Being presumptuous, and vid commentaries

[bop_radar]

Hi! *waves* I'm Bop. I'm presumptuous. I didn't used to be. (Or maybe I did? *ponders entry into Smallville fandom with essays*) But anyway, I am now.

I've seen the word 'presumptuous' used several times in regards to vidder commentaries on their own vids. And I just want to say: I totally get that it feels like that. So if you are a vidder doing a commentary on your own work and feeling self conscious? Just remember that you're not alone. And that there are more presumptuous people than you out there: ME. I'm doing two. Feel free to throw rotten tomatoes at the actually presumptuous person. I'm also doing one on someone else's and I can tell you now, I am waaaaaay more excited about doing the viewer commentary. But! I want more vidder commentaries to read and watch, and I kind of figure the more people do them the less 'presumptuous' it will look or feel. Also, there's nothing in the rules (as far as I understand them) that says you have to have reached a certain threshold of interest level in your vids to make a commentary. I'm pretty sure only two people will be interested in one of my commentaries. But does that matter? Should I not take up 'space' by doing that? I had to struggle with that anxiety before signing up, but I think it's good for the vidding fandom to have more diversity of commentaries as well as diversity of vidders.

If I have recced your vid? Chances are I would like a commentary on it. If I've commented at length on your vid? Ditto. If I watch your vid obsessively and you don't even know it? Same. And I will bounce up to you and tell you so if I run across you worrying about whether to commentary or not. I also can't wait to watch vidder commentaries of vidders I don't know because that seems cool. So, hi, I'm your audience of one. Please don't dismiss me!

In other news? Vidlets are also cool.

Comments

[deathisyourart.livejournal.com]

I don't get this presumptuous thing. Is it presumptuous when an editor/director/actor/producer records commentary for tv shows or movie? NO! If you worked on it without blinders on then there was intent behind the piece, an intent that the audience the vid itself had would be interested in. I love behind the scenes featurettes as much as I love the movies and tv shows themselves, so the more commentaries from both vidders and viewers I can get my hands on the better!

If you enjoy when others talk about the process, why assume that there is no one who would appreciate the same from you? Consider it a way to preserve the memory for yourself if it makes it easier, and then by "accident" you share it with others.

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

I get it. At an emotional level. I totally get it. I feel presumptuous. It comes from the same place emotionally that thinks of myself as a whiny bitch for making that inclusivity post or that thinks the entire idea of ME making a VID is ... like... I don't know... one of those art cons where the painting turns out to have been made by a five year old. ;)

That said, intellectually? I totally agree with everything you have to say here. I think a lot of us just get trapped in the emotions of feeling like a fraud. It may be different for other people, but that's what it is for me.

Consider it a way to preserve the memory for yourself if it makes it easier, and then by "accident" you share it with others.
Nice! :D I like that idea. And I will cling to it.

[deathisyourart.livejournal.com]

*sigh* One day I will teach all you vidders that confidence is your FRIEND, and that pride in ones work is not a bad thing. Seriously, this is like the vidder version of Catholic guilt, and it needs to go.

*sells it all at 50% off when you are not looking*

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

this is like the vidder version of Catholic guilt
*LOL* Um, ok... *bites tongue* Yeah... as someone who finds Catholic guilt incredibly frustrating, yeah, good call.

[diarmi.livejournal.com]

Seriously, this is like the vidder version of Catholic guilt, and it needs to go.

Oh, I love it!:)))

[stacialy.livejournal.com]

This isn't just a vidder thing though. This is an artist-of-any-kind thing. I think there is a fear for a lot of creative people that confidence appears to be cockiness or self-importance. Part of this fear, I think, comes from the fact that many people DO assume confident/successful/popular artists/vidders/writers/whatever are cocky without given them the benefit of the doubt. And that assumption happens because of fears we have about ourselves and our abilities.

Either way, fear, once again, is the root of problems. Damn you, fear!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Good call! I'm not used to considering myself an artist-of-any-kind so I had forgotten to look for the universal pattern there.