Mental blend of fact and fiction
May. 8th, 2006 10:57 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
itsallovernowFirst of all, there's a new issue of SMRT-TV out! It's a great issue folks, so swing by, read the columns and features and comment in the forums. And for anyone playing along at home, this is the column that jump started the latest itch to write a TV pilot. Oy. Because I need more projects, oh yeah. But seriously, it's a really strong issue and the graphics people outdid themselves!
I started to watch The West Wing last night before going to meet![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lizlet for coffee, and just the beginning of it made me kind of happy and teary.
With West Wing drawing to a close, I feel like I'm mourning as both a fan and as someone who cares deeply about the political process, who is dismayed and disillusioned by the current political climate, by the administration and the choices being made, by my party, and by the general apathy I see around me, apathy which can be bullied into hard speech, but very little action. I see people complaining about gas prices, I don't see them driving less. I see people upset about the war, about the wire-tapping, about so many things, but I don't see them actively seeking solutions. And I guess I can probably count myself among those folks. It's hard to muster the energy to protest to seek change when I get home at the end of the day.
For me, The West Wing has been this beautiful bastion of civic discourse. Even when it was a little dull, even when it swooped off-track for half a season or so, it was still this show that was about the beauty of our process. It was something that celebrated bi-partisan government, that explored the idea that Republicans weren't evil, that Democrats fucked up just as badly as their opponents, and it showed that both parties could care about civil rights and liberties, about civic responsibility. And I loved that. I loved the grace with which it infused the concept of government. I loved the passion that everyone involved had for government.
And yes, I loved the characters, loved cranky, idealistic Toby and CJ's confidence and capability. Josh in all his neurotic brilliance, Sam and his beautiful words and Bartlett because he was Bartlett. But what I loved most was this fantasy of government, of responsibility, of these people who saw inherent meaning in running a government and these writers and actors and producers who thought it was both important and entertaining to show these ideals to the world.
And here's where I display my own ridiculous fannish meta. As long as Bartlett ran his mythical White House, I had hope for our administration. I had an idealized form that we could hold the President up to, and find him lacking, or find that he measures up. And yes, I get the whole reality/illusion thing. But having a TV show on about government – about my ideal government, albeit a less liberal government than I'd ultimately idealize – gave me the equal illusion that the public was paying attention, was looking at what government could be, then comparing it to the government that was. And even if they were bigger fans of the administration, even if they supported the president's choices, they were paying attention.
As West Wing fades from being a weekly civics lesson, to being beloved TV show, I feel the loss on both a political level and a fannish level. I feel like this idealized dream is being taken away, and all I'm left with is the harsh reality of an administration that I cannot support, making decisions that not only scare me, but make me want to weep in a way no manufactured government could.
Too all Thelma and Louise Ficathon participants: I'll be sending your assignments out tonight. Please feel free to contact me with questions!!
I started to watch The West Wing last night before going to meet
lizlet for coffee, and just the beginning of it made me kind of happy and teary.With West Wing drawing to a close, I feel like I'm mourning as both a fan and as someone who cares deeply about the political process, who is dismayed and disillusioned by the current political climate, by the administration and the choices being made, by my party, and by the general apathy I see around me, apathy which can be bullied into hard speech, but very little action. I see people complaining about gas prices, I don't see them driving less. I see people upset about the war, about the wire-tapping, about so many things, but I don't see them actively seeking solutions. And I guess I can probably count myself among those folks. It's hard to muster the energy to protest to seek change when I get home at the end of the day.
For me, The West Wing has been this beautiful bastion of civic discourse. Even when it was a little dull, even when it swooped off-track for half a season or so, it was still this show that was about the beauty of our process. It was something that celebrated bi-partisan government, that explored the idea that Republicans weren't evil, that Democrats fucked up just as badly as their opponents, and it showed that both parties could care about civil rights and liberties, about civic responsibility. And I loved that. I loved the grace with which it infused the concept of government. I loved the passion that everyone involved had for government.
And yes, I loved the characters, loved cranky, idealistic Toby and CJ's confidence and capability. Josh in all his neurotic brilliance, Sam and his beautiful words and Bartlett because he was Bartlett. But what I loved most was this fantasy of government, of responsibility, of these people who saw inherent meaning in running a government and these writers and actors and producers who thought it was both important and entertaining to show these ideals to the world.
And here's where I display my own ridiculous fannish meta. As long as Bartlett ran his mythical White House, I had hope for our administration. I had an idealized form that we could hold the President up to, and find him lacking, or find that he measures up. And yes, I get the whole reality/illusion thing. But having a TV show on about government – about my ideal government, albeit a less liberal government than I'd ultimately idealize – gave me the equal illusion that the public was paying attention, was looking at what government could be, then comparing it to the government that was. And even if they were bigger fans of the administration, even if they supported the president's choices, they were paying attention.
As West Wing fades from being a weekly civics lesson, to being beloved TV show, I feel the loss on both a political level and a fannish level. I feel like this idealized dream is being taken away, and all I'm left with is the harsh reality of an administration that I cannot support, making decisions that not only scare me, but make me want to weep in a way no manufactured government could.
Too all Thelma and Louise Ficathon participants: I'll be sending your assignments out tonight. Please feel free to contact me with questions!!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-05-08 06:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-08 06:12 pm (UTC)*snort*
Date: 2006-05-08 06:20 pm (UTC)*hee* Hollywood North, BAY-BEE!
Hell, if Veronica Mars gets cancelled, and my friend Kath hasn't come to get y'all with an uzi
but what will Catullus do if Mommy goes to prison?
Re: *snort*
Date: 2006-05-08 06:22 pm (UTC)Re: *snort*
Date: 2006-05-08 06:48 pm (UTC)Re: *snort*
Date: 2006-05-08 07:01 pm (UTC)Re: *snort*
Date: 2006-05-08 07:51 pm (UTC)And if they cancel Veronica Mars.... I give you the Squirelly Wrath! *grrrr*
Re: *snort*
Date: 2006-05-08 07:53 pm (UTC)Re: *snort*
Date: 2006-05-08 07:57 pm (UTC)And while I refuse to be considered a sibling to my father's pets, I have, without irony, referred to myself as the cat's mommy. I was embarrassed and yet continue to do it. But I'm still on your side on this issue.
Re: *snort*
Date: 2006-05-08 08:05 pm (UTC)Re: *snort*
Date: 2006-05-08 08:50 pm (UTC)Re: *snort*
Date: 2006-05-08 08:09 pm (UTC)I too very much hope they continue to air VM, as I really do like it, even with the having to wait for tapes and not being able to participate in fannish discussion and debate adn speculation until well after the fact ;).
no subject
Date: 2006-05-08 06:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-08 06:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-08 06:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-08 06:45 pm (UTC)I love the graphic they made from the Law and Order in Space as well! So fabulous!
no subject
Date: 2006-05-08 07:18 pm (UTC)And hear, hear! with regard to you TWW comments. I was blaming my overall gushiness over last night's ep on my hormones, but that show always has the ability to turn me into a heap of idealistic goo no matter what time of the month it is. I am never more a more patriotic American than when I watch The West Wing...
no subject
Date: 2006-05-08 07:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-08 07:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-08 07:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-08 10:28 pm (UTC)I only ever see people like that getting run out of Washington these days. :o(
Yes, I'm going to miss the show too.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-09 04:03 am (UTC)...are we there yet? *g*
- hg
no subject
Date: 2006-05-09 04:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-09 07:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-09 04:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-09 07:31 am (UTC)And here's where I display my own ridiculous fannish meta. As long as Bartlett ran his mythical White House, I had hope for our administration.
as long as you have hope, there *is* hope. as long as we have hope, there *is* hope. as long as people believe, there *is* belief.
government is wholly self-fulfilling.
:::leaves you chocolate:::
no subject
Date: 2006-05-09 04:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-09 08:36 pm (UTC)