the poor taste of the unwashed masses

[cimorene]

also. for those of you who, like me, have this syndrome whereby you think you're always right, and everyone who disagrees with you is probably wrong although you don't want to be too mean and unaccepting about it and of course other opinions are acceptable but it's just how could they think that. especially when it's not what you think?

uhm. so yes, have always been of the opinion that the vast majority of people are stupid. evidence the kind of books that get to be vastly popular, with, of course, the notable exception of harry potter--except that hp isn't even the best of its genre (british children's fantasy) out there, and it just figures the best wouldn't come close to it. right. but look at tom clancy, stephen king, danielle steele, that dude who wrote jurassic park, and the guy who writes all those exactlythesame!lawyer novels that are supposed to be dramatic. even within sff, look at mercedes lackey, marion zimmer bradley, anne mccaffrey, david weber. the list goes on.

pop music is obviously the exception here, because the only criterion for it isn't absolute quality of music/etc, but also includes catchiness, sparkliness, cool dance moves, appearance in eye makeup.

ahem. so. my point is that i shouldn't be surprised when the very slash stories that i find the most maudlin, insipid, predictable, mischaracterized repetitive bullshit ever garner pages of feedback and squishy gushing goodness from hordes of fans. why? well, evidently brain damage, or simple native lack of intelligence and good taste. so why am i surprised? but i always, always am.

naming no names of fics. hey, i'm probably not talking about any of the people who are reading this.

someone agree with me to make me feel better.

*pout*

Comments

[likeahiphopsong.livejournal.com]

*Yes, people, as a whole, are stupid.

*I have to say, because I always stick up for the hometown hero, that Stephen King is a much better writer than he's given credit for.

*I think I agree with you on the bad slash getting many a rec, but I can't completely agree as I don't know what fic(s) you're talking about. Am deply intrigued, though.

*Chris and Justin? Desperately, madly, wonderfully inlove.

[cimness.livejournal.com]

OHHH THE ICON. *dies* katie, i love your icons. like, more than life itself.

nope. about stephen king. no way.

just the subject matter, writing aside, excludes it from the possibility of literary value.

Re:

[likeahiphopsong.livejournal.com]

Isn't the icon gorgeous? They're so damn pretty. Especially together.

And hey, I'm not getting into a Stephen King arguement here. But. "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption". Different subject matter. And that's that. He's a really great guy and I like some of his stuff, so I tend to stick up for him. To each his own and all that.

[silviakundera.livejournal.com]

Biotch! I heart "Firestarter" and "It". Those were fantastic. Okay, often times his novels are really really overrated.... but he's done a few exceptional pieces of work. He HAS!

[cimness.livejournal.com]

well... i don't want to have a debate about it either.

but i will say i'm astonished you like him.

[silviakundera.livejournal.com]

Dude. Wax loves "Firestarter" too. My fic "Driven Like" had subtle references to it, and she emailed me all: Firestarter! Firestarter! He's pushing!

::shrugs:: I first read "It" when I was in sixth grade and it took me a month. *giggles* I was so in love with that book, and I think it influenced me some. I know that "Firestarter" did. I'm, like, obsessed with that scarred!creepy!Native American guy of whose name I don't remember. He was oddly seductive and fascinating. That book had a lot of quiet horror. Those poor burned chickens! and. oh fuck. ::shudders:: the tranquilizer in her throat and the snow..... ::shudders:: I have so many images in my head from that book. My copy of it is worn thin -- probobly read it about 11 times.

I can't stand anything he's written for a long time, and think it's pretty much all crap, but some of the old skool books I love. I grew up reading him -- all through sixth grade and junior high and ninth grade.

but. er. yes. Pretty much my favorite genre is horror. I don't read much of anything else, other than homoerotic literature and then a few quirky authors like Vonnegut and Oscar Wilde and Kundera. hehehe...

<- dork

[cimness.livejournal.com]

i don't know if "dork" is the proper word for what you describe, but yes. i have monumental hate for the horror genre. this may be partly rebellion against my dad, who has a fantasy/horror thing, and reads horror (albeit only on the sf and fantasy edge of it) and writes horror poetry and publishes a horror/fantastic poetry magazine. ...on second thought, though, i think it's just plain lack of interest (not saying "plain good taste" or "distrust of random sensationalism" because the fact that you like it this much sort of cripples that understanding of it).

...anyway, i've never read anything like the entirety of a stephen king book, just snippets of... it and pet cemetery, i think, in... 3rd or 4th grade? and much raving from an eccentric friend, and i remained singularly unimpressed.

i read fantasy and science fiction growing up (mostly during school, like, while the teacher was talking. this was never injurious until 8th grade or so, except in 4th when my teacher tried to confiscate my book in math. i mean honestly--negative numbers. who needs to pay attention to know how to do THAT?)

[silviakundera.livejournal.com]

Hee! We're opposites! ::twirls:: See, I can't stand science fiction and fantasy. It's a serious aversion. Hee! *g*

[cimness.livejournal.com]

See, I can't stand science fiction and fantasy.

and you just come right out and admit this? *thinks* nope, there is no possible explanation except brain damage. poor sil! your brain is damaged and i never knew it! in other news, people need to stop disagreeing with me. grrrr.

[silviakundera.livejournal.com]

Well, see.... My dad LOVES science fiction and fantasy and is all obsessed with it. I've never been able to stand it. I dunno. I like my stuff grounded in our reality, normally. It can be surreal - I love that - but I like it to occur within our universe. I just can't get up any interest in description of make believe lands or new magical species or green and purple forests or whatever. ::shrugs:: Some people feel it wakes up their imagination... I just find it too implausible. I think it probably depends on personality type. It's a taste issues, that's all. Nothing to do with genre quality - since there are equally bad fantasy novels and horror novels out there.

hmmmmmmm... I wonder if we both just have major father issues. ahahahahahahaha! Daddy issues! ahahahaha!

in other news, people need to stop disagreeing with me. grrrr.
awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.... *petpetpetpet*

[cimness.livejournal.com]

oooh! i got petted. then i forgive you.

i admit of a possibility that it is taste and not brain damage.