Trivializing the Momentous and Complicating the Obvious

I find that I am coming to really dislike the word purist.

It's not that I necessarily dislike so-called purists, either. Actually, I think it has more to do with the fact that I used to call myself a purist, around the time that one Mansfield Park movie came out.

The thing is, I like faithfulness to the books. I really do. It's just that when people try to apply the concept of "purism" to fanfiction that I get a little twitchy.

What does it mean, anyway? Usually, what someone means when they say "I guess I'm just too much of a purist," is that they really think theirs is the right view, but who are they to flout popular opinion? It's a passive-aggressive way of saying "I'm right, you're wrong, but I'm going to humor you. But I'm still right. Nanny nanny poo poo."

I guess what I'm trying to say, is that it's one thing to be faithful to the book when you're doing a retelling, like a movie or a play, or whatever. But fanfiction is a whole different kettle of fish. The very point of fanfiction is to stray from the text, in whatever way we like. To explore this possibility or that plot hole. To poke fun, when it's merited. The people who want nothing but retellings in this way or that way are really missing the point of it all. I'd feel sorry for them, if they didn't aggravate me so much.

In conclusion: people who say "I guess I'm just too much of a purist" probably aren't really that big on purism as long as the changes made don't mess with their own sacred cows. "Anything goes..... except that" seems to be the prevailing attitude. And it's that hypocrisy that's the really annoying part.

Wow. I haven't posted in a really long time. Can't imagine why not, so much has been happening lately. More on that later, but I'm feeling really mellow right now, probably because almost my whole family is away at a youth rally at the moment. I'm so mellow, I'm not even annoyed by the Becoming Jane squeeing in the TR. In fact, I find it .... cute. Wow. Probably because it's really James MacAvoy squeeing. *g*

Also, thanks to whoever in the TR, I have now viewed the new Mansfield Park. It seemed a little like MP on speed ---- very fast-paced, and some weird changes --- but overall, I liked it. I'm glad it's on youtube, because my parents got rid of satellite recently, so I wouldn't have been able to see it even when it did come over here. I'll probably still rent it once it's on DVD, though.

I have to go finish my laundry. Empty house means late-night cleaning for me.

Somebody on Austenblog asked why anyone who's read the book would defend P&P3. So here goes.

For my part, I'm inclined to defend the movie because I think the level of vitriol leveled at it at certain sites is disproportionate to the "crimes" it has committed.

I've seen all the JA adaptations (I think) except NA and P1, and to my knowledge, this is the only one aside from MP2 that has met with this much anger. MP2 is also the only one I dislike on the grounds of being unfaithful---any others I dislike, it's because they were boring, or ugly, or both. Now, I don't think this movie comes anywhere close to the level of travesty that MP2 attained, so I find the rabidity of its detractors to be somewhat bewildering. I mean, at least the makers of P&P3 actually respect Jane Austen and P&P --- at least, they don't go around openly insulting it in interviews. It seems to me like they really tried to be "faithful," in their own way. There are some unpopular interpretations of characters, but nothing too outrageous. I mean, nobody would actually (I hope) interpret Fanny Price as a spirited, horseback-riding hoyden, but who honestly hasn't heard the argument before that Mrs. Bennet is actually really very sensible in trying to get her girls married? Who hasn't witnessed a Shy War? Even if you don't agree with it, it's out there.

Plenty of other adaptations -- Emmas 2 and 3, P2, and even S&S2, which I love -- make serious changes to the text, but they don't have gaggles of people bashing them. (Though of course every adaptation is disliked by *somebody.*) So I don't understand why this one meets with such frothing-at-the-mouth responses. Though I have my suspicions.

EDIT: Got a reply which was more of the same, insisting on the horrible inaccuracy of the movie, and here's my response to her:

( Read more... )

Gacked from bagira: ( Semi-difficult Jane Austen test )

I have a few nitpicks: she spells Knightley and Georgiana wrong, and the Dashwood estate is not entailed; it's willed to the eldest son. Not the same thing. And I'm not sure about the double weddings thing. (I always thought Edward and Elinor got married some time before Brandon and Marianne; unless it's another double wedding she's talking about that I missed.) But otherwise, it's a fun test. :)