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So here’s the latest stroke of Britney genius: the official music video for “If You Seek Amy.” The song has been drawing some criticism for it’s racy implication (OK do I have to spell it out for you? F.U.C.K Me) – but what do you guys think? Harmless fun? Classic Britney? A clever way to push the envelope? An unoriginal vie for attention? Or just plain stupid? I haven’t decided yet, but I will say this: WTF is up with those red shoes? It looks like she has balloon animals on her feet.
Fun fact about me: I have accidentally been sucked into the world of Fan Fiction – or “fanfic” as it is so lovingly referred to by the legions of devoted dorks who fire up their browsers on a half-hourly basis just to check for updates on the latest fictitious stories based on the movies/TV shows/graphic novels/comic books they love. I’m not sure exactly how I became entangled in this geeky phenomenon (I think it all started with an innocent Google search), but I am now terrified that I’m too far in. Will I be able to pull myself from the cyber quick sand of poor grammar and weak plotlines that IS fanfic???
For those of you who have no idea what fanfic is, let me fill you in. Fan fiction occurs when an obsessive fan of some entertainment medium spends so much time pondering their favorite characters from said medium that they feel like they need to write their own stories about them (this usually occurs when the individual has no real friends and begins to believe that the fictitious characters they love actually ARE their friends – or they just have waaaaaaay too much time on their hands). Sometimes these “authors” are expanding on plot lines from the actual movie or show, but usually they just end up writing their own original stories and slapping the character names on their characters.
Let’s take, for example, the fanfic that I’ve read: Will & Grace fanfic. I know, I know, its an obsession. Deal with it. Honestly I only even ended up finding these garbage stores based on W&G after doing a very innocent, very generic Google search for “Will and Grace.” You know, I was just looking for fun facts, updates on DVD releases, new pictures – but what I found was the W&G section of www.fanfiction.net (yes, an entire SITE devoted to this nonsense). Well, I was naturally curious, so I started reading one of the stories.
Bad idea. Will and Karen in a three way? Will helping Jack get through a rape? Grace coming out as a lesbian? Karen having Will’s baby? I was shocked. It was the weirdest thing I had ever experienced. These fans were extreme – imagining and writing about the most dramatic, most unrealistic, most graphically sexual (and I mean GRAPHIC) situations that could be imagined, all based on four fictitious characters from a syndicated NBC sitcom.
So you may be wondering, why do I keep reading this stuff? I’m going to be honest with you. Because its HILARIOUS. Most of this crap is written by teenagers and pre-teens, and the writing is just….atrocious to the point of hilarity. And if they do happen to be even half-way decent writers, they try so hard to use big words and complicated sentence structures that they just come up with a jumbled, seneless mess of incomprehensible letters.
The weirdest part is that fanfic is not limited to sci-fi stories and cult movies from the early 90’s – there is literally fan fiction for anything you could think of. Everything from Friends to Walker Texas Ranger and Twilight to The Golden Girls have fanfic stories floating around somewhere in cyber space. For a complete listing (and to be thoroughly confused and amused), visit www.fanfiction.net.
The best fanfic I have ever read? It’s got to be “My Immortal,” a gothic Harry Potter fanfic that is so ridiculous it borders on insane. Whenever I need a little pick me up, this story is one of the only things that can bring tears to my eyes every time I read it because I’m laughing so hard. In this particular rendering of Harry Potter, Harry is a vampire, Draco Malfoy loves hardcore punk music, and a a girl is only as unique as the white foundation and blood red lipstick she wears.
Let me first just say that this an old dissertation – one I wrote as a Facebook note back in August, before the Twilight movie came out. Since writing this, I have seen the movie and realize what complete and utter garbage it is. However, I feel still like the story is an interesting one, and for some reason millions of girls around the country are obsessed with the books, so here is my attempt at explaining why. Opinions on the book/movie/comparison of the two are more than welcome.
It seems to me that on this, the ninth day of the eighth month of the two-thousand and eighth year, Twilight mania has officially broken out.
It is one week to the day of the release of the fourth and final (for now) book of the series, and a mere four months and three days until the release of the film adaptation of the first book. And I am slightly pained to admit it, but I too have fallen prey to this addictive, if perhaps juvenile, saga. I received my very own copy of the most-anticipated book of the summer, Breaking Dawn, last Saturday afternoon and finished it approximately four days later. Since then, I’ve had Twilight on the mind and thought it would make a wonderful Current Obsession, not only because it truly is what I am currently obsessed with, but also because I enjoy nothing more than introducing something I love to any of my Facebook friends who actually read these things. Even if that something is a “young adult” series of novels about vampires.
It all started last semester when the book somehow came up amongst myself and some of the girls on my floor. I had never heard about Twilight, let alone read it, and apparently I was missing out on something spectacular. Before I knew it, a hefty, black novel with a shiny black cover was in my possession, and I began reading with a piqued curiosity.
I don’t want too give too much of the plot away, because this is a truly suspenseful story that reveals new twists and turns all the time, and giving away all the major plot points would be doing you all a disservice (because I fully expect everyone to now go read these books, of course). But the whole premise of the books, which is basically unknown until about a fourth of the way through the first, I don’t feel too bad about filling you in on. Any simple Google search on “Twilight” will spoil the most major of major points of contention, which obviously fuels the series.
Its the oldest story in the world: girl meets boy, girl falls madly in love with boy, boy resists, boy gives in, boy tries not to suck girl’s blood.
Wait – what?! Yep, in this story, boy – or rather, Edward Cullen- is a vampire. And Bella Swan, the girl he loves more than anything in his ever-lasting life, whose blood also happens to be more tempting than any he’s ever smelled, just doesn’t care. And thus begins a vampirical re-telling of the classic Romeo and Juliet scenario. The love between the two is stronger than any other obstacle they will face throughout their lives together. As a vampire, Edward’s first instictual desire is to completely obliterate Bella in order to quench his thirst for her succulent blood. But on a human level, he has never loved anyone like he loves her in his entire 90 years of life.
(Oh yeah, that’s the other thing about the vampires in this book; they’re not quite like the vampires of common pop culture folklore. They don’t sleep in coffins – in fact, they don’t sleep at all – and they don’t have fangs. But they do have incredibly strong teeth. Actually, they have unbelievable strength in every sense of the word. They also have pale white skin that glitters in the sunlight and they are immortal. These vamps aren’t repelled by garlic, but they don’t eat any human food at all, and you can’t kill them with a stake through the heart. The only way to kill these vampires is to cut them into tiny pieces and set the remains ablaze.)
But, Edward’s true love for Bella ultimately overrules his desire to suck her blood. He also has to treat her like a porcealin doll; one wrong twitch of his finger and he could crush her like a piece of chalk. As if this weren’t problem enough, there is also Edward’s family that Bella must be integrated into. Not his biological family – his vampire family. His adoptive mother and father, Esme and Carlisle, are the leaders of the Cullen coven. Besides Edward, they have two other “sons”: the impossibly strong Emmett and Jasper, who has the most trouble sticking to the Cullen’s “vegetarian” lifestyle (they don’t hunt humans, only animals). Rosalie and Alice are Edward’s adoptive sisters. One plus side to being a vampire: incredible physical perfection and beauty. This certainly applies to Edward and his family, and Rosalie is even described as “the most beautiful woman in the world.” As Edward’s family, they of course want to support his relationship with Bella and grow to love her, too, but as vampires they are no more immune to her alluring blood than Edward is. It is this obvious conflict that provides most of the action in the story. As Bella becomes more and more a part of the world of the immortal, she is put in more and more danger as she has run-ins with other, non-vegetarian vampires.
So I admit, these books are written for teenagers. They are an incredibly easy read, and most of the story takes place in the world of high schoolers. It also seems like a disgustingly cliche love story/chick flick. So what gives? Why is this series quickly becoming a serious competitor with the Harry Potter series? Why is Stephenie Meyer, the author of the saga, being dubbed “the new J.K. Rowling?” The answer is easy. As lame as these books may sound, as predictable as they may be, they are purely and simply unbelievably entertaining. Yeah, there’s A LOT of romance. A smidge too much for my taste, but then again, I am notorious for being repulsed by the slightest trace of ooey-gooey romantic mushiness. But guys – not to worry! There’s plenty here for you, too! I mean, come on. They are vampires for Pete’s sake. Vampires that kill stuff. That can run at the speed of light, jump across rivers and crush boulders with their fists. And there are more than a few battle sequences and gore throughout the four books. Overall, they’re a highly entertaining, quick read for anyone and everyone (there’s even a Twilight Moms online fan group).
So what’s next for this ever-growing franchise? Well for one, Stephenie Meyer just released her first adult science fiction novel, The Host. I haven’t checked it out myself yet, but I’m telling you, Meyer has the kind of imagination fantasy lovers drool over. I recently watched an interview with her where she said that having people actually read and enjoy her books is so cool because it’s like they’re getting to know the characters she has been intimate with for so long. I think that’s the mark of a good author. This story is just so completely organic and intense for Meyer that it comes across the page as vivid and real. The characters have so much depth that you can’t help but develop your own relationship with them, and it is fascinating to learn about all of their personalities and back stories. Plus the events and places are so intriguing that you can’t put the books down.
Twilight has also just wrapped production on a live-action feature film to be released on December 12 of this year. It will unquestionably be a huge opening – most likely comparable to the premiere of the first Harry Potter movie. Kristen Stewart, most recently in Into the Wild, and Robert Pattinson, Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, will star as Bella and Edward, respectively.
So if you’ve been out of the reading-for-enjoyment loop for awhile, as I had been until I picked up these books last semester, I strongly recommend Twilight and its sequels, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn. This delightfully dark romance will have you on the edge of your seat and thirsting (no vampire pun intended) for more. Luckily, Meyer is coming out with one more book that ties into the series, Midnight Sun*, which is a re-telling of Twilight from Edward’s perspective, rather than Bella’s. Until then, though, fantasy fans will just have to settle with the first four absolutely addictive novels and the sure-to-be blockbuster Twilight the movie.
So yes, I realize that the link to this blog is http://popgoestheculture2008.wordpress.com. And yes, I realize that it is no longer 2008. But you know what? I wasn’t thinking this far ahead when I started this blog a year ago, ok? Get off my case – geez! Just kidding, devoted fans. But let’s just think of it as 2008 is the year of Pop Goes The Culture’s conception. Because don’t worry, I’m going to keep this current and start ACTUALLY updating. Starting…now. Or maybe later tonight. Or tomorrow. Either way, check back!
This past week, while in NYC with BFF Lauren, I lost my stage-door virginity.
Now, I had heard a lot before about people going to see Broadway shows, and flocking to some secret location around the corner of the theater afterward to catch a glimpse or get an autograph from the stars of the show. I myself had never had such an experience, because before last week (Thursday night, March 21st, 2008, to be exact) I had never seen a show with cast members I cared much about. Sure, I enjoyed their performances, but I had nothing to say to them should I meet them in person. And I certainly didn’t care about their autographs – I mean Broadway stars typically aren’t household names.
But by some miraculous chain of events, last Thursday I found myself at the stage door of the Hilton Theater on 42nd Street in Manhattan waiting patiently to see the one celebrity I would unquestionably bend over backwards for: Megan Mullally.
Megan Who? Megan Mullally. AKA Karen Walker on the now syndicated sitcom Will & Grace. Those of you who know me well enough for me to confess this embarassing obsession to will know that it teeters precariously on the edge of insanity. After becoming obsessed with W&G at the end of my junior year of high school, I soon realized that it was the character of Karen whom I truly loved, and I was fascinated by the real woman behind her. And thus the Megan obsession began.
She’s a hilarious, smart, independent woman who is now almost 50 but has the spirit (and body – that woman looks GOOD) of a 30 year old. She’s basically everything I aspire to be, especially when I’m her age, and she just has a certain je ne sais quoi that really really appeals to me. She is also an amazingly gifted performer and musician – two MAJOR things I also aspire to be in my dream world where I could earn a living by entertaining.
Anyways, Megan is currently starring in the new Mel Brooks B’Way musical Young Frankenstein, so of course before, during and after the show she was my main focus. I wanted more than anything to meet her, to simply make her aware of my presence and see my face after the countless hours I’ve spent watching hers in W&G episodes and YouTube videos. In preparation for this trip, I’d seen many success stories from fans getting to meet her and take pictures and get autographs. So I thought, no problem – I’ll just go to the stage door and everything will work out just fine!
Well, soon after arriving in NYC I realized it would not be as easy as that. By some fluke, we ended up running into Megan leaving the theater our first night in the city, and although we didn’t say anything to her simply because of our state of shock and lack of preparation, we did learn her secret. You see, for some time now Megan has been skipping the stage door and her adoring fans (a LARGE chunk of each night’s YF audience is there to see her and her alone) and waltzing out the main entrance to the theater on 42nd Street between 11 and 11:05, climbing into a charcoal gray Suburban with tinted windows, and driving away leaving the huge crowd at the stage door wondering how she escaped.
At first I was thoroughly disappointed with this news. Why would she not want to meet and greet all her fans? The same people, I might add, that are keeping her star power alive. Without her fans, she would be nothing. And she clearly does everything in her power to avoid them? I didn’t understand. So - a plan was devised, and after a lot of trickery and me mustering up more courage than I’ve ever used in one time and place before, we did meet Megan. She didn’t stop long enough for a picture or autograph, but for a full 30 or so seconds I had her undivided attention and got to see her in the flesh as she stood not two feet away from me.
This was a satisfying event, although it could have gone better, but it didn’t take us long to realize that Megan wasn’t the only one being sneaky and avoiding the fans. Lauren caught Roger Bart, starring as Dr. Frankenstein, also leaving through the main entrance amidst the audience crowd as they exited the theater. He was being extremely tricky, dressed in ordinary clothes and making it out only about five minutes after curtain call ended. Also – we went back to the stage door two nights that week, and each night the only main cast member to come out was Shuler Hensley (the nicest guy ever) who played the Monster. So each night a huge crowd lined up in desperate hopes of meeting Roger Bart, Megan Mullally, Sutton Foster, Christopher Fitzgerald, Andrea Martin, and Fred Applegate, and each night they all went home disappointed after wasting 30 minutes of their time standing in the cold only to be told by a security guard that none of those people would be coming out.
So I ask – what is wrong with you, Broadway stars? Is it really so hard for you to take 20 minutes of your time after a show to come out and make your fans happy? Don’t you want to revel in their profusive praise and adoration? Don’t you want to keep them happy and coming back to buy more tickets? Have you never had someone you admired so much that all you wanted to do was to just meet them in person? Perhaps get an autograph – or better yet, a picture? HAVE YOU NO HEART?
If you’re going to be a live entertainer, I think it goes without saying that appeasing your fans is just part of the job. You perform for 2 and a half hours onstage, then for another 20 at the stage door. It doesn’t take much time, you’re keeping your fans happy, and you’re essentially promoting yourself. This should espeically be expected when you are a theater performer, and in much closer contact with your audience than actors in movies or on TV.
I know Broadway stars are just people, too. I know they have their reasons for not wanting to come out of the stage door, and I know that I should not make the judgment that they are horrible people simply for this reason. But I mean….really?
It is an unbelievably gorgeous day.
The St. Louis gloom has mysteriously lifted – it is a sunny, cloudless, 55-degree afternoon, and I could not be happier. It really is true what they say about the sun making you happier. I guess I never really believed that, mostly because I’ve always been the weirdo that reveled in the mystery of gloomy days, but today I have been proved wrong.
In fact, as I walked the mile to Blockbuster (they were out of “La Vie en Rose”! Damn!) this afternoon, I felt suddenly and strangely peaceful. As though all were right with my world. This is certainly not the case – over the past two weeks I’ve had a lot weighing on my mind and stressing me out. But that 40 minute walk there and back proved to be just as useful in easing my mind today as an hour-long full body massage would’ve been.
In my Islam class, we’ve been talking a lot about how the signs of God are everywhere, as this is one of the fundamental ideals in the Islamic faith. Today is a truly perfect example of that. If there were ever a day I felt God’s presence more than I did today on my solitary walk, I cannot recall it.
This blog may not have much meaning – but it is just far too beautiful of a day for me to not share with you. So if, wherever you are, it is equally as beautiful today, I encourage you to leave Facebook for an hour or two and enjoy it! Because who knows how long we’ll have to wait to have a day like this again.
So I got back a couple hours ago from seeing the musical Avenue Q at The Fox. That show is outrageously hilarious. It’s definitely my kind of humor – and if you care about me enough to be reading this, then probably your kind of humor too – the type where taboos don’t exist and boundaries are constantly crossed.
The puppets were a little hard to get used to, but by the middle of the first act I was [almost] unaware of the human performers guiding said puppets. Actually, the performance by the humans was quite impressive. Their voices were outrageously animated, but it nearly never showed on their faces. The only contribution their bodies made (besides the puppeteering, of course) was to be the legs of the puppets during choreography.
What makes this show so likeable, I think, is its pure honesty. They sing songs like “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist,” and “You Can Be as Loud as the Hell You Want (When You’re Making Love).” The lyrics seriously just cut to the chase and expose universal truths that usually everyone is too embarassed or scared to talk about. It is so unbelievably refreshing to just be able to come out and own up to things and stop being so freaking PC.
What also makes this show so likeable: the incredibly-realistic-yet-incredibly-disturbing puppet sex scene. That’s right. For a whole four minutes the audience gets to watch the two title puppets thrusting and groping and moaning and yes, even 69ing. The movements were uncomfortably life-like, which made it all the funnier. There were also some great lines uttered during this scene: “Do not put your finger there!….PUT YOUR FINGER THERE!”
But as hilarious and fluffy and brutally honest as Q is, it does in fact have an underlying theme: we’re all f*&#ed.
The second half of the show really hits home with college-age audience members. You see, almost all of the characters are young to middle age college grads, and none of them have a good job (or a job at all). By the near-end of the show, they have all come to realize that they screwed up somewhere along the line, and lament their mistakes in “I Wish I Could Go Back to College.” The song and situations of the characters highlight something that has been in the forefront of my mind lately: this is our one shot. Well, I mean, maybe not. You could always go back to school at some point. But who knows if you’ll have the time or money or resources to do that in the future. No – we all must take advantage of the opportunities and knowledge we are being given now. We have to live in the moment, but also plan ahead.
Avenue Q does well to make us all remember that as Princeton, Kate Monster, Gary Coleman, Christmas Eve and the rest of their friends sing, everything in life is only for now.
I have all these thoughts and ideas and imaginations bottled up in my little pea brain. I don’t know what to do with them. I want to share them with my friends, acquaintances, and general passersby, but I’m not quite sure how. I also want to incorporate pictures and colors and videos and beauty and intrigue.
I KNOW!
A blog.
About anything and everything I’m thinking.
A lot of which deals with popular culture. (Hence the name of this blog)
Now, I’ve dabbled with blogging in the past – Myspace anyone? Facebook notes? – but I’m ready to get serious. Instead of trying to be professional and creative on some meaningless social networking site, or dramatic on an even more meaningless (and now defunct) social networking site, I have acquired an actual blogspot. So please – read, enjoy, comment, start your own if you’re inspired!
