Crowded Rooms and Viewership
I’ve always wondered what sort of films best accompany the music of a solitary crowd.
Today, while watching the Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou OVA, it struck me that by no means could I ever watch this film with my friends. Not because they are unfeeling or unintelligent people — hardly so. But because there would be no effort made to appreciate the series for what it really is. One dynamic conflicts with the other.
The lion’s share of films are built with the audience as a group in mind. There must always be an event — something must be happening. If the director takes too long to ferry us from the introduction to the action, we term the film “slow” and often “uninteresting”, even “boring”, because the dynamic in which we experienced said movie was at odds with its content. An off-colour remark from someone during a dramatic scene is all it takes to sour our experience much of the time, and so the entire affair becomes bitter in our minds. It’s a sad truth, one I’ve been coming to terms with lately.
I suppose it’s a bit of an obvious thing, but I never really had to test it out before. Then a few weeks ago I brought over Samurai X: Trust and Betrayal — the Rurouni Kenshin OVAs. These have always struck me as the best works regarding Rurouni Kenshin, portraying both an emotional and dramatic depth that the television series could not invest in. Brought before my peers in a group however, the film was mocked for its dialogue, its tropes, and its characters. Why? Certainly little in either part of the OVa is badly written. Some of it has an odd bent to it, but that is something you have to accept while watching a period piece — one bound up with romance and tragedy no less.
The answer is that no one can suspend their disbelief in such crowds. Unless you are part of a “club” or other organisation which has a certain focus, a disparate group will quickly tear anything but the most detestable sort of film to pieces. They may apologise later, but the damage has been done, and all it really takes is one or two people to get everyone else riled up. I loved Kenshin’s heartfelt eulogy until that day. Now I just hear a snarky, mocking remark in the back of my head: “Oh that’s so damned typical”.
I suppose that makes me sound bitter. To be honest, I am — not at the movie, but at the group dynamic.
Agent K said it best: A person is smart, people are stupid. This applies to just about anything, including watching movies. I can never watch Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou with anyone except maybe a fellow fan (or fans) who have already been hooked into the series. I can never “introduce” it to a group of more than two because of its ponderous nature. Most people don’t want to stop and think, they just want entertainment. But because of that, they “use” the product to fulfil their expectations, and thus never get any real “use” out of it. They are a completely passive presence, thundered upon by event after event, and bored when none arises.
Only sometimes does a movie manage to escape this sort of thing, and often by virtue of a delicate balance. Macross Plus is one such film. Somehow it managed to not only silence the usual commentators, but engage them in its world. It asks many questions, but introduces the event just quickly enough that it doesn’t lose the base audience. Perhaps in this we find a superior solution — the middle path as it were. If only more quality films could be so well presented. My philosophy professor from last term brought up the idea of distracting the conscious mind while delivering something more profound to the subconscious; wrapping knowledge up in stupidity so that it becomes acceptable. That seems to be the key, wherein a movie like Macross Plus wrapped up a ponderous narrative in swift-moving events.
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omo said,
July 31, 2007 @ 10:41 am
The idea is sharing. It’s not just watching something with someone. Ponderous narratives are like stinky tofu.
Well, that’s a different perspective at least.
Owen S said,
July 31, 2007 @ 11:31 am
>>There must always be an event — something must be happening. If the director takes too long to ferry us from the introduction to the action, we term the film “slow” and often “uninteresting”, even “boring”, because the dynamic in which we experienced said movie was at odds with its content.
That’s the fault of the audience for being unappreciative dumbasses I think. Watching those kinda movies with people who understand that it’s not all about sound bites and SHIT BLOWING UP means you have a bunch of people who can appreciate it more than the usual.
Speaking of which, I had a friend mock DtB when I was showing it off to another friend. People are attention whores, wringing cheap laughs at another person’s expense is always the cool thing to do in front of a lot of people. Taking anime seriously never is, apparently.
steelbound said,
July 31, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
Every now and again I come across a picture that literally forces me to watch the series it comes from. For example I came across a picture of Kamichu awhile ago and just had to watch the series. Now that picture of cafe Alpha is forcing me to download the show. I loved Kamichu very much so I hope I just found another good anime.
—
I watch anime with my sister, she’s 15 and I’m 29, I recently decided she was old enough to appreciate Kino’s Journey and I needed to rewatch the series so we watched it. For the first couple of episodes I couldn’t really enjoy it since I was worried she wouldn’t like it. I instead spent my time mentally picking the show apart trying to justify why I like the show so much. I had a hard time justifying why I like the show to myself but luckily my sister liked the series alot as well. By the middle of the show I was able to work myself back to how I orginally felt about Kino’s Journey.
But on the other hand some anime is better with someone else to watch it with though. I know I wouldn’t enjoy Hayate or Lucky Star as much if I wasn’t watching it with my sister. Also for show’s like Agatha Christie`s Great Detectives Poirot and Marple it’s fun to guess/figure out the answers to the mystery with someone else.
Kite said,
July 31, 2007 @ 10:38 pm
>>Unless you are part of a “club” or other organisation which has a certain focus, a disparate group will quickly tear anything but the most detestable sort of film to pieces.
I help run an anime club and the same thing happens there as well. I have pretty much given up trying to bring slower drama/slice of life series and anime with slow first episodes. If it doesn’t grab their attention within 5 minutes everyone starts busting out their laptops and DSes. You pretty much have to cater to the lowest common denominator much of the time when showing anime to a group.. though Princess Tutu and Kamichu were big hits (must have been the eyecandy). 12 Kingdoms, Crest of the Stars, Honey & Clover or Haibane Renmei.. not so much =/
TheBigN said,
August 1, 2007 @ 9:27 am
I was introduced to YKK by watching it with a friend, and I fell in love quickly. But I’d heard that when presented to my anime club before I came, people lambasted it because nothing was happening.
There’s a little bit more thought that goes into what anime to show to a large group. You need to get an idea of what most people would tolerate, then go along that vein. During my time in the club, I do remember that Trust and Betrayal garnered a favorable response from the audience, so you never know.
Hidoshi said,
August 2, 2007 @ 9:51 am
>> Kite, TheBigN
Mm. I suppose it would need to be a club of even more concerted focus, like a “Slice of Life Anime” club. Or maybe an “Anime Theory and Philosophy” club. Yeah.
Heaven knows I’d probably found something that pretentious sounding.
>> Owen S
Which explains why I want to punch Michael Bay for glossing over the two key emotional scenes in Transformers. Just let Spielberg direct the whole story part and leave it at that.
>> omo
True enough. But I do love my stinky tofu (figuratively at least).
>> steelbound
Read, mostly. YKK’s two OVA adaptations are quite good, but they’re best as dessert once you’re done with the wonderful stories of the manga. Otherwise you might feel a bit lost as to who everyone is.
And I do that too, in regards to picking things apart. That’s what happens when you cherish something. But in a way, it’s good because it makes you as a critic re-evaluate your stance. It can provide clarity and perspective, which is always good. Just don’t let it destroy your love.
foenix said,
August 2, 2007 @ 8:21 pm
As the usual sarcastic and off-color commentator of my group during movies : Verr’ Sorry. ; 3 ;