Confessions of a Storytelling Snob

wittering noun
wit·​ter·​ing ˈwitərə̇n, -riŋ
plural-s
chiefly Scottish
: a piece of information (as a sign, token, or hint)

Etymology
Middle English (Scots) wittering, witering, from gerund of witteren, witeren to clarify, inform, teach, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse vitra to manifest, reveal, vitr wise, vita to know“Wittering.” 

— “Wittering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wittering.

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or why I struggle to love modern media

Does anyone else feel like modern media has become… lazy?

I was venting about this with my guy recently (who was complaining about the laziness of one of his favorite video game franchises) and pointed out a pattern. Here me out!

The past couple of decades have seen some great films and shows, no doubt. But it’s also seen a rise in increasingly formulaic and quickly produced content. We’re getting more and more of the same, and less and less variety and (in my opinion) creative freedom.

The best (or worst?) example of this is when studios take beloved movies or franchises we grew up with, and reboot or make unnecessary sequels. Here are a few that immediately come to mind:

• Star Trek (2009) (best on this list IMO)
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens
• Jurassic World
• Willow (TV Series) (just… sorry Warwick Davis, but no thank you)
• Indiana Jones 5 (eww…)
• Rings of Power (nope!)
• Top Gun: Maverick (this one was pretty awesome, I’ll admit, but still…)

I could keep going, but you see the pattern right?

Okay, I should add that I have been very much entertained by some of these. I was just as excited to go see the Star Trek reboot and equally pumped for the new Star Wars sequels… at first. But I felt let down by Jurassic World in particular for its lazy storytelling, and for ignoring the opportunity to shift the focus to younger characters from the originals (Lex, Tim, and Kelly, anyone?).

Instead, we’re introduced to mostly new characters, many that don’t even show up for the sequels. Around this time I started to notice a pattern in the majority of recent reboots/sequels. Most of them, if not all, simply took the nostalgia we loved, and then spliced it together in a modernized way.

Looking back, I see much of the same problem even with media I enjoyed at the time. All of these have elements that make them entertaining and rewarding to the audience. The same can be said of the overload of superhero films of the last two decades. A majority of folks probably watch these and come out satisfied. Unfortunately, as a writer, editor, and reviewer, I’m too used to taking in content with a more critical eye. And I can’t help but see the flaw with these big-budget spectacles. Too often, they take a better director/creator’s concept and bungle it. Countless novels haven’t been adapted yet, classic and modern. So why don’t we get more movies like The Martian or the rare exception to the reboot rule: Dune I & II?

I’m not asking for much, Hollywood and media moguls! Just a little more originality, maybe? Or a little more care into the content you allow to be produced? Instead of pushing your agendas on us, and then yelling at fans when they choose not to watch it, maybe focus on quality over quantity.

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Side rant over the fact I can’t watch half of what comes out anymore in front of my young kids

a.k.a. missing actual family friendly shows…

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If you’re like me, you’re searching for those diamonds in the rough, and rewatching old favorites or returning to the media that never fails me: books.

Let me know your thoughts and if you agree or (respectfully) disagree 😉

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discover the world of Wylder Tales…

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