Lately there has been this pattern that I've noticed in both social media and mainstream comics/cartoons outlets that is very saddening: the use of denigration and belittlement as a promotional tactic, or as an argument.
More and more I seem to notice that new series, reboots, retellings or sequels are being promoted via a strategy of attacking, belittling and generally denigrating the source material, the original version, the previous installment and then providing a comparison whereupon the newest thing is declared by far superior in every, absolutely every, way. As a final masterstroke, fans of the previous material that may not also be fans of the new material (or may dislike the new material) are summarily dismissed with a not-so-vast array of horrid labels that shouldn't be utilized for one's opinion of an art piece, even if that someone is vocal and loud.
To be honest, I'm rather appalled as to the huge proportion this whole M.O. has been blown out of. It is starting to feel a lot like a kind of thought police or taste police; if you don't like something, or if you like something that isn't what you're told, then you face repercussions. That goes for both ‘sides’ in every such situation, of course- because sadly both sides use the same tactics, and even if one side may start off a defensive position, that soon becomes irrelevant in the constant cultural tug-of-war.
And all this has made me wonder, why?
Granted, I don't like, for example, the new She-Ra but I won't be bothered to go attack with ad hominems the people who do. And if I like something new and others don't, claiming it's a terrible travesty of the original, I won't be bothered (or even be tempted, really) to go hurl more ad hominems to those people telling them they're in effect monsters.
So why isn't this ‘live and let live’ approach acceptable anymore? Why has the need to denigrate reached such heights that now, to keep the She-Ra example, the fans of the new version virtually claim those that don't like it and only like the original are soft porn lovers (effectively claiming that the original She-Ra was marginally pornographic)?
What I suspect is a lack of confidence, that the new version won't appeal, won't stand on its own and shine independently next to the old, original one. Hence the old one needs to be artificially tainted for the new one to have a chance- or so it's assumed. It may also be because when retconning old popular characters, backlash from faithful fans is expected (since they quite likely won't accept changes that alter their characters beyond a certain extent) and marketing teams attempt to pre-emptively gag that part of the audience and its feedback, or make it possible for the negative feedback to be dismissed as bigotry, sexism, homophibia and a score of orther things.
It sounds to me a bit like an (unsuccessful) attempt of having a cake and eating it- using a brand that already has an audience, without adhering to that brand's main framework, and yet trying to still milk the fandom by strongarming people to like it lest they be called all sorts of things. Of course, that isn't the way it works. It only makes the fandom defensive and/or divided into two camps, those that force the narrative and those that buck it. And I personally do see (and often sympathize) with the ‘old camp’ and its defensiveness, these clashes in social media soon become so toxic and extreme that neither side is defensible no matter the original intent.
And in the end, everyone suffers- the fans, the creators and the art itself.
What do you think?
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The Need To Denigrate
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Nov. 17, 2018
6 likes!
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bravo1102 at 8:32AM, Nov. 17, 2018
But what has ST:Disovery gone and done to my beautiful and pure Star Trek the original series! Those uniforms, the lighting and the Klingons Nooooo! Yeah, I know the thought process. It's a show not the end all- be all of all existence. Perspective people it's not like its baseball or foot b.c all now that's important. (Eye roll please)
bravo1102 at 8:26AM, Nov. 17, 2018
Many fans take their love of a particular character or show personally. So any criticism of their favorite is perceived as a declaration of war on their image of self. There is always a level of defensiveness in fandom. I'm a fan of X and they're ready to retaliate the moment any criticism is offered. I look at the design and change and try to understand the creator's intentions. So it was changed. Watch the show and decide don't let first impressions rule because they're so often wrong. I never cared for the whole He-man, She-ra franchise except as parodied on Robot Chicken. The new one is just like any other number of Magical girl series. And social media gives adults the chance to act like middle school kids talking trash. And there are any number of them in the mix to make all debates become name calling contests.
PaulEberhardt at 5:17AM, Nov. 17, 2018
It's comforting to know that the Duck community is still one of the few places that doesn't follow this trend. We even provide plenty of examples of how to get attention WITHOUT hitting below the belt. Of course we won't break the vicious circle I described, but every little bit helps.
PaulEberhardt at 5:16AM, Nov. 17, 2018
These days we're so flooded with information (and I don't want to turn this into a hate rant against the internet, although that seems to be the mandatory follow-up) that some people will do anything to get attention. The insidious strategy here is making the alienated cult followers of whatever they shamelessly ripped off write about them. It doesn't really matter if they actually write about wanting to eat them alive, all of it will end up generating more hits in google for the new cartoon - and that's enough! They can firmly rely on 1. nobody having the time to read all of it and 2. hardly anyone except for outraged fans bothering, not least because this ever-increasing need to get attention has long caused a downward spiral that keeps making the conversational tone on the internet rougher and meaner, so outsiders will likely ignore it as the usual white noise and only remember that there is some new cartoon that created some controversy and must therefore be worth watching.
Froggtreecomics at 5:01AM, Nov. 17, 2018
When Tom Baker leant on that rock face in the face of evil and it moved a good couple of foot IT WAS BY DESIGN NOT SHODDYNESS! O'course sets were better in them days, not like the sets you has these days. These modern sets are all about titilation and probably ladies bras.
Ironscarf at 4:13AM, Nov. 17, 2018
Ah yes, I remember we all complained bitterly when John Pertwee left. Our initial response to Tom Baker was "Who is this daft bloke? He's not The Doctor!". Shows just how wrong you can be really. What bothers me most is the people who jump on board the hate train to kickstart or restart careers that were going nowhere fast. Hate sells even better than sex.
mks_monsters at 4:04AM, Nov. 17, 2018
Honestly, I think people need to put things in perspective. Things get rebooted and remixed all the time. Sometimes, you're going to get versions you don't like and fighting over that is just silly if not bitter. A writer making a story you don't like is not an offence unless it really is a personal attack and very rarely is it. Also, is it really worth it to fight so much over a cartoon? No.
irrevenant at 3:41AM, Nov. 17, 2018
@ozoneocean Doctor Who is an interesting one. It's been running for so long, wihh so many different iterations that there are several waves of fans who love "their" Doctor, and may not be as impressed by others. This happened in the classic years, and it happens with the new ones too. The Matt Smith years were plagued with people complaining that Tennant was better. Then the Capaldi years were full of people complaining it had gone downhill since the Smith years. And now it's happening all over again with Jodie Whitaker...
JustNoPoint at 3:38AM, Nov. 17, 2018
Hate clicks are the easiest clicks to get. And gives the most advertising as well. It’s so stupid. If something has to rely on outrage alone to try and be relevant it’s not going to stand the test of time at all. It’s a whole lot easier to make negatives than it is to make positives.
irrevenant at 3:35AM, Nov. 17, 2018
What are you actually referring to? I hadn't heard anything about denigrating the original She-Ra. (As an aside, I notice Netflix is showing both the new series and the old one).
willgun at 1:40AM, Nov. 17, 2018
Thanks for your comments. I've been noticing this trend for a while. A sort of twisted reliance on viral, negative marketing it seems, while damaging the artistic property in the process. I guess I'll have to animate Dragonet myself.
Ozoneocean at 12:57AM, Nov. 17, 2018
I recall this happened with Doctor Who. People went on and on about how the old one was for kids or it had "shoddy" sets or bad acting and effects or whatever, as a way of building up the reboot version. All ignorant nonsense really as this kind of thing always is.
Ozoneocean at 12:51AM, Nov. 17, 2018
Good post on a very interesting a touchy subject! I don't like the design of the new She-Ra but today I have decided to opt out of commenting because it leads to the things you mentioned. You can't have a point of view based on aesthetics without also being loaded with 15 tonnes of other cultural baggage so it's not worth it. "Gee, the train is late again, I wish it wasn't" "WHAT? You like trains running on time? So did Mussolini! You must be a fascist! Die Hitler loving scum!"