One somewhat controversial thing I believe about writing is that it's very good to be able to imitate other writers' styles. Other writers and scholars thereof might disagree, failing to see any practical application for it, and protesting that it's more important to refine and develop your own unique voice rather than trying to copy … Continue reading The skill in imitation
Choices of the Author, Death of the Author, and Something in between…
When it comes to literary interpretation, I have a few concepts I use as guides for understanding the meaning of a work. Since I got into some discussions where people didn't necessarily see the delineations I did, I thought I'd talk about some of the concepts I use to make it clear how I approach … Continue reading Choices of the Author, Death of the Author, and Something in between…
The relative importance of tone
Tone tends to be very important to me when it comes to whether or not I can become absorbed in a given piece of media. By tone, I mean the overall feeling and vibe a piece gives off, plus the attitude they take towards their story or subject matter. Embracing the right tone for the … Continue reading The relative importance of tone
That je ne sais quoi
In Mad Men, a television show that I would not say I like but still totally fascinates me, a recurring theme is the idea that things either ARE, or they AREN’T, the notion that some stuff just doesn't have that je ne sais quoi to make it what it is supposed to be. An example … Continue reading That je ne sais quoi
How Bojack Horseman is revolutionizing the Unlikeable Tortured Protagonist
You may have heard me talk of a weird little Netflix show about anthropomorphic animals that’s been getting a bit of press lately by the name of “Bojack Horseman.” More than once I’ve heard people express bewilderment at the appeal of an odd little work like this cartoon, and I confess I was there myself … Continue reading How Bojack Horseman is revolutionizing the Unlikeable Tortured Protagonist
On art snobbery
I like to say I try not to be an art snob. I'm sure people have laughed at me for that, as unfortunately I have a problem with coming off as snobby in life in general. But what I mean by that is that I try to judge art by its own merits, rather than … Continue reading On art snobbery
The proper application of the literary critique “fridging”
As I mentioned yesterday, I've decided to take a break from Tumblr. The negativity has started to actively stress me out, and it troubles me how hard it is to talk about anything nuanced on there. The phenomenon of backlash exists in response to actual problems in additions to attempts to deal with those problems. … Continue reading The proper application of the literary critique “fridging”
On writing comedy
As I have occasionally mentioned before on this blog, I don't think I'm the most talented when it comes to writing comedy. I like to think of myself as a fairly witty person, who can make you laugh with a clever remark in conversation now and again. But when it comes to coming up with … Continue reading On writing comedy
The Problem of the Protagonist
As media critics we are bored and fed up with many of the racist, misogynist, and queerphobic storytelling tropes we see taken for granted in mass media. Men motivated by dead women and daddy issues. Women killed to further the emotional arc of a man. Women needing to be rescued. Queer people getting killed off … Continue reading The Problem of the Protagonist
Sex in my writing
I don’t write about sex much. I don’t know if those of you who have read much of my work have noticed that, but I tend not to deal with it very often. To be frank, I think there’s something approaching a prudishness in a lot of my writing— not a lot of exploration of … Continue reading Sex in my writing
Phoebe Roberts 