Film Night and other things

[erastes]

1. Film Night. Went to see Juno. Not something I would have chosen but it was Kerry's birthday and I hadn't got her anything so I let her have another choice.  I couldn't imagine why the hell it had been nominated for Oscars, (still can't really) but it was a good little film. Perhaps America is just not used to teenage pregnancy stories, because of course I'm sure that no American girl ever got pregnant. Juno is bloody 16 for Christ's sake, as well. Hello? We've had SOAP operas with 12 year old mothers over here.  You might be surprised America but kids don't wait until it's legal, you know.

HOWEVER. The script WAS pretty good. It didnt compare with Serenity, but it was ok. Enjoyed the film a lot more than I expected to.

2. I'm within a whisper of finishing the novel I'm working on. It's killing me, I think. Thank GOD for my support group of gehayi and rwday who I can off-load onto.  I don't think I could have put up with me for the last 2 years.  There's much I could say about the book, but I can't, not yet.

3. Found this quote from JKR on the Leaky Cauldron:  I am very frustrated that a former fan has tried to co-opt my work for financial gain. The Harry Potter books are full of moral choices and ethical dilemmas, and, ironically, Mr. Vander Ark's actions tend to demonstrate that he is woefully unfit to represent himself as a 'fan of' or 'expert on' books books whose spirit he seems entirely to have missed."

Can someone explain this to me?  I'm not talking about the hilarious attack that refers to the Potter verse morals somehow being missing in Mr Van Ark, but rather that Ms Rowling appears to have allowed about 20 previous encyclopediae.  Why were they "ok" and this one is not?  Is it because they were written by Non BNFs and were not likely to be considered a Bible as SVA's would be? Or that they weren't written in blood sweat and tears by someone who (when he started out, at least) didn't expect a penny's return for his work, but did it for love.  Or was it that SVA's work was the one place that JKR could actually check her own canon? (and she has admitted this at least once)

I will say this - if it came to "Who wants to be a millionaire" and I had ONE "phone a friend" and the question was anything in the Book Canon - I would ring Steve rather than JKR.

4. I've done a few reviews on Speak Its Name recently, and whilst I don't normally mention that here, one book review in particular I wanted to point out.  "Only Words" by Tina Anderson and Caroline Monaco (Illustrations). It's the first "Graphic Novel" that was reviewed on the community, and my own experience of that genre is limited to "Bunty" as a child, and "300", "Sin City," and "Sandman"

Here's my review - and I advise that you read the comments because the author very kindly speaks out, giving her own family background and her reasons for picking such a incendiary time period and geographic location.  It hit me hard, and if you want more than effeminate men and historical inaccuracy in your m/m graphic novels, then BUY THIS. 

Comments

[joyful-molly.livejournal.com]

Why were they "ok" and this one is not?

You might find the following court document useful. If you click on this link (http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/docs/blumsackfeb27.pdf), you can read the official answer to that question, book by book. It's a *.pdf file.

I'm not into Harry Potter. I lost interest in the books after volume three and I keep as far away from HP fandom as possible. But I've followed this particular case because of its importance for fandom in general.

The Lexicon is without a doubt a fantastic website, but the amount of "blood and sweat" somebody has put into a work has nothing to do with copyright ownership. Just because JKR is "rich enough", as many claim, she doesn't automatically lose the copyright in her work, and I hope the court will confirm that.

[thistlerose.livejournal.com]

Perhaps America is just not used to teenage pregnancy stories, because of course I'm sure that no American girl ever got pregnant.

You're being sarcastic here, right?

I liked "Juno." I thought it was a refreshing spin on an old story.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Jeez. I work in a lawyers office, if I wanted to continue to read crap legal docs, I'd want to work in a legal office. I was hoping someone would explain it!

I agree with you about copyright, but you can't put the genie back in the bottle. Here's hoping that none of the people she stole from come after her, eh?

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Me , sarcastic?

[joyful-molly.livejournal.com]

Ah, it was a rhetorical question. My apologies.

[schmoo999.livejournal.com]

Here is a list of all the fandom wank reports that deal with this book mess.

I getting confused as hell over the whole thing frankly. I think this time it is because so much of the books are being directly quoted in his book? I think? I have no idea.

I really enjoyed Juno a lot. It was the one cheerful movie at the Oscars this year and no murders!! lol.

The writer of the movie did win an Oscar for best original screenplay. I loved seeing her in a leopard print dress with her huge ass arm pin up girl tat on her arm, and the fact she used to be a stripper and doesn't hide that fact:)

[lyras.livejournal.com]

From the above link, "Of the books cited by RDR, three are not similar to the Lexicon book but rather add analysis and commentary; another is currently the subject of the Plaintiff's policing efforts; and the remaining three merely attempted to repackage Ms Rowling's copyrighted expression and/or use Warner Bros.' trademarks and, as a result in part of the Plaintiff's policing efforts, are currently out of print (two of which had negligible sales and one of which had, at best, modest sales)."

Part of the crap legal document, but states the case clearly enough, I think? The lawyer then goes on to discuss each book specifically. There's also the issue that all of these books were published before Deathly Hallows, and are thus out of date, which the Lexicon book is not.

[maximvanziel.livejournal.com]

It was great surprise to me the author answered my comment :)

One thing I never expected was she is eager to accept male readers, which some yaoi writers/fans don't want.
I was worrying recently because it seemed that there is no place for any man to say his opinion on m/m romance subjects. She gave me a relief.

I'm idiot forgetting to wish her success, as well as in Polish and German version. (It's inevitable to be changed the symbol. Even on Wikipedia they don't use it.)

[lyras.livejournal.com]

PS - I also meant to say, congrats on almost reaching the end with the novel!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Aw thanks! It's been a long haul!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it won an oscar, the screen play was very natural. nod nod.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I don't understand the whole "no male readers" thing, in any genre, to be honest. It baffles me.

Most of my flist and peers (I think) are in the reasonable end of the spectrum when it comes to anything, and want readers. I have always been of the opinion that gay men want romance, which is why I started to write Standish in the first place, I didn't even KNOW that women read and wrote it. When I found that out I was surprised - and that's why, when i get emails like the first one you sent me (and others from other gay men who loved the book) I feel VERY happy.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Hmm. so the first paragraph sounds like she's pissed off that SDV is likely to make a lot of money at it (even though he's giving to charity!) and paragraph 2 is nonsense. Just because an encyclopedia is produced part way through a series, doesn't make it more valid than one that it published at the end.

Obviously she just doesn't want the comparisons to her own work, which will be riddled with more errors.

[angelabenedetti.livejournal.com]

Personally, I welcome any readers and I think any writer who doesn't has some serious issues, to say nothing of the fact that they're shooting themselves in the foot. :P

That said, though, I have to admit that when I was first posting m/m fiction online (on GEnie, back in the neolithic internet age) I got quite a few comments from men, and nowadays I get very few. I don't know whether it's the difference in the environment (my fanfic is on LJ, which seems to be largely female, but my profic is published by a gay erotica/romance specialty house, which one might expect to draw at least some gay men), or whether there were some loud and visible females who made it clear that men weren't welcome and the men assumed all women felt the same, or what. [ponder] It'd be interesting to know whether it's just a local effect (around LJ, Yaoi fandom, and wherever else) or whether men in general are avoiding female-written m/m fiction in general.

Angie

[lyras.livejournal.com]

SVA's giving to charity? That's the first I've heard of it - on the other hand, as far as I know JKR's encyclopaedia will be produced for charity.

And my point in the second paragraph was that SVA's book has been produced post-series, not that it was more valid because it had been produced earlier.

Personally I have no problem with JKR taking issue with a fan trying to make money out of her intellectual property. *shrug* I feel a little sorry for the way it's backfired on him, but I have no sympathy with his intent. Particularly as there still seems to be confusion over whether the book is all his own work or whether the Lexicon writers contributed unwittingly.

[maximvanziel.livejournal.com]

Hi Angie

Personally, I welcome any readers

I'm very thankful to hear that :)

Two years ago I was involved in blogs of Japanese gay men and Yaoi girls. There some Yaoi girls declared, "We don't want real gay men!". I didn't ask other gay men, but it was shocking at least to me.

As for m/m romance, most of female writers(not all) have created their own world which is quite different from real one we live. Of course we want to read the romance stories with beautiful characters, but usually they are so perfect that they seem unreal. Some may says, it's fiction we can escape into it to forget everyday life. We agree at this point, too. But, to be honest, whenever I see their blogs/sites decorated with pics of beautiful semi-nude men, I feel uncomfortable. Sometimes I wonder if women feel the same when they see the sites/blogs with photos of women/girls, so it's their revenge :D

visible females who made it clear that men weren't welcome and the men assumed all women felt the same

Personally I don't think all women don't welcome men, but usually they give impression of that kind. But, is it easy for a female writer to declare "I welcome male readers"? I'm afraid she'll be involved in a conflict :D

I always find female writers are excellent in writing, but unreality on characters is big flaw(to me). Recently I was interested in a book and about to buy, but when I read a line which described one of two main characters "a beautiful tall youngman with long wavy blond hair...", I said it's not to me(except for he is vampire or something). Has someone(female writer) written a romance between a middle-aged lorry driver and a downtown boy? I'm dying to read suchlike story :D

On the other hand, I have to admit that sometimes men are unfair to women. On a site of military history, 99% of members are men. I don't care at all but some guys don't want girls to get involved in discussions. Of course they don't say it because most of us are European gentlemen(I believe), but whenever girls leave comment like this, "Hi! I'm a girl but...". I feel uneasy. Not because I don't want them, but I guess other guys reaction inside..

Sorry for being long :)
-and also for Erastes using his space :')

Maximilian.

[angelabenedetti.livejournal.com]

There are definitely different modes of writing m/m, and some appeal more to women while others appeal more to men. (Noting that these are only tendancies and not absolutes.) When I think of "women's" m/m, I usually think of men who are very emotional, cry a lot, and constantly share their feelings with each other. :) When I think of "men's" m/m, I think of more emphasis on raw sex and getting off, and cruder language. (For example, I've never seen "spurting meatpole" in a story written by a woman, but I've seen it more than once in gay erotica written by a man. [wry smile])

There's a middle ground which can generally please both sexes, of course, and I usually try to veer in that direction. Going for a larger audience is always desireable, but when you get right down to it, I really have to be in the mood for the guys who earnestly discuss their feelings for one another and then cry in each other's arms. :)

I think it's just a matter of finding the writers who appeal to you, like with any other aspect of fiction you might like or dislike.

About the pictures, I personally have no problem at all with straight guys liking pictures of women they think are sexy. Guys can have all the cheesecake pictures they want, so long as I can have my beefcake -- fair's fair. ;)

Angie

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I agree.

I really do NOT understand this attitude. What was the reasoning as to why they didn't want men around? What encouraged me was the fact that Scott and Scott had to start their own Romance line, because they couldn't get their books published and taken seriously. I realised then that men DID want romance, and consequent conversation with many gay men makes me realise that they don't all want sex scenes, which of course should have been evident to me, and wasn't because when it comes to reading, all people want different things.

I hope that it's changing and that men will try a book by a woman, because I think that they'd often enjoy them. Some of the schmoopiest lovey-doviest m/m books I've read, btw, have been written by men, so men can't say that "women write men who are too emotional"

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I think that any community who discriminates on sex should be closed down, that's utterly disgusting.

I'm saying it loud and proud. I WELCOME MALE READERS.

I agree with you, Max that a lot of female fiction has unrealistic characters - but that's a Romance tradition, you only have to look at the covers of the Romance Novels going back years and years.

That being said, men write completely unrealistic men too. They are ALWAYS hung like horses, can ejaculate about two minutes after their last ejaculation, and are always hot as hell!! :)

As I said to Angela below, men also (Vincent Virga, Max Pierce) write very romantic men, very emotional men, who burst into tears at the drop of a hat, but again, that a Romance tradition)

Oh yes, there are women who write bears, and jocks and truck drivers and soldiers. I recommend Jules Jones, Ally Blue for starters - there are many other - elisa would know better than I.

I'd also get annoyed if I was made unwelcome on a site of military history because of my gender, that's disgusting. I need these sites from time to time for research. Surely it's better that women (ALL WRITERS) get their research right?

grrr.

And never apologise for commenting, Max, you are always welcome

xxx

[maximvanziel.livejournal.com]

>I'm saying it loud and proud. I WELCOME MALE READERS

I'm sure nobody dares challenge you :)

>They are ALWAYS hung like horses, can ejaculate about two minutes after their last ejaculation, and are always hot as hell!! :)

That's why I love you! :D

>I'd also get annoyed if I was made unwelcome on a site of military history because of my gender

There is no problem to read discussions, but to be a member, some sites ask "where and when and in which unit" you have served. Sometimes I wonder if it's necessary.