jibe) - it's morning time you now have no excuse!!!! - I'd maintain Smoking Room *is* novel because apart from the "Royle" family I can't think of another programme that uses such a limited location and it's done much more claustrophobically in SR

Best,

Paul.

[simonp]

For me, listening to Classic FM would be like drinking blends all the time; there is just no challenge, no excitement.

Some of my blends have definitely had challenge!

[Gouezeri]

Paul,
Putting aside what the critics might say, who most of the time are flogging dead nags and getting paid for the privilege. 'Lost' works, sort of, though it is far from groundbreaking (find me something which is 'popular' that is!). My problem is that a lot of the time it is trying to do too much and not managing to pull things off as a result: Romance, Action, Thriller, Mystery, Drama. After a while, you can't be bothered to keep guessing. Basically the BigMc syndrome; too much of everything. I do think you should watch some of the other episodes though to appreciate it fully, flaws and all. It is character based after all, so unless you have spent some time with and empathise with the characters, then judging it from one episode is a bit harsh. But, dare I say it, this was a genre and a premise that was never going to please?

I was well aware that the ref. to a 'novel' plot was satirical, but (having an upbringing in Beckett and Ionesco) I just think the irony falls flat if you consider 'SR' actually is that much more innovative than 'Lost.' Surely this is simply 'sitcom' in the truest sense of the term. Feel free to try and convince me that the premise and the use of space in 'SR' is inventive. Personally, I don't think it is anything new (though this doesn't stop it from being funny). Without getting into a long list of sitcoms, think Blackadder & trenches, most of Victoria Woods stuff, Red Dwarf (soon to feature apparently), stuff by Ronnie Barker (prison cell anyone?) etc. etc..

As for the 'Korean' thing, you have probably picked up on a comment made by one of the characters (probably sawyer or hurley). Though interestingly, later on the point is made about the specific problems in the US between Blacks and Koreans.

Oh and Simon, trying to make an espresso blend with a Tisri roasted Kenyan and Robusta will probably get your barred from HB for life Still, I'd like to see Steve's face.
D