This is such an interesting meta and very good points all around. I agree with all of your wonderful advice and am having trouble coming up with something to say that hasn't already been discussed.
Personally, I've never had too much issue with literalism.
For me, it's about striking a balance. Because hey, sometimes it works, like you said in comedy vids. And sometimes "obviousness" is necessary and even helpful and makes total sense.
I have noticed that some vidders are much more literal than others. And part of me wants to say that it's just differences in how we think. You can't teach a person to find a deeper connection to something other than a very basic surface-level interpretation. Climbing a mountain, being a great example that you used, that I'll reiterate here.
I think the point is to try and not make these connections, whether literal, obvious, or downright obscure, completely arbitrary to the vid as a whole.
I'm not sure why finding a balance was never too much of an issue with me. I can think of one vid that was a real dud because of the literalism problem, and I think that's because I rushed through it and didn't put a lot of thought into it. It wasn't when I was a "newb" or anything, which makes it especially embarrassing. I won't mention what it was, haha.
One video that I got a lot of scrutiny over was using the song The Freshmen by the Verve Pipe for a Jack and Sawyer dual character study (for the show Lost.) But I think I found a non-literal connection between the characters and the song which carried throughout the vid and made it work as a whole. (Not saying it's perfect throughout.) I got some random comments complaining about the song. But I got a lot more comments from people telling me how shocked they were that this song worked for the subject matter.
So, I think it's definitely true that with some exceptions, you can make nearly anything "fit". I think you just have to get creative and really dig deep. And like you said, not every moment of your vid has to mesh with your lyrics, even in a far-reaching not-literal, not-obvious way.
One very difficult lyric I recall having issues with was in my Meant Well: The Occupation video. There's a part where she says "trains and sewing machines." And she says it twice! I eventually ended up assigning "trains" to the actual physical warfare (taking prisoners to their execution and the cylon executioners) and assigning "sewing machines" to psychological warfare, the personal relationships between Gaius and Caprica, and the twisted emotional connection between Kara, (sick) Kacey, and Leoben. That's certainly not literal, though I'm not sure how "obvious" it is. But I think it really connects with the lyrics non-the-less. That was one instance in which I was deeply afraid that people wouldn't "get it," but ultimately, I think they did. Yay for thinky thoughts!
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branchandroot
oh, fun topic!
Date: 2008-10-26 02:32 am (UTC)Personally, I've never had too much issue with literalism.
For me, it's about striking a balance. Because hey, sometimes it works, like you said in comedy vids. And sometimes "obviousness" is necessary and even helpful and makes total sense.
I have noticed that some vidders are much more literal than others. And part of me wants to say that it's just differences in how we think. You can't teach a person to find a deeper connection to something other than a very basic surface-level interpretation. Climbing a mountain, being a great example that you used, that I'll reiterate here.
I think the point is to try and not make these connections, whether literal, obvious, or downright obscure, completely arbitrary to the vid as a whole.
I'm not sure why finding a balance was never too much of an issue with me. I can think of one vid that was a real dud because of the literalism problem, and I think that's because I rushed through it and didn't put a lot of thought into it. It wasn't when I was a "newb" or anything, which makes it especially embarrassing. I won't mention what it was, haha.
One video that I got a lot of scrutiny over was using the song The Freshmen by the Verve Pipe for a Jack and Sawyer dual character study (for the show Lost.) But I think I found a non-literal connection between the characters and the song which carried throughout the vid and made it work as a whole. (Not saying it's perfect throughout.) I got some random comments complaining about the song. But I got a lot more comments from people telling me how shocked they were that this song worked for the subject matter.
So, I think it's definitely true that with some exceptions, you can make nearly anything "fit". I think you just have to get creative and really dig deep. And like you said, not every moment of your vid has to mesh with your lyrics, even in a far-reaching not-literal, not-obvious way.
One very difficult lyric I recall having issues with was in my Meant Well: The Occupation video. There's a part where she says "trains and sewing machines." And she says it twice! I eventually ended up assigning "trains" to the actual physical warfare (taking prisoners to their execution and the cylon executioners) and assigning "sewing machines" to psychological warfare, the personal relationships between Gaius and Caprica, and the twisted emotional connection between Kara, (sick) Kacey, and Leoben. That's certainly not literal, though I'm not sure how "obvious" it is. But I think it really connects with the lyrics non-the-less. That was one instance in which I was deeply afraid that people wouldn't "get it," but ultimately, I think they did. Yay for thinky thoughts!