Comments for Off the Written Path http://offthewrittenpath.com Making sense of the world, one story at a time Sun, 31 Jan 2010 02:57:25 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Avatar: Dances with Pocahontas in Space? by Andrew http://offthewrittenpath.com/2010/01/30/avatar-dances-with-pocahontas-in-space/#comment-100 Andrew Sun, 31 Jan 2010 02:57:25 +0000 http://offthewrittenpath.com/?p=439#comment-100 Thanks for your comments! I actually quite liked Avatar, but then the blog wouldn't be as interesting if it were all about how I liked it. I've heard the right-wing criticism on the movie as well, and frankly, I think most of it is overblown (as is usually the case with such things). On top of that, a lot of people mistook anti-colonialism for Anti-Americanism, which really says more about their own views than it does about James Cameron's. One social criticism that I do think holds some water is that Avatar is a "White Messiah" type of movie, where the white man becomes the leader and savior of a "lesser" people. I'm not saying this means James Cameron is a racist, just that he was following a long-established formula which has tinges of racism in it. theothergardener: You have a good point, and Avatar did put enough of a different spin on the formula that it didn't bug me too much as I watched it. To a certain extent, all modern stories are simply putting new spins on old formulas, and finding new combinations of old ideas. But I do wish Avatar had stretched a little more, particularly with the characters, to come up with something a little less predictable. That's sort of what it comes down for me: if the movie is following the formula close enough that it's predictable, then it's following it too closely. Thanks for your comments! I actually quite liked Avatar, but then the blog wouldn’t be as interesting if it were all about how I liked it. I’ve heard the right-wing criticism on the movie as well, and frankly, I think most of it is overblown (as is usually the case with such things). On top of that, a lot of people mistook anti-colonialism for Anti-Americanism, which really says more about their own views than it does about James Cameron’s.

One social criticism that I do think holds some water is that Avatar is a “White Messiah” type of movie, where the white man becomes the leader and savior of a “lesser” people. I’m not saying this means James Cameron is a racist, just that he was following a long-established formula which has tinges of racism in it.

theothergardener: You have a good point, and Avatar did put enough of a different spin on the formula that it didn’t bug me too much as I watched it. To a certain extent, all modern stories are simply putting new spins on old formulas, and finding new combinations of old ideas. But I do wish Avatar had stretched a little more, particularly with the characters, to come up with something a little less predictable.

That’s sort of what it comes down for me: if the movie is following the formula close enough that it’s predictable, then it’s following it too closely.

]]> Comment on Avatar: Dances with Pocahontas in Space? by Cassandra Jade http://offthewrittenpath.com/2010/01/30/avatar-dances-with-pocahontas-in-space/#comment-99 Cassandra Jade Sun, 31 Jan 2010 02:35:42 +0000 http://offthewrittenpath.com/?p=439#comment-99 I don't know why people think a story has to be new. I think it just has to be well told and Avatar accomplished that - though some of the acting could have been helped along a little bit. Thanks for some of the links, I will have to check them out. I don’t know why people think a story has to be new. I think it just has to be well told and Avatar accomplished that – though some of the acting could have been helped along a little bit. Thanks for some of the links, I will have to check them out.

]]> Comment on Avatar: Dances with Pocahontas in Space? by theothergardener http://offthewrittenpath.com/2010/01/30/avatar-dances-with-pocahontas-in-space/#comment-98 theothergardener Sun, 31 Jan 2010 02:06:06 +0000 http://offthewrittenpath.com/?p=439#comment-98 The strongest parallels I saw in it were to "Dances with Wolves." But then one could say that about any number of stories where the protaganist "goes native." Paul Bowles might be the best analogy, but then, most pop critics wouldn't know who he was. The important point is that it really is not a "formulaic" film at all. The entire premise rests on the rather novel, I would say 'twenty-first century,' premise that science and imperialism are deeply intertwined. The main character surpasses the level of respect and sympathy---which really are just the hallmarks of a paternalistic understanding---felt by the researchers, as well as overcoming his own training as an outright exploiter. This is quite radical, and quite unique in Hollywood cinema. TOG The strongest parallels I saw in it were to “Dances with Wolves.” But then one could say that about any number of stories where the protaganist “goes native.” Paul Bowles might be the best analogy, but then, most pop critics wouldn’t know who he was. The important point is that it really is not a “formulaic” film at all. The entire premise rests on the rather novel, I would say ‘twenty-first century,’ premise that science and imperialism are deeply intertwined. The main character surpasses the level of respect and sympathy—which really are just the hallmarks of a paternalistic understanding—felt by the researchers, as well as overcoming his own training as an outright exploiter. This is quite radical, and quite unique in Hollywood cinema.
TOG

]]> Comment on Avatar: Dances with Pocahontas in Space? by Kelly http://offthewrittenpath.com/2010/01/30/avatar-dances-with-pocahontas-in-space/#comment-97 Kelly Sun, 31 Jan 2010 01:29:44 +0000 http://offthewrittenpath.com/?p=439#comment-97 I saw your post and was instantly ready to defend "Avatar," but I must admit you make some good points without being offensive or rude and you did it creatively. I like your word choices a lot, it makes for good reading, and I can tell you've written things like this before. When I first saw the movie, I didn't think of Pocahontus, but I did think of the settlers coming to America and pushing the Indianans off their land for gold. I heard some interesting criticism on the new about how these people actually found the movie offensive because the movie is apparently a protest for the war and shows Americans doing what the terrorists did to the Word Trade Center. So, THANK YOU for doing research and thinking before you spoke because people like that ruin everything. They didn't bother to check that "Avatar" was written in 1994 and that Cameron had put it in a drawer waiting for technology to catch up. Again, thank you for not being dumb and saying something worth saying. I too hope the next Avatar movie is more original in story line, but at the same time I am hoping to keep the same characters. I saw your post and was instantly ready to defend “Avatar,” but I must admit you make some good points without being offensive or rude and you did it creatively. I like your word choices a lot, it makes for good reading, and I can tell you’ve written things like this before.

When I first saw the movie, I didn’t think of Pocahontus, but I did think of the settlers coming to America and pushing the Indianans off their land for gold.

I heard some interesting criticism on the new about how these people actually found the movie offensive because the movie is apparently a protest for the war and shows Americans doing what the terrorists did to the Word Trade Center.

So, THANK YOU for doing research and thinking before you spoke because people like that ruin everything. They didn’t bother to check that “Avatar” was written in 1994 and that Cameron had put it in a drawer waiting for technology to catch up.

Again, thank you for not being dumb and saying something worth saying. I too hope the next Avatar movie is more original in story line, but at the same time I am hoping to keep the same characters.

]]> Comment on Fun With Unused Vacation Time by Steve Williams http://offthewrittenpath.com/2009/12/28/fun-with-unused-vacation-time/#comment-85 Steve Williams Sun, 10 Jan 2010 21:12:04 +0000 http://offthewrittenpath.com/?p=327#comment-85 Have u tried overlaying a dotted line for yr actual drive-route on the Outer Banks map? If I can do it in "Paint" - duh! - anyone can. D Have u tried overlaying a dotted line for yr actual drive-route on the Outer Banks map? If I can do it in “Paint” – duh! – anyone can. D

]]> Comment on NaNoWriMo Day 5: The Ups and Downs of Writing by Jacqueline http://offthewrittenpath.com/2009/11/05/nanowrimo-day-5-the-ups-and-downs-of-writing/#comment-41 Jacqueline Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:05:40 +0000 http://offthewrittenpath.com/?p=274#comment-41 Since I haven't tried to write a novel before, I've been having some serious moments of doubt. I found tonight that I wandered all over the place, and I hit a wall. So I escaped to the bookstore, and when I returned I actually wrote something that made sense. Next time I do this process, I'm going to outline more. On the other hand, yesterday, an unplanned character emerged, and it was really fun! Since I haven’t tried to write a novel before, I’ve been having some serious moments of doubt. I found tonight that I wandered all over the place, and I hit a wall. So I escaped to the bookstore, and when I returned I actually wrote something that made sense.

Next time I do this process, I’m going to outline more. On the other hand, yesterday, an unplanned character emerged, and it was really fun!

]]> Comment on NaNoWriMo Day 5: The Ups and Downs of Writing by Andrew http://offthewrittenpath.com/2009/11/05/nanowrimo-day-5-the-ups-and-downs-of-writing/#comment-39 Andrew Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:24:46 +0000 http://offthewrittenpath.com/?p=274#comment-39 Thanks! I'm not yet sure that I won't hit Writer's Block again in a few chapters, but hopefully I can power through it like I did here. I just have to remind myself (over and over and over again) that it's okay to keep writing even if I think it's bad, and then come back and improve that part in the second draft. Thanks! I’m not yet sure that I won’t hit Writer’s Block again in a few chapters, but hopefully I can power through it like I did here. I just have to remind myself (over and over and over again) that it’s okay to keep writing even if I think it’s bad, and then come back and improve that part in the second draft.

]]> Comment on NaNoWriMo Day 5: The Ups and Downs of Writing by cassandrajade http://offthewrittenpath.com/2009/11/05/nanowrimo-day-5-the-ups-and-downs-of-writing/#comment-37 cassandrajade Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:59:34 +0000 http://offthewrittenpath.com/?p=274#comment-37 I love the notion of chapter two blues. Admittedly mine doesn't kick in until about chapter five, after I've finished introducing characters, setting and the initial plot, but it really is like plowing straight into a wall. You know where you are and where you want to be, you even have a fair idea of how to get there, but the writing stalls. Wishing you luck with your story - the world needs to be reminded that fantasy can be epic rather than just teenage drama. I love the notion of chapter two blues. Admittedly mine doesn’t kick in until about chapter five, after I’ve finished introducing characters, setting and the initial plot, but it really is like plowing straight into a wall. You know where you are and where you want to be, you even have a fair idea of how to get there, but the writing stalls.
Wishing you luck with your story – the world needs to be reminded that fantasy can be epic rather than just teenage drama.

]]> Comment on Refocusing on NaNoWriMo by Andrew http://offthewrittenpath.com/2009/10/12/refocusing-on-nanowrimo/#comment-34 Andrew Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:57:34 +0000 http://offthewrittenpath.com/?p=189#comment-34 Hey Jacqueline-- Glad to see you're doing NaNoWriMo too! I've got about 20-25 scenes laid out (as in, I know they're going to happen), of which maybe 5-10 I've imagined in detail. For me, I think the most important part is knowing the characters and the overall arc of the story. If I know that (and I do), hopefully I can make up the rest as I go. Hey Jacqueline–

Glad to see you’re doing NaNoWriMo too! I’ve got about 20-25 scenes laid out (as in, I know they’re going to happen), of which maybe 5-10 I’ve imagined in detail. For me, I think the most important part is knowing the characters and the overall arc of the story. If I know that (and I do), hopefully I can make up the rest as I go.

]]> Comment on Refocusing on NaNoWriMo by Jacqueline http://offthewrittenpath.com/2009/10/12/refocusing-on-nanowrimo/#comment-31 Jacqueline Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:56:52 +0000 http://offthewrittenpath.com/?p=189#comment-31 I'm planning to attempt writing a novel for the first time this year so I'm waiting to see how far I get! I generally have imagined about ten pivotal scenes, but I seem to have difficulties actually writing an outline. I’m planning to attempt writing a novel for the first time this year so I’m waiting to see how far I get! I generally have imagined about ten pivotal scenes, but I seem to have difficulties actually writing an outline.

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