Via awesome new blog io9, alleged Dark Knight spoilers. Hrmph.
Is it me, or does the death of Rachel Dawes smack of fridging? Oh, but her death might serve two purposes--not only does it drive Dent over the edge and into a killing spree, but I'm sure Bruce will angst about how he tried his hardest, but just couldn't save her!
Good thing I'm an optimistic person, because it takes optimism to hope that none of that will happen.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Monday, January 07, 2008
New Year, New Title!
I finally settled on a new title. The decision to go with it actually was just inspired by an anonymous semi-flame back on my first post about “Uglies”. The commenter says:
you both sound like nerds you must not get out much if you sit around and analyze books on a regular basis. Go out for a run or something, even walking while you read... geeze
(I assume “both” is in reference to me and the first commenter…or else anonymous can’t count to, uh, one.)
My reaction was…well, first surprise. Who would possibly read this who isn’t a nerd? It’s a blog. A blog that is largely devoted to media analysis, because my idea of a good time isn’t watching TV, it’s critiquing TV. I track trends in young adult novels. I write science fiction in my free time.
Y’all, I’m a giant nerd.
And…I’m okay with that. I don’t want to go out for a run or something (though I could do with a bit more sunshine to combat the seasonal affectation disorder thing I’ve got going on). I don’t get out much (hey, I’ll admit it—especially not since the Gentleman Caller and I parted ways awhile ago). I, well, “sit around and analyze books on a regular basis.” And I pretty much like myself the way I am. There’s room for improvement, but of all the labels out there, well, if I have to pick one, nerd is it.
I am a nerd at peace.
That almost wasn’t the title of this blog, though. In fact, until I started writing this post, that wasn’t the title. The title was going to be Nerdvana. I liked it a lot, and still do: it’s a pun (years of my parents’ brainwashing gives me an unfortunate attraction to them), and it invokes the concept of nerdiness and peace. So why didn’t I go with that?
I first thought it up (yeah, I later found out it was actually a phase coined in a Dilbert comic, which made me sad) about the same time I started reading discussions of cultural appropriation at Shrub.com and Sara Speaking. It tweaked for me a little bit; people from a dominant culture probably shouldn’t just pick and choose concepts that seem shiny from other people’s cultures and twist them to fit their own interest.
Uh…oops.
Then I figured it wouldn’t be that bad. I mean, Nirvana pretty much just means peace, or achieving peace, right? Evan as an American who’s never studied Buddhism, I knew that! Then I thought about that, too, and realized that what I know of Buddhism, I know through the lens of American culture. Which means I’d be willing to put money on it being either badly distorted or just, you know, wrong.
Again: oops.
But still, figuring it wasn’t that bad…I’m pretty educated. I can certainly use something respectfully, right? I really, really wanted to.
Which…is what you can do if you’re in a privileged group. Because it’s totally not racism when I do it! I know things about stuff! But then again…I’ve been on the, “Just because you didn’t intend it to be hurtful or ignorant doesn’t mean it wasn’t hurtful and ignorant, so please be more careful,” side of the argument a few times. Apparently enough to realize that I’m capable of being on the wrong side of that one, too. I’d rather avoid it.* So instead of something appropriated that’s invocative of what I want to say, I just went with the thing I wanted to say.
I am a Nerd at Peace. Now with capital letters!
Downside: Clearly, I want a cookie for good behavior that should be standard behavior. I wrote this with the intention of it being self-reflective naval gazing, then realized it’s half that and half give-me-a-cookie. Damn it. I’m leaving this up because I think both of these revelations were important ones for me.
you both sound like nerds you must not get out much if you sit around and analyze books on a regular basis. Go out for a run or something, even walking while you read... geeze
(I assume “both” is in reference to me and the first commenter…or else anonymous can’t count to, uh, one.)
My reaction was…well, first surprise. Who would possibly read this who isn’t a nerd? It’s a blog. A blog that is largely devoted to media analysis, because my idea of a good time isn’t watching TV, it’s critiquing TV. I track trends in young adult novels. I write science fiction in my free time.
Y’all, I’m a giant nerd.
And…I’m okay with that. I don’t want to go out for a run or something (though I could do with a bit more sunshine to combat the seasonal affectation disorder thing I’ve got going on). I don’t get out much (hey, I’ll admit it—especially not since the Gentleman Caller and I parted ways awhile ago). I, well, “sit around and analyze books on a regular basis.” And I pretty much like myself the way I am. There’s room for improvement, but of all the labels out there, well, if I have to pick one, nerd is it.
I am a nerd at peace.
That almost wasn’t the title of this blog, though. In fact, until I started writing this post, that wasn’t the title. The title was going to be Nerdvana. I liked it a lot, and still do: it’s a pun (years of my parents’ brainwashing gives me an unfortunate attraction to them), and it invokes the concept of nerdiness and peace. So why didn’t I go with that?
I first thought it up (yeah, I later found out it was actually a phase coined in a Dilbert comic, which made me sad) about the same time I started reading discussions of cultural appropriation at Shrub.com and Sara Speaking. It tweaked for me a little bit; people from a dominant culture probably shouldn’t just pick and choose concepts that seem shiny from other people’s cultures and twist them to fit their own interest.
Uh…oops.
Then I figured it wouldn’t be that bad. I mean, Nirvana pretty much just means peace, or achieving peace, right? Evan as an American who’s never studied Buddhism, I knew that! Then I thought about that, too, and realized that what I know of Buddhism, I know through the lens of American culture. Which means I’d be willing to put money on it being either badly distorted or just, you know, wrong.
Again: oops.
But still, figuring it wasn’t that bad…I’m pretty educated. I can certainly use something respectfully, right? I really, really wanted to.
Which…is what you can do if you’re in a privileged group. Because it’s totally not racism when I do it! I know things about stuff! But then again…I’ve been on the, “Just because you didn’t intend it to be hurtful or ignorant doesn’t mean it wasn’t hurtful and ignorant, so please be more careful,” side of the argument a few times. Apparently enough to realize that I’m capable of being on the wrong side of that one, too. I’d rather avoid it.* So instead of something appropriated that’s invocative of what I want to say, I just went with the thing I wanted to say.
I am a Nerd at Peace. Now with capital letters!
Downside: Clearly, I want a cookie for good behavior that should be standard behavior. I wrote this with the intention of it being self-reflective naval gazing, then realized it’s half that and half give-me-a-cookie. Damn it. I’m leaving this up because I think both of these revelations were important ones for me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
