I'll be honest about why I am reluctant to watch what is now known as the "hottest blockbuster" of the year. The last thing I want is to get stuck in another fandom-war.
I'm already sick of reading all those articles and comments comparing this franchise with another successful movie franchise. Why do people like to compare and pit the fandoms against each other? It's almost like they are doing it with glee watching the fans fight verbally. I have seen some pretty ghastly and nasty remarks during the "infamous" Harry Potter fanbase hate everything Twilight. It's still going on but on a more subtle scale.
That's part of the reason why I decided to drop out of the scene. The childish behaviour of people who should know better put me off. I still get excited over Harry Potter matters and still considered myself as an avid fan, but I'm much less active in other areas such as reading forums and stuff. In a way, I've moved on.
Of course, there's a part of me who feel indignant at the blatant way people insult the whole Twilight phenomenon, from the fans to the author to the books to the movies. To be fair, I did enjoy the books tremendously because I found it quite well-written despite all the naysayers. I did like the romantic aspect and the idea of the supernatural living amongst us.
It's fine if one doesn't like it. But to go to the extent of insulting everything on sight and making it the butt of the joke is going too far. It's one thing to hate a book/movie and another to degrade the author or the fans.
Anyway, I'm glad that this movie franchise is ending because I wish the uproar would die down.
I'm trying to put the young adults genre behind me and move on to better stuff like classics and fanfiction. Besides, I'm still relatively new to the Sherlock fandom and am having too much fun to join another fandom. It's most enjoyable with fans that are mostly pleasant and talented. Most of all, I love how the actors and writers are able to chat/troll with fans. It's almost like a closely-knitted family and this makes it wonderful.
Hottest blockbuster, maybe. I am counting on The Hobbit to topple the record though. Shhhh.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Surviving March
These past few days have been horrible. My aim is to survive March first before thinking about April.
I've been going to school in the morning and coming back home in the late afternoons for 3 consecutive days. I've never been this weary before.
This Friday, I will bid goodbye to one of the projects and hopefully, scored a good grade for it because it has been plain tiring doing it. This is definitely one of the most annoying projects I did so far. It get even worse with less than stellar group members.
Next Friday, I will hand up my last project which is also a pain to complete. Up till now, we are still entering data. I can't believe it.
What these 2 projects have in common is that they are vague. It's free rein and you have to come up with the scope yourself. Perhaps for some people, this comes as a blessing as one can be creative. This is true for me in Poly, we can set up whatever business you want and justify it. But not so in University.
One thing I realise about University modules is that they are so research-based and boring as h***. Nothing fascinates me. Yes, professors dedicate their time on researches to make this world a better base but I find it so stuffy and academic (in the bad way).
Sigh, talking about my "past life" makes me sad. Would it be better if I'd just choose a different path or will it be worse? I would never know since I can't travel back. But, you've got your troubles and I've got mine. So, let's not say whether my grousing and complaints are justifiable.
I've been going to school in the morning and coming back home in the late afternoons for 3 consecutive days. I've never been this weary before.
This Friday, I will bid goodbye to one of the projects and hopefully, scored a good grade for it because it has been plain tiring doing it. This is definitely one of the most annoying projects I did so far. It get even worse with less than stellar group members.
Next Friday, I will hand up my last project which is also a pain to complete. Up till now, we are still entering data. I can't believe it.
What these 2 projects have in common is that they are vague. It's free rein and you have to come up with the scope yourself. Perhaps for some people, this comes as a blessing as one can be creative. This is true for me in Poly, we can set up whatever business you want and justify it. But not so in University.
One thing I realise about University modules is that they are so research-based and boring as h***. Nothing fascinates me. Yes, professors dedicate their time on researches to make this world a better base but I find it so stuffy and academic (in the bad way).
Sigh, talking about my "past life" makes me sad. Would it be better if I'd just choose a different path or will it be worse? I would never know since I can't travel back. But, you've got your troubles and I've got mine. So, let's not say whether my grousing and complaints are justifiable.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Famdom is my way of Life
Fandom is a way of life.
I like the sound of that, very much. I've been part of different fandoms for a long time. The most prominent three fandoms I belonged or used to belong to are "Potterheads", "Twilighter" and recently, "Sherlockians". I refused to use the term "Twihard" because it doesn't represent the spirit of the original fandom.
Indeed, for all budding fandoms, I think original fans who have been there since the start have it tough with all the attention and newcomers. Once something gets famous and a cultish-fanbase grows, there's no stopping it and let's be honest, suddenly everyone wants in or proclaimed themselves to be "true fans".
The problem with the new found attention is that it tends to attract all kinds of unpleasant people who do not understand what boundaries are.
It's the situation Sherlockians are facing now and it will be worse in the future. I understand that awareness is great because it means people are spreading the word but that magical feeling is gone, isn't it?
That's what happen to the Twilight fandom. I still love the books and will still watch the last movie when it comes out, but I've lost my passion due to all the (mostly bad) publicity and influx of "immature fans". The original spirit is gone, majority of them are just gushing over the movies and not the books.
It's like having a limited edition bag which is so dear to you and the next moment, you see everyone on the street carrying it. The special feeling is gone and the bag has become another ordinary accessory.
That being said, I wasn't part of the Sherlock fandom since its start in 2010. I was late in every sense as I only heard about the TV show in June 2011 and was only properly introduced to the fandom in December 2011. Still, I feel as if I belonged. The fandom is great and glorious, full of wonderful and talented people who make awesome fanart and write interesting fanfiction.
But when something grows in awareness and gains momentum, fans will have to deal with unwanted attention too, from haters and unsavoury fans. It's a double-edged sword.
In the fandom world, I would be considered a "lurker". I know the inside jokes, the good fanfictions, the fanvideos etc but I have never interact much with the other fans. It's both a choice and circumstance.
Oh well, it is out of my hands. I will bask in the glory of this fandom for as long as the spirit remains. It's a long wait for series 3 anway.
I like the sound of that, very much. I've been part of different fandoms for a long time. The most prominent three fandoms I belonged or used to belong to are "Potterheads", "Twilighter" and recently, "Sherlockians". I refused to use the term "Twihard" because it doesn't represent the spirit of the original fandom.
Indeed, for all budding fandoms, I think original fans who have been there since the start have it tough with all the attention and newcomers. Once something gets famous and a cultish-fanbase grows, there's no stopping it and let's be honest, suddenly everyone wants in or proclaimed themselves to be "true fans".
The problem with the new found attention is that it tends to attract all kinds of unpleasant people who do not understand what boundaries are.
It's the situation Sherlockians are facing now and it will be worse in the future. I understand that awareness is great because it means people are spreading the word but that magical feeling is gone, isn't it?
That's what happen to the Twilight fandom. I still love the books and will still watch the last movie when it comes out, but I've lost my passion due to all the (mostly bad) publicity and influx of "immature fans". The original spirit is gone, majority of them are just gushing over the movies and not the books.
It's like having a limited edition bag which is so dear to you and the next moment, you see everyone on the street carrying it. The special feeling is gone and the bag has become another ordinary accessory.
That being said, I wasn't part of the Sherlock fandom since its start in 2010. I was late in every sense as I only heard about the TV show in June 2011 and was only properly introduced to the fandom in December 2011. Still, I feel as if I belonged. The fandom is great and glorious, full of wonderful and talented people who make awesome fanart and write interesting fanfiction.
But when something grows in awareness and gains momentum, fans will have to deal with unwanted attention too, from haters and unsavoury fans. It's a double-edged sword.
In the fandom world, I would be considered a "lurker". I know the inside jokes, the good fanfictions, the fanvideos etc but I have never interact much with the other fans. It's both a choice and circumstance.
Oh well, it is out of my hands. I will bask in the glory of this fandom for as long as the spirit remains. It's a long wait for series 3 anway.
Thursday, March 08, 2012
Ridiculous in the name of the "Greater Good"
Reading this on a brand new day is a mistake because it totally spoils my mood now. I'll likely be brooding about this for days, even though brooding accomplishes nothing.
This is getting ridiculous. Why must they build a hawker centre right on the piece of green patch left in Yishun? And why must it be right in front of my house? This makes it hard to stomach, oh look, I make a pun.
Yishun is turning fast into a concrete jungle and is going to be no different from all the towns in Singapore. I loathe it for what it is becoming to be. There is no "special feeling" anymore. The sense of identity is gone.
While I am on this point, the large trees in Yishun Park were fell and along with them, down came the white-bellied sea eagles' nest. I lamented about it for days but what can I do? Write a letter when the matter was already done?
Yes, so the government do caters to what residents want. But, what about those that veto against this construction? Do we have no say at all? I doubt that all the residents are consulted before this decision is made.
I used to pride myself for being loyal to the leading party in Singapore because overall, they did do a great job. But, recently, the onslaught to kill what is left of Yishun makes me so angry and frustrated.
Does that mean that the opposing party will gain another follower? I'm afraid, no. Unless they can protect more greenlands and slow down the development, I see no reason to change sides. It is not as if they will have an alternative.
I understand that there will always be collateral damage. This leads me to another point, I admit having the NIMBY Syndrome. Don't most of us, if not all? Will you be happy if your backyard has to make way for the "greater good"? Can you be sure you will agree with the decision to build a nuclear plant right in front of your doorstep?
Am I having the defeatist attitude as well? Perhaps. You tend to have it in Singapore. What can you do but to accept the "greater good"? It's the same for Bukit Brown, isn't it? It is everything to do with progress, pragmatism and the need to rise to world stage. We can never afford something as simple and luxurious as a green patch of land without some development on it.
At the very least, it is not a twelve-storey HDB which will completely block any view. I shudder to think the thought of looking into another's bedroom. At the very least, it is probably just a one-storey building that will cause traffic problems, pest problems (roaches and rats!), noise pollution, hygiene problems and that nasty smell that will stick to your clothes.
The thought of moving away to the countryside suddenly seems so appealing. Perhaps, I need to get away from Singapore for a few months, if not years when I'm older just to get away from the urbanisation.
This is getting ridiculous. Why must they build a hawker centre right on the piece of green patch left in Yishun? And why must it be right in front of my house? This makes it hard to stomach, oh look, I make a pun.
Yishun is turning fast into a concrete jungle and is going to be no different from all the towns in Singapore. I loathe it for what it is becoming to be. There is no "special feeling" anymore. The sense of identity is gone.
While I am on this point, the large trees in Yishun Park were fell and along with them, down came the white-bellied sea eagles' nest. I lamented about it for days but what can I do? Write a letter when the matter was already done?
Yes, so the government do caters to what residents want. But, what about those that veto against this construction? Do we have no say at all? I doubt that all the residents are consulted before this decision is made.
I used to pride myself for being loyal to the leading party in Singapore because overall, they did do a great job. But, recently, the onslaught to kill what is left of Yishun makes me so angry and frustrated.
Does that mean that the opposing party will gain another follower? I'm afraid, no. Unless they can protect more greenlands and slow down the development, I see no reason to change sides. It is not as if they will have an alternative.
I understand that there will always be collateral damage. This leads me to another point, I admit having the NIMBY Syndrome. Don't most of us, if not all? Will you be happy if your backyard has to make way for the "greater good"? Can you be sure you will agree with the decision to build a nuclear plant right in front of your doorstep?
Am I having the defeatist attitude as well? Perhaps. You tend to have it in Singapore. What can you do but to accept the "greater good"? It's the same for Bukit Brown, isn't it? It is everything to do with progress, pragmatism and the need to rise to world stage. We can never afford something as simple and luxurious as a green patch of land without some development on it.
At the very least, it is not a twelve-storey HDB which will completely block any view. I shudder to think the thought of looking into another's bedroom. At the very least, it is probably just a one-storey building that will cause traffic problems, pest problems (roaches and rats!), noise pollution, hygiene problems and that nasty smell that will stick to your clothes.
The thought of moving away to the countryside suddenly seems so appealing. Perhaps, I need to get away from Singapore for a few months, if not years when I'm older just to get away from the urbanisation.
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