Captain of a hardship
Discussing media with gamers (gamers in this case specifically meaning players of tabletop role-playing games) can be frustrating for me. My gamer friends, with few exceptions, are very bright people with a wealth of experience each. Their opinions are not often the result of simple preference, or so I choose to believe.
But there are occasions where I wonder what we really have in common. When the subject of media as art becomes the focus of conversation, our positions are so disparate as to be cause for argument. Half the time I don’t believe we are actually discussing the same subject.
Instead, I feel like they are weighing the entertainment value while I am weighing the intrinsic value. Entertainment is wonderful, and even schlock has its place, but it seems people give equal creedence to true art as to things that have no greater message.
The greatest example of this in recent memory is preference of Offices. The BBC original is fully formed, with realistic characters and scenarios and a truly human quality with the capacity to move one to catharsis as well as laughter. It is often thought-provoking and philosophical without reaching beyond the natural accessiblity of its material or genre. I would even go so far as to say it helped me gain perspective on my own life and where I truly want it to go.
The American version on the other hand rarely elevates itself above farcical sitcom stuff. The strongest human connection I have made is with the minor characters, such as Phyllis or Jan. I can see it being dated in five years, where the original I believe will stand the test of time.
It’s difficult to explain. It’s beyond what I can do on my little blog. But when we’re chatting and you tell me you prefer the American Office, my immediate prejudice — for better or worse — is that you prefer not to be challenged by your entertainment. It’s a bigger question than which you think is funnier. At least it is in my head.
Luv u. kthxbye.
Oh, and I fully expect to see arguments for and against in the comments, so … open season on pretentious little me.
I can’t stand to watch either one.
You know me, I can’t stand to watch people make asses out of themselves and I haven’t been able to delve into more than a couple British version episodes before nodding at its brilliance and promptly vowing never to watch it again. It is funny in a horrifying, uncomfortable way. Like Nicole Kidman’s impromptu dance number on the elephant in an effort to distract the Count. Funny, but I couldn’t watch more than a couple of seconds of that entire scene.
I’ve taken in a few of the American ones, and they are easier to watch. Perhaps its because its more farcical (awesome word!). A different kind of humor.
Just take a look at the office “nerds”: Mackenzie Crook vs. Rainn Wilson. Mac’s performance is subtle. Rainn mugs for the camera in a Chevy Chase way.
I suppose it all depends on what people enjoy for entertainment. Some days you want to think, other days you don’t. Rather, I shouldn’t generalize others: some days I want to be entertained blindly (like, for instance, playing Sims 2), and other days I want to see something that means something (like, say, The Hours, or Intervention).
Don’t you feel that way? That some days you just want to be merely entertained?
Comment by Loricious — 9/4/2007 @ 7:57 pm
The Duke. Not the Count.
Comment by Loricious — 9/4/2007 @ 7:58 pm
SB, thank you for articulating what I had only vaguely felt. The American Office would be better as a parody of itself. They should have written a show about how American networks continually import, flatten and asphyxiate the complex subtleties of foreign art.
I’m tired of being brow-beaten by comedy (which I clearly take seriously). It’s infinitely more rewarding for viewers to discover humorous nuggets on their own.
Comment by Bjorn — 9/4/2007 @ 9:05 pm
I have never seen more than a few minutes of either version. What does *that* say about me? Probably nothing…
Comment by Carolyn — 9/4/2007 @ 10:26 pm
Loricious, there are times when I want to be simply entertained, but they are a tiny minority. And even on those days, I find if I make myself watch something with more substance, I am equally satisfied.
I like the American Office for what it is, but to say one prefers something clearly thinner on value points to a rather deep character flaw. There are only two explanations for not recognizing poor quality: ignorance or acceptance. And neither of those seem like good options.
And that’s the part of most American fare with which I take umbrage. They never want us to think too much. Even much of the “deeper” stuff in American cinema and television is still handed to you. “This is what you should think of what you just saw,” the writers and directors seem to say. I find that insulting.
There is a principle in American law that I apply to my daily life: He who is silent is understood to consent. So I’ve said my peace.
That said, I think Rainn Wilson is great. ;)
Comment by steelbuddha — 9/5/2007 @ 9:22 am
A few months back, I lent coworker Nate my copy of Season 1 of the British Office. (Which reminds me, I still have to get that back.)
Weeks went past and I hadn’t heard anything from him about it, so I asked if he had watched it yet. Herein is our entire conversation on the matter:
Nate: Oh, I’ve watched a couple of episodes. I thought you said it was funny.
Me: It is funny.
Nate: I don’t think it’s funny.
Me: You’re watching it wrong.
Perhaps some people, after watching American sitcoms their entire life, just don’t get subtle humor. That makes me a little sad. Then again, I find so few American sitcoms funny. (News Radio being a notable exception.) That said, I also think that part of the reason I love the original version of The Office so much is that it makes me cringe so badly. Apparently I find shielding my eyes and saying things like “Oh, god. I can’t watch” to be funny. :)
Comment by czeltic girl — 9/7/2007 @ 2:37 pm
I agree that there is a difference in art and value between various things, and I frequently recognize the difference… but that doesn’t always mean art and value take precedence.
One of my favorite movies, for example, is The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai: Beyond the Eighth Dimension. It’s fabulous. But it’s filled with so many quirky actors, it’s layered with so much tiny background stuff along with the clearly over-the-top stuff in the front, it plays with particle physics and bad Hollywood fight scenes and so clearly updates the whole Doc Savage paradigm… it’s clearly had a lot of thought put into it, a lot of effort to evoke a particular feel, but is it really art? I don’t know if I’m qualified enough to answer that, but I know what I enjoy.
Given the two offices, I could identify one as clearly higher quality, but given the variation in performance (and the stretching beyond the original in terms of plotlines; didn’t the Brit version last 2 series, and the American is already past that?), it might be possible I would enjoy the American version for reasons completely unrelated to the quality. I frankly don’t know, I’ve only seen a few eps of either.
In short: I wonder if you’re being too judgmental based on preference. At least wait and find out if they think the Brit version is actually better quality, no matter which version they like. We can’t always justify our emotional preferences, regardless of whether or not we can recognize art.
Comment by E. Mark Mitchell — 9/16/2007 @ 10:41 pm
I have no doubt that you can recognize the difference, E. Mark, and I thought your comment showed clear analysis of something that you like that might not be considered “art.”
I have difficulty accepting the “I just like it” argument though, much as I have difficulty with those who cannot argue philosophically their religious beliefs. If I believe something (and similarly if I like it), I spend a little time in self-reflection (as you clearly have) trying to discover why.
An example is the love for anime. I don’t have much of an attachment to the genre, particularly games. But, as I believe you pointed out to me, Japanese media is focused more on evoking a mood or feeling rather than putting forth a coherent story. If a person gives me a defense that has even a small amount of thought behind it, one that doesn’t cling to a “to each their own” copout, I can concede preference. But if they just shrug their shoulders, I’m going to assume they haven’t thought about it, and that makes me prejudiced that they might not think about much of anything.
Comment by steelbuddha — 9/17/2007 @ 9:08 am
I can see that point, too. I personally don’t tend to evaluate what I watch too harshly unless asked to (or when I’m writing a review, as I used to do), in which case I do a snap analysis and only then do I rank it in a heirarchy.
An example would be Uwe Boll’s “House of the Dead.” I mean, I knew when I watched it that it was going to be inept and laughably stupid. And it clearly was. But I didn’t worry about placing it in any sort of box until just this instant when I thought about what sort of example to use.
I don’t think it’s so much that I have thought about each movie or TV show (or play, or book, or whatever) that I see, so much as I’ve thought about my own reactions and tastes, and can easily put things into context on demand.
Weird. I don’t think I’ve ever articulated that particular thought before. Man, who knew commenting on other people’s blogs would be so intellectually rewarding? Better reverse the trend right quick before anyone gets any ideas… um… er… “anime rox! u suxxor!” (whew)
Comment by E. Mark Mitchell — 9/19/2007 @ 11:28 pm
I think the British version is clearly superior. I watched the first season of the American version and thought, “I like Steve Carell, but I probably wouldn’t have liked him if I’d seen this first.”
The British version makes you FEEL. It interacts with you. It doesn’t provide the punchlines. You have to be involved with what is going on in the show to really get it. If you’re looking for someone to spoon feed you a story with some laughs, the British version isn’t for you.
I’m not a huge proponent of contact embarrassment either, but strangely, I was transfixed by the British Office and had to watch all of them. So much was being said without being verbalized.
Comment by Lane — 10/23/2007 @ 3:22 pm
what is the office? i only watch benny hill re-runs.
Comment by Bill — 11/20/2007 @ 12:25 am