.

Archive for August, 2009|Monthly archive page


“Urban Fantasy”

In Uncategorized on 08/20/2009 at 00:38

Probably this is old new to everyone interested in the subject but me, but I just discovered an excellent blog post written last year by Juno Books editor Paula Guran on the evolution of term "urban fantasy" & what it now commonly means to publishers/readers. I don't like this limited definition, for what was once a useful term for a broader range of types of stories in a certain fantasy mode — but it is what it is. Guran's point that the current examples of the genre owe "more to the American hard-boiled detective genre than most may understand" is especially well-taken.

I have thought it strange that the term got attached to series books that so often use horror tropes, such as vampires, demons and werewolves, but, reflecting on it, maybe it does make sense, because those images have long since ceased to invoke the responses horror strives for, and seem to used in these paranormal detective series' for their erotic or romantic appeal.

The danger is when major publishing houses try to cram works that don't fit this very narrow set of ingredients into packaging that seeks to mislead the fans of the stuff into thinking its more of the same. When it isn't, then the fans are justifiably disappointed.

,

Clarify creative ideals w/ Venn Diagram

In Uncategorized on 08/19/2009 at 22:49

Buried in this B.J. Novak interview from the Onion's A.V. Club is a terrific little nugget about The Office producer/writer Greg Daniels use of a Venn diagram to define his approach to comedy. A simple approach to define what's import to him:

[Novak]: [...] I had met with Greg Daniels, spoke to him for about an hour and a half
about his theory of comedy, and I thought it was brilliant and simple
and entirely what I believed in, too. [...]
[Interviewer]: What did Greg Daniels say about his philosophy of comedy?

[Novak]: He drew a Venn diagram, and he said, “This is
groundbreaking comedy that I really respect.” And he said, “This is
what makes people laugh.” And he said, “I am only interested in the
shaded part in the middle where they overlap.” And I thought, “Sign me
up!” I thought it was humble and honest, but still with the value of
quality. I know it’s a simple thing to say, and anyone can say it, but
you could also tell that he meant it, and had proven it as he was
saying it.


A really good poem by Ben Jonson.

In Uncategorized on 08/17/2009 at 21:06

Inviting a Friend to Supper

by Ben Jonson

             Tonight,
grave sir, both my poor house and I
             Do
equally desire your company;
             Not
that we think us worthy such a guest,
             But
that your worth will dignify our feast
             With
those that come; whose grace may make that seem
             Something,
which else could hope for no esteem.
             It
is the fair acceptance, sir, creates
             The
entertainment perfect, not the cates.
             Yet
you shall have, to rectify your palate,
             An
olive, capers, or some better salad
             Ushering
the mutton; with a short-legged hen,
             If
we can get her, full of eggs, and then
             Lemons,
and wine for sauce; to these, a coney
             Is
not to be despaired of, for our money;
             And
though fowl now be scarce, yet there are clerks,
             The
sky not falling, think we may have larks.
             I'll
tell you of more, and lie, so you will come:
             Of
partridge, pheasant, woodcock, of which some
             May
yet be there; and godwit, if we can;
             Knat,
rail and ruff, too. Howsoe'er, my man
             Shall
read a piece of Virgil, Tacitus,
             Livy,
or of some better book to us,
             Of
which we'll speak our minds, amidst our meat;
             And
I'll profess no verses to repeat;
             To
this, if aught appear which I not know of,
             That
will the pastry, not my paper, show of.
             Digestive
cheese and fruit there sure will be;
             But
that which most doth take my muse and me
             Is
a pure cup of rich Canary wine,
             Which
is the Mermaid's now, but shall be mine;
             Of
which had Horace or Anacreon tasted,
             Their
lives, as do their lines, till now had lasted.
             Tobacco,
nectar, or the Thespian spring
             Are
all but Luther's beer to this I sing.
             Of
this we will sup free, but moderately;
             And
we will have no Poley or Parrot by;
             Nor
shall our cups make any guilty men,
             But
at our parting we will be as when
             We
innocently met. No simple word
             That
shall be uttered at our mirthful board
             Shall
make us sad next morning, or affright
             The
liberty that we'll enjoy tonight.