Insert title that is both funny, eye-catching and appropriate

[baleanoptera]

Thoughts in the aftermath of an art historical conference:

-Most young male associate professors use way too many complicated words. This makes their lectures almost impossible to understand, and it makes the debate following the lectures slightly ridiculous. This is especially true if the person asking the question is another young male associate professor – then the communication breakdown is complete. So note to self – go to lectures held by older, female professors. They call a painting a painting, and not a two-dimensional, visual object whose content must be seen in the context of the visual tradition.

-Also avoid lectures that consist completely of theory, as they have no connection to the real world. Okay, this is a pet peeve – but I feel that if theory isn’t connected to one or several examples its use is kind of limited. As any action flick will tell you – it was a good plan, in theory…


-How come on a conference spanning several days, with almost 70 lectures, no one talks about art outside Western Europe? Fine, I’m guilty of this my self, but the fact still worries me.

-Watching BSG and LOTR is a good way to relax when you head is still buzzing with visual theory. I’m still not sure of BSG S2 though – the story keeps telling me that Starbuck is so, so special – and I can’t see it. She shows up in each episode and behaves with the maturity of a five year old, and sulks her way through storyline after storyline. She is really starting to annoy me. And why do all the storylines in the later part of the season depend on the incompetence of the characters? The Pegasus is having trouble – their leader is incompetent. Or there is a hostage situation – Starbuck is incompetent. It just seems sloppy.

-As for LOTR – I still get emotional when Boromir dies. It might be the Sean Bean factor, but still.

Comments

[jorun.livejournal.com]

As to Boromir- nevahh underestimate the sean penn effect. But as you say, still..
And Starbuck.. don't you think the thing with her is that she is special, up to a certain point, and when her possible development has been fulfilled, she is incapable of going further. But what is expected of her is that she is supposed to just go on moving upwards, when in fact she cant. That is really disappointing, and then we, and Lee and daddy Adama etc. get irritated. Playing on our problem with the inconsistency with our/their earlier picture of her, kind of thing. Then of course there is the whole Anders situation, even though even I can't say (and mean, at the same time) that she handles that very well..

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

As to Boromir- nevahh underestimate the sean penn effect.

Sean Bean woman! Bean! *grin*

And Starbuck.. don't you think the thing with her is that she is special, up to a certain point, and when her possible development has been fulfilled, she is incapable of going further.

Well that is how the series portray her, but it tries to tell us something else. Every now and again one of the Cylons talks about how special she is, or someone on the Galactica mentions how amazing Starbuck is - BUT we never see her doing anything amazing or special. At least not in season 2.

As for her moving upwards - I don't need for her to move upwards, but to be something more than a cardboard character. Right now she has two possible reactions to whatever happens - get angry or get drunk. Gods - Ellen Thigh has more layers than her! Cally the deckhand has more layers - and these are minor characters in comparison.

As for Anders. I kind of like Anders - we don't know that much about him, but as of yet he hasn't been annoying so...

[jorun.livejournal.com]

But if that is how they believe she is, that would be pretty realistic though? They haven't caught up with the Starbuck anno post-Anders, so they would still be talking about the amazing Starbuck. While some, like Kat, manages to see through it. Perhaps I am trusting the plotters behind this to much..

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I am trusting the plotters behind this to much..

I suspect you are. *grin* Maybe this is Starbuck post Anders - but then it really is sloppy plotting, for we have only seen ten minutes of Starbuck/Anders - and that isn't enough to make me believe she has changed so much.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Most young male associate professors use way too many complicated words.

Definitely true. The older middle-aged guys speak a little simpler and tend to use more jokes. It is like they are more sure about themselves.

I had some problems with Starbuck's behavior in season 2 too. I don't find her annoying, I just lost that feeling of "Oh! I think she is great!". There are many inexplicable twists in her character in season 2 , but this happens to the other characters as well

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

It is like they are more sure about themselves.

I suspect this is the reason, but it's just so annoying. Especially since what they are talking about could be very interesting, but I'm not getting half of it!

I had some problems with Starbuck's behavior in season 2 too. I don't find her annoying, I just lost that feeling of "Oh! I think she is great!".

I'm beginning to suspect that one of the reasons that I'm so disappointed by Starbuck S2 is that I loved her so in S1. Watching S1 I though - finally: here is this strong, female character -and yes she has issues - but so does everyone else on the show. And then came S2 and I couldn't get a hold of her characterization at all. It just seemed disjointed.

But I did love the scene with Lee bouncing the pyramid ball of her head. *g*

[losyark.livejournal.com]

Most young male associate professors use way too many complicated words.

Yes. I had a new Prof do this in my first real Critical Theory class, and it was the most singular frustrating experience of my life. To the point where I went to his office after the ninth hour of class and said, "Listen, Professon, I`m not a dumb person. I`m a fourth year honours student and I`m at the top of this class. But I have no idea what you`re on about. I want to learn the terms, but can you define them before you use them?"

He sort of blinked like a dead fish and mumbled something that sounded like, "You don`t know them already?"

Maybe as a fourth year honours class, we should have, but then my school was pretty piss-poor at making sure everyone had a common vocabulary to build from.

After that he was pretty good about defining words before playing badminton with them.

I also think it`s a sort of insecurity - that young professors, especially male ones, need to PROVE themselves. They need to use the big words so that they can sound as intelligent as they possibly can. Academia is a rough game, and if you`re not good enough, you`re out on your ass.

Once you`ve proven yourself, then you can fall back on a leisurly discussion in plain language, with jokes. Before that, I think most feel the need to prove that they can, indeed, play with the big boys. I think the male factor is (and please forgive the stereotype), just like playing sports. It`s an ego/testosterone thing, where they have to out maneouver the other players.

I`m guilty of the former, of course. Especially when I`m writing for someone I know is above my level - I want to use all the big words and I want to use them correctly.

Also, I think using the big words can help with time and word counts. Why use ten words to explain when one will do? Of course, if you don`t know that one word...

Ah, LOTR. It`s been way too long since I`ve seen that. I contemplated buying it, but in Japan a single DVD is upwards of forty American dollars, and that usually has no extra features. So, special edition boxed set of the trilogy? Not bloody likely.

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

Before that, I think most feel the need to prove that they can, indeed, play with the big boys. I think the male factor is (and please forgive the stereotype), just like playing sports. It`s an ego/testosterone thing, where they have to out maneouver the other players.

*huge grin* I think this is one of the best metaphors I've heard in along time. Especially since the young male associate professors (the YMAP?)from the arts history department tend to be pale, with a shade of tweed. Not very sporting types - expect in the sport of bitching. There they excel.

I`m guilty of the former, of course. Especially when I`m writing for someone I know is above my level - I want to use all the big words and I want to use them correctly.

Ooh, I'm guilty as well. But I will say to my defense that I only use big words when writing. When I'm giving a lecture or a presentation I feel the need to communicate properly, and the complicated words hinder me in this.
And these words can definitely help when writing, but I think a little goes a long way.Then again my annoyance at the YMAP can stem from my, well, general dislike of YMAP's?
Like the one who said to me in this really surprised voice: "You know visual rhetoric?"
To which I replayed: "Yes - just because I have tits doesn't mean I'm retarded."

And yes - I might have been a bit grumpy that day.

And I must say those are some very expensive DVDs. Help!
LOTR are part of my comfort watching collection. Like Firefly and Band of Brothers. I need to watch them on a regular basis to keep my equilibrium.;)

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

Hello, new friend!!

I don't think I've ever managed to watch the last 20 minutes of FOTR without crying (definitely at least 90% Sean Bean, although I think the writing for his final scenes was a huge improvement on the books ;))

And man, I don't think I could agree with you more on Starbuck - I loved her so much in Season 1, and then they had to make her all specialdestinywoundedinnerchild blahblahblah and I just ... I have no interest in that kind of character at all. And I also resent that somehow HER pain at her childhood abuse is supposed to be more special and riveting than the fact that EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER ON THE SHOW LOST THEIR HOMES AND FAMILIES IN THE NUCLEAR GENOCIDE.

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

hello! *gives welcoming wave*

I think there a two moments in LOTR that gets to me each and every time - and that is Boromir dying and Theoden dying. When I read the book I handle the deaths fine, but when I see the films? I sniff and cry almost each and every time.
So I definitely agree with you on Boromir's final scenes being an improvement. And those arrows just look so ridiculously painful, which really drives the point home (hmm..not sure that pun was intended.)

There is also this little trick with muting the sound that Jackson does when somebody dies. He does it with Gandalf and with Boromir,and thereby you get these really quiet moments when grief and desperation just shines through.

I loved her so much in Season 1, and then they had to make her all specialdestinywoundedinnerchild blahblahblah and I just ...

And that is the really sad thing - in S1 she is this great character, and her and Lee have this interesting dynamic - and in season 2 everything gets pushed aside to "Special-Starbuck OMG!". And not only do I, like you, have no interest in that sort of character - but I don't see any evidence that she is so special. Sure - she is very good at what she does, but so is Gaeta or Admiral Adama.

And I also resent that somehow HER pain at her childhood abuse is supposed to be more special and riveting than the fact that EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER ON THE SHOW LOST THEIR HOMES AND FAMILIES IN THE NUCLEAR GENOCIDE.

*grin* so very true. I'm hoping S3 will be a little bit more focused story-wise, and that they will be able to handle the whole jumping-a-year-ahead thing.

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

There is also this little trick with muting the sound that Jackson does when somebody dies. He does it with Gandalf and with Boromir,and thereby you get these really quiet moments when grief and desperation just shines through.

Oh, yes, I love that all you can really hear is Boromir breathing - in one of the commentaries someone (perhaps Sean Bean?) mentions that it's almost like Boromir is drowning (which I guess technically he is, since the arrows went in to his lungs). It's just an absolutely perfect scene.

The moment in the MOVIES that gets me with Theoden is actually when he breaks down after Theodred's funeral and his voice cracks and I can't watch that without weeping. (And you know, Boromir and Theoden are my two favorite characters in the films!)

I agree that in Season 1, there's nothing to suggest that Starbuck is somehow set apart from the others. Even her special pain about Zach is tied into her relationships with Adama and with Lee. I don't know if this is really, objectively true, but I felt like so much of Season 2 became less "Battlestar Galactica" with ensemble cast, and more "The Life and Times of Starbuck, Coolest Ever Person" and I HATED that.