Srs philosophical question . . .

[promethia_tenk]

Why is it all fanvids are adoring? I mean, let's face it, there are basically three varieties of fanvid: shmoop, awesomeness, and emo. [/generalization]

Where's the critique?  Where's the snark?  Where are the vids that take the hero down a peg or two, or at least slap him about the head a bit?  Where's the mockery?  Where, in other words, is the vid about the Tenth Doctor set to this song:

Little Jackie, "The World Should Revolve Around Me"  (Sorry, embedding disabled)

I mean, look at some of this:

Ain't nothin' gonna get between me and my flow,
Ain't nothin' gonna come between me and my afro . . .

I've had a lot of failed relationships
I don't get involved 'cause I'm not equipped
I believe that the world should revolve around me
I don't see the point of a partnership
It won't be long until I start to trip
Yes sir-ee, the whole world should revolve around me.

There's only one me in the galaxy:
I am an endangered species
This kind of flower don't grow on Earth
Just lettin' ya know, for what it's worth
This kind of knowledge can cause a depression,
So I bide my time with philosophical questions:
Not for nothin', but what came first?
The chicken nugget or the Egg McMuffin?

Tee hee.  And it goes on, in deliciously bouncy, trenchant fashion.

VIVE LA SATIRE!

Or am I just an evil person?

Comments

[elisi]

^^^^Knew you would be a real vid wellspring, of course. Thanks for all those.
Oh my pleasure. I love nothing better than good vids, meta vids especially! (I can cope with a critical vid *so* much better than with written meta/bashing fic. I think it's to do with having to work with canon material, rather than interpretation, if that makes sense?)

And I hope you get some sleep - I did notice that it must be VERY late for you...

Well, and with Ten I actually liked him more the more unhinged he got. Earlier Ten mostly felt immature and self-indulgent to me; later Ten was compelling in that twisted way, as you say, and he was so obviously broken I was really feeling bad for him. "End of Time" is actually one of my favorite RTD scripts.
We are clearly of one mind!

Eleven, comparatively, is so much more self-aware and self-correcting (and presented with so much less heavy-handed-ness), that he's much harder to mock in any hard-hitting way.
*nods* Like the Eleven/Amy/Rory situation. Eleven goes out of his way to fix the problems - not necessarily in a cuddly way, but he sees the issues and tackles them head on. His foibles are more eccentric than dark, and when he *does* do dark (the Pandorica speech), the show undercuts it immediately. (Really, a lot of what was said in this review of Amy's Choice.)

Oh, and I thought of another vid: Voulez-Vous (The Daleks know what the Doctor wants. And they're going to give it to him.) VotD vid and FABULOUS! (Follow the 'eleventy project' tag for more brilliant vids!)

ETA: Actually, there's a ton of satirical fic, I'm pretty sure. I'm mentioning this because I just thought of Things You Don't Want in the Night (Right after that Martian adventure, the Doctor decides to have a nice sleep; the Master wakes him up.) It is made of utter, total, awesome, since the very best person to take the Doctor down a notch or two is the Master... Just say the word and I shall drown you in recs. ;)

ETA2: Hey I found the thing that I thought about and then forgot and then just remembered. snowgrouse had a Heureka moment:

I've discovered the main difference between Ten and Eleven (or, well, Rusty's and Moff's ways of writing the Doctor, really). Observe:

Ten: "I. AM. AMAZING!" *Does something amazing, poses proudly*
Rose: *licks teeth*
Martha: *gazes longingly*
Donna: "Harrumph."

Whereas...

"Eleven: Just watch this, c'mon, you'll see, I am ama--" *falls on his arse*
Amy: *facepalm*

[promethia_tenk]

(I can cope with a critical vid *so* much better than with written meta/bashing fic. I think it's to do with having to work with canon material, rather than interpretation, if that makes sense?)
I can see that, yes. Personally, I always feel a bit off-balance with vids. It's a fan language I'm not nearly as literate in as the written stuff, so I think 1) I have a harder time connecting with/decoding it and 2) it's harder for me to tell when a vidder has crossed some line into manipulation (whereas if someone's written arguments are unfair or flimsy or are really just rants or something, it tends to jump out at me like it's all lit up in neon.)

And I hope you get some sleep - I did notice that it must be VERY late for you...
I did, finally, and just took a nice nap here, so I'm feeling more human. I'd tried to fall asleep earlier in the night and just couldn't stay under. I need to be forced back into a fixed schedule; I used to be able to sleep like clockwork.

His foibles are more eccentric than dark, and when he *does* do dark (the Pandorica speech), the show undercuts it immediately.
This. It's not just that Eleven is more self-critical. The text of the show itself is equally self-aware. Not that RTD wouldn't set in on the Doctor too, but it came in big, wallow-y chunks interspersed amongst a whole lot of seeming obliviousness. With Eleven it's more like an undercurrent of running commentary.

(Really, a lot of what was said in this review of Amy's Choice.)
I love that review. And I'd been trying to remember where I'd picked up the "Lonely Angel Storm at the Oncoming Fire of the Universe" from, because that is some genius, and I've been aping it all over the place.

Oh, and I thought of another vid: Voulez-Vous (The Daleks know what the Doctor wants. And they're going to give it to him.)
From now on in my mind the Daleks will always be accompanied by ABBA. This will have the dual benefit of making them sillier and more menacing.

ETA: Actually, there's a ton of satirical fic, I'm pretty sure. I'm mentioning this because I just thought of Things You Don't Want in the Night (Right after that Martian adventure, the Doctor decides to have a nice sleep; the Master wakes him up.) It is made of utter, total, awesome, since the very best person to take the Doctor down a notch or two is the Master...
Oh, dear god that is brilliant. I think I may need to make the Master my new favorite character. Not in a "oh, you're so dark and twisty" way. A "I am intrigued by your positions and wish to subscribe to your newsletter" sort of way. I like it when the villains sort of are right.

Just say the word and I shall drown you in recs. ;)
More, please.

ETA2: Hey I found the thing that I thought about and then forgot and then just remembered. [info]snowgrouse had a Heureka moment
Lol, yep. That just about sums it up.

[elisi]

I can see that, yes. Personally, I always feel a bit off-balance with vids. It's a fan language I'm not nearly as literate in as the written stuff, so I think 1) I have a harder time connecting with/decoding it
I was lucky enough that the first vid I saw (as far as I can remember, anyway) was brilliant and crammed full of meta, so I got a taste for it from the off. Yes, it often takes a lot of viewings to decipher things, although there are various tricks that you become familiar with after a while.

2) it's harder for me to tell when a vidder has crossed some line into manipulation (whereas if someone's written arguments are unfair or flimsy or are really just rants or something, it tends to jump out at me like it's all lit up in neon.)
Oh absolutely. 'Marble House' f.ex. does it beautifully, in that the ending feels like an absolute slap in the face, and it is pure manpulation... and yet, is she wrong? Like I said, I wrote meta. Of course sometimes it's very obvious, but I find that I like the subtler vids - I don't agree that the Doctor is a complete douche, but I can see why people might think so, and Marble House makes a very good argument. Actually, that's one reason I love vids so much - they can often capture something that no amount of essays can. My friend who currently doesn't like Eleven, couldn't STAND Ten for most of his tenure, but 'Handlebars' and this vid completely turned her around.

Not that RTD wouldn't set in on the Doctor too, but it came in big, wallow-y chunks interspersed amongst a whole lot of seeming obliviousness. With Eleven it's more like an undercurrent of running commentary.
*nods a lot*

I love that review. And I'd been trying to remember where I'd picked up the "Lonely Angel Storm at the Oncoming Fire of the Universe" from, because that is some genius, and I've been aping it all over the place.
It's a description that makes me laugh Every. Single. Time I read it. Genius indeed. Also, excellent points, about the Doctor's darkness being shown as ugly. (It's one of the things I like about the Harry Potter books - Voldemort's evil has turned him into something hideous, not something cool.)

From now on in my mind the Daleks will always be accompanied by ABBA. This will have the dual benefit of making them sillier and more menacing.
::laughs::

Oh, dear god that is brilliant. I think I may need to make the Master my new favorite character. Not in a "oh, you're so dark and twisty" way. A "I am intrigued by your positions and wish to subscribe to your newsletter" sort of way. I like it when the villains sort of are right.
“You summoned me up with your epic levels of self-pity.” is one of the best lines ever. And, incidentally, something that River could say, which is why I ship her and the Doctor. It used to be only Doctor/Master, but she clearly subscribes to the Master's snarky newsletter... The Doctor so needs someone to take him down a peg or two! *g*

More, please.
Some coming up...

[promethia_tenk]

Oh absolutely. 'Marble House' f.ex. does it beautifully, in that the ending feels like an absolute slap in the face, and it is pure manpulation... and yet, is she wrong? Like I said, I wrote meta.
I've been watching/reading on this one a bit, and I think I'm going to have to come back and say more once I've digested it all. Basically, it's pretty much failing to say anything to me, and that one, along with some of the other RTD-era vids you've pointed me to, are really highlighting for me why watching that show mostly feels like banging my head against the wall to no effect.

Actually, that's one reason I love vids so much - they can often capture something that no amount of essays can.
Ah . . . there's the rub. I think, deep down in the most hidden recesses of my brain, I do genuinely believe that if I can't put words on it, it's not real. I may even believe that putting words on it makes it real. I certainly believe that putting words on it makes it more real, because when the words are right they do sort of tingle, and it's like the universe has coalesced around them. All else is dark magic with which, perhaps, I'd better not dabble ;-)

My friend who currently doesn't like Eleven, couldn't STAND Ten for most of his tenure, but 'Handlebars' and this vid completely turned her around.
That said, the Ten/Hamlet vid rather did give me a clearer view of both characters (and especially Hamlet I've always been like "what is he whining about now, and why do we care?"). Although I watched it earlier and it all seemed so clear and it's since leaked out of my brain again . . . *grrrr* I shall have to remember where that is for when I need refreshing.

“You summoned me up with your epic levels of self-pity.” is one of the best lines ever. And, incidentally, something that River could say, which is why I ship her and the Doctor. It used to be only Doctor/Master, but she clearly subscribes to the Master's snarky newsletter...
I think River Song = The Master - evilness is probably meta that needs to happen at some point. Although I hope "enjoying explosions" isn't included with evilness, because there's nothing like a good explosion, and I think the show needs more of them *nods* The Master's snarky newsletter, of course, contains a large section on explosions and how to cause them. [ETA: Silly me--River causes many explosions, which is why the show is more exciting with her on.]

And did you see that snippet of dialogue that's been floating around that was cut from the beach scene in "Time of Angels"? Apparently it was printed in that Big Book of Doctor Who thing:

River: You're angry, which usually means you're feeling guilty. Have you let me down recently?
[the Doctor recalls River's death]
River: Well whatever it is, I'm sure I'll forgive you. If you'll forgive me.

I think I get why it was cut, but what fantastic characterization!!! I'm kind of put out that we don't have it on screen for use in fandom debates.

[elisi]

Basically, it's pretty much failing to say anything to me, and that one, along with some of the other RTD-era vids you've pointed me to, are really highlighting for me why watching that show mostly feels like banging my head against the wall to no effect.
Ah well. If doesn't work for you, don't worry about it.

Ah . . . there's the rub. I think, deep down in the most hidden recesses of my brain, I do genuinely believe that if I can't put words on it, it's not real. I may even believe that putting words on it makes it real. I certainly believe that putting words on it makes it more real, because when the words are right they do sort of tingle, and it's like the universe has coalesced around them. All else is dark magic with which, perhaps, I'd better not dabble ;-)
Well now, that's interesting, because I know what you mean. That is - I love vids, but I don't make them. Vids use the same language as TV, and the way I deal with TV is to turn it into words (meta, fic). So... vids are like distilled TV? They can focus on a single aspect of a character, or pairing, or theme, and illuminate that facet to a degree that isn't possible otherwise. And I think that's why I like them - they can help to see things more clearly, and the way they can capture things I often find hugely helpful when writing. F.ex. when writing 'My Immortal' (Buffy/TW crossover) which was set pre-S1 of TW, I re-watched a brilliant Jack vid about a million times because it perfectly encapsulated the character at that moment in time, and I needed to always remember exactly at what point in his journey he was - so I could take the essence of character I found and pin it down. :)

That said, the Ten/Hamlet vid rather did give me a clearer view of both characters
See? This is what I mean. :) (The music is the Tenth Doctor's theme btw. It's all connected.)

I think River Song = The Master - evilness is probably meta that needs to happen at some point. Although I hope "enjoying explosions" isn't included with evilness, because there's nothing like a good explosion, and I think the show needs more of them *nods*
To use one of my favourite quotes: Differences create good sparks.

And did you see that snippet of dialogue that's been floating around that was cut from the beach scene in "Time of Angels"? Apparently it was printed in that Big Book of Doctor Who thing
OMG! I saw it this morning, and I've yet to recover. That's incredible. *flails*

[promethia_tenk]

Ah well. If doesn't work for you, don't worry about it.
Indeed. And if I could convince myself that it really is just a cheesy sci-fi show with a bunch of squeeing fangirls, I would walk away without regrets. But I see people understanding things, and I am not involved in the understandings, and that is very hard to take. I suppose I shall simply have to learn some acceptance. *fidgets*

Well now, that's interesting, because I know what you mean.
Even the tingling part? Because frankly I think that makes me a bit nuts ;-)

So... vids are like distilled TV? They can focus on a single aspect of a character, or pairing, or theme, and illuminate that facet to a degree that isn't possible otherwise.
That makes sense to me.

OMG! I saw it this morning, and I've yet to recover. That's incredible. *flails*
I KNOW, RIGHT?!?!?! *flails with you* *hugs Moffat* *shakes fist at Moffat for leaving it out* *flails some more*

[elisi]

But I see people understanding things, and I am not involved in the understandings, and that is very hard to take. I suppose I shall simply have to learn some acceptance. *fidgets*
Ah. Yes. In the Buffy fandom f.ex. there are people who 'ship Spike/Xander and even though I can see where they get it from (there's fun subtext scattered about) in my head I can't help but going 'BUT THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN EVER! IT CAN'T BE! I DO NOT UNDERSTAND!' Not quite the same, I know, but yeah, there are things I can't get my head around at all.

Even the tingling part? Because frankly I think that makes me a bit nuts ;-)
Well we shall be nuts together. There is no feeling like getting words just right - which is why I find *writing* tedious, and editing a joy. I tend to have scenes or conversations playing in my mind, turning them over and editing, and then when it's perfect needing to write it down as soon as possible in case I forget and lose it!

That makes sense to me.
:)

I KNOW, RIGHT?!?!?! *flails with you* *hugs Moffat* *shakes fist at Moffat for leaving it out* *flails some more*
I've put it on my sidebar. It's AWESOME!