media – PiraticOctopus

cisnowflake:

pennamites:

rossjm:

briochebunbun:

Journalists are losing their shit over this on twitter

Make Journalists Afraid Again

His banter is unparalleled btw

Get em Elon.

Okay but seriously this is a great idea

Source: briochebunbun

tickley-bum-bums:

sj-flemings-writing:

genquerdeer:

sj-flemings-writing:

Honest question: Why do pop culture references work and get a laugh in things like Shrek, but in others they just come across as just being lame and forced? What makes a pop culture reference work?

I think the thing with references in general is that they need to either a) work on their own even if someone DOESN’T understand the source material and/or (preferably and) b) are brief enough that someone who doesn’t understand them most likely won’t notice them, instead of stopping the story shut in its tracks for a minute so you can wink at the viewer and say “geddit? eh? eh?”… metaporically speaking.

Example: in Shrek 2, Shrek sees an old poster in Fiona’s old room in the castle.

When I was a kid, I genuinely didn’t recognize that this was supposed to be Justin Timberlake, because I wasn’t that up on celebrity stuff (and he already wore a full beard at this point). But I still smiled, because even if you DON’T recognize the celeb it still is a solid joke even without that, narrative is still easy to recongize that Fiona as a tween had a crush on some male celebrity, and it ties into character development of Shrek feeling insecure because he’s not human – so it fullfills point a).

And in addition to that: that shot? It lasts for THREE SECONDS. It’s a quiet scene (except for music), noone makes any mention of that poster, there’s no dialog or callback or anything. If you don’t get it, you miss absolutely nothing. So it fulfills point b) at the same time.

True, and even the longer references (like the scene in Shrek 2 where Fairy Godmother sings “I need a hero” and you get that whole Godzilla Cookie bit) don’t actually impede the story, because there’s still stuff going on. Most of the time, when a reference falls flat, it’s because the movie stops in its tracks or doesn’t advance the plot, which tends to get on the nerves of viewers 😛

another example: in Meet The Robinson’s, when Wilbur says his dad looks like Tom Selleck and we’re given this picture for a fraction of a second among a bunch of pictures of goofy cartoon characters:

now as a kid this was hilarious bc come on, thats not a cartoon character, thats just a man!!! and it’s absurd and only there for a second. and then i learned later that his dad is actually voiced by Tom Selleck and GOD THATS HILARIOUS

pop culture references usually just fall somewhere on a spectrum from “funny” to “obnoxious,” with “boring” smack dab in the middle

ughsocialjustice:

I am, and try very hard to remain, neutral. For the reasons you said (mental health, feel the need for more information, want to research the issue better, some claims seem off, it conflicts with another issue, need to focus on other things- especially that first one and that last one). But I find as more and more movies, TV shows, games, songs, etc. come out involving members of whatever “oppressed” group or tackling social justice issues, it’s becoming extremely difficult if not impossible. Why? Because everyone then latches on to those aspects and then insists the movies or whatever are the Greatest Things Ever. You can’t even get away with saying they were just okay or that (for reasons that have nothing to do with anybody’s skin color or genitals or whatever else) the movie/game/whatever just doesn’t interest you. It’s automatically assumed that you don’t love and worship it because you’re sexist, racist, homophobic, etc. and to try to explain otherwise (even if it’s true) is to be brushed off. Or you’re a pariah for not appreciating how “important” it is (and solely because it’s so “important” it’s The Greatest Thing Ever).

Did I mention I’m a disabled, asexual woman? Well I am. And I’m not going to, for example, run out and buy 50 tickets, or even 1, to a movie (superhero, princess, animated, or otherwise) where the lead is an ace female with my exact disability in the name of “progress” or “representation”. Something about the story and something about that leading lady besides her sexuality, handicap, and being a “lady” has to be of interest to me. And should I be interested but the movie ends up being boring, overuses popular music, features a very annoying side character (of any race or gender or whatever), or in any way ends up being something I wouldn’t voluntarily watch again, I shouldn’t be expected to defend it against others who feel the same way nor should I have to defend my own opinions on the film just because I was “represented”. Or if the leading lady herself proved annoying, boring, etc. I shouldn’t be expected to defend her and have every right not to adore her. Same if the director or other crew member was a disabled woman, or the movie addressed sexism, ableism, etc. And in any case, I would not go on and on about how “important” the movie is and (intentionally or unintentionally) make anyone feel bad about not liking it, not being interested, or merely thinking it was good but not great.

If anything, the behavior I mentioned is actually having the opposite effect. I don’t do protests, boycotts, etc.- not even if they pertain to me (didn’t take part in the Women’s March for example), and effectively turning a movie/game/song/show into one is only going to put me off of it. I have my, I think perfectly valid, reasons not to take sides on most things, and again using a movie/whatever to gain support for your side actually makes me wish the thing didn’t exist at all. So much for your cause, huh?