tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976144462093297473.post207767006957128471..comments2024-03-26T19:10:00.791-04:00Comments on West Coast Stat Views (on Observational Epidemiology and more): Like complaining about saucy language in Sodom and GomorrahJosephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10760453165301871031noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976144462093297473.post-86019106100306067942012-05-10T07:00:17.472-04:002012-05-10T07:00:17.472-04:00Thanks, she's doing fine. I'd like to attr...Thanks, she's doing fine. I'd like to attribute the response delay here to "getting into real life", but then I'd lamely be calling "getting bitten by the trivia bug" to be "real life". I'll email you guys soon on this, but we're up to 3x per week and have in short order worked our way into grand (Atlanta) tournament-worthy ranking (for the company we use), even though there is no way she and I are competitive at that level on our own. Fortunately, we're hoping if/when time comes to pull in one or two "ringers" of the 3 or 4 we know to strengthen us (this is legal under the rules, hence the quotes).<br /><br />We did see "Hunger Games" that weekend, and I liked it a LOT, though after this comment I especially liked accumulating as I watched the various influences drawn on, cinematic ("The Truman Show", "THX1138", "Logan's Run","The Running Man"--which I must admit to not actually having seen, to name just a few) as well as literary (all sorts of C. S. Lewis stuff--which I refuse to read or watch beyond the "Lion, Witch..." play my kids were in, "1984", "Fahrenheit 451", to name just a few). Basically, it's hard for me to dislike a movie with Donald Sutherland in it though "The Puppet Masters" came close (but NOT for him--he was the best, most Heinleinian realization of the original character in it--it's just that the overall movie stunk too much). Oh, and LOTS of folklore.<br /><br />I think I get your major point: "why not just admit your influences from the beginning, straight up and without apology"? And then, "if you do, why don't your peers acknowledge your original treatment as original thinking, rather than castigate you for lacking ideas"? Or some such.<br /><br />On a side note, and appealing to your superior knowledge: upon reflection of my Shakespeare crack, I was uncertain if ANY Shakespeare plots could be truly called original. Can you think of any?Dr.G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09320549150413767576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976144462093297473.post-84573536065119185672012-04-28T21:20:00.110-04:002012-04-28T21:20:00.110-04:00Doctor,
I don't mean to come out against arti...Doctor,<br /><br />I don't mean to come out against artists building on the works of others. On the contrary, I've always accepted the fundamental wisdom of the rule: immature artists imitate; mature artists steal. If you can make a work better by lifting a joke or a phrase or a plot twist, I say go for it -- particularly if you can actually improve on the original or combine the old parts in a fresh and interesting way (which is why I had no problem with Rowling).<br /><br />The issue I have is with the way we've been addressing plagiarism, treating one narrowly defined type (stealing wording) as a crime against humanity while ignoring other more serious and more common forms of plagiarism (not to mention far worse journalistic and literary crimes). <br /><br />Give Bonita my best.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14705408455380402571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6976144462093297473.post-61320738426934743352012-04-28T02:08:48.972-04:002012-04-28T02:08:48.972-04:00I get your point, Mark, but I disagree in the cont...I get your point, Mark, but I disagree in the context of Science Fiction (and film, and much else popular media-wise). Keep in mind I'm an SF fan of the classic/postclassic hard-SF type--meaning for me I read most in the 60s-70s-80s; but loved reading the classic 40s-50s stuff); but I NEVER claimed to achieve True Fan status by reading magazines, attending cons, or reading/writing fanzines). That said, it was an accepted practice for writers to tackle a known/standard plotline and give it their own twist. I see this as related to the film remake. A lot could be said on this, but, basically, it boils down to in certain arenas no one expects originality of plot, but looks for originality in treatment. Now, if someone somehow claimed a swiped plot was their own, THEN plagiarism would come in.<br /><br />This goes so far as me seeing that the probably most revered SF author of all time, Robert Heinlien, I've long thought mainly deliberately cycled through the "standard plots" to show everyone what the ultimate treatment of each plot would be. He usually succeeded (except when he let his political leanings run wild); but no one was bothered by the fact that the core plot elements were long-known.<br /><br />Now, a slavish remake is offensive; especially a shot-for-shot remake.<br /><br />Will probably see "Hunger Games" this weekend--after Bonita read the book (I refuse to); and what chafes Bonita about the book is not the originality of the plot (or not), but the gross, gross lousy writing of the book (as she sees it), in that it makes common use of clearly fractional sentences. It bothers her a LOT that teens may find this to be good writing, thereby dumbing-down writing another notch or two.<br /><br />Bottom line--stealing ideas IS, INDEED not as bad as stealing execution. Heck, even Shakespeare stole plots!Dr.G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09320549150413767576noreply@blogger.com