An open letter to Joss Whedon regarding Angel - Do you agree with what's said?

[hankgreen]

I get the feeling that I just broke up a fun party and made you all act all respectable. In any case, thank you for being pleasant with me.

To Gordo: Everyone has to agree that we are slaves to our condition on at least some level. The wealthy are more likely to succeed, even in America where we pride ourselves on saying "Anyone can become a millionaire in this country". It is true, but it is much more likely that one will do well if one is given more opportunities.

If this disparity is taken to its extreme we speak of the third world vs. america. People in the third world have less opportunity to lead happy lives because they often dont have food.

If this disparity is taken to the tiniest measure we speak of a world with angel and a world without angel. The disparity is probably too tiny to make out any distinctions in levels of happiness. So, yes, my point is moot.

Again, however, I will say that it is at the very least the network's intention to addict viewers. I will allow that it is not necessarily Joss Whedon's intent. But if they addict viewers they guarantee more advertising dollars, so that is implicitly their goal.

In conclusion, I do not believe we have as much choice as we would like to think. I think we are controlled greatly by our situations, a precept that is undeniable and very basic to my arguments. People who would ask us to believe we have unlimited choice think the Western Capitlaist system is the only system people are meant to live in and that all other systems are false. I believe that Kuznya is one of those people, but I somehow doubt you are.

 

[Judy Kovacs]

Agree

I feel what is most wrong with this open letter is the apparent lack of accountability. The whole "it isn't your fault that you have made this show into your crutch, it's the fault of the person(s) who made the crutch" attitude is quite ridiculous. It's almost as if he is likening Buffy/Angel to a hard drug, and Joss as it's pusher.
(...)It's just natural however that in the land of drab predictably boring TV, people would be gravitated to something so well-made. Still...these shows were never pushed onto me, or anyone else. (...) That being said I want Angel to continue on. Not because it is my crutch, or my drug, but because there is no other TV program that is on the level of Angel. When Angel goes off the air(hopefully not at the end of this season), I will accept it's end the way I accepted Buffy's end. I will cherish the great story that was handed to me, and everyone else, and continue enjoying it through reruns, books, movies(hopefully), and discussing it all with Buffy-boards members.

I personnaly agree with everything you said.
I don't know how this guy can assume that all Angel fan think and feel the same.
This show is very different from any other show.
Angel is well written and well made.
It's one of the only spinoff that truly can stand on it's own.
If the show gets cancelled I will be sad but I will accept it!
I just hope that if this is the last season that we'll get all the answers that we're looking for!​

 

[Mr_Gordo]

To Gordo: Everyone has to agree that we are slaves to our condition on at least some level. The wealthy are more likely to succeed, even in America where we pride ourselves on saying "Anyone can become a millionaire in this country". It is true, but it is much more likely that one will do well if one is given more opportunities.

If this disparity is taken to its extreme we speak of the third world vs. america. People in the third world have less opportunity to lead happy lives because they often dont have food.

If this disparity is taken to the tiniest measure we speak of a world with angel and a world without angel. The disparity is probably too tiny to make out any distinctions in levels of happiness. So, yes, my point is moot.

Again, however, I will say that it is at the very least the network's intention to addict viewers. I will allow that it is not necessarily Joss Whedon's intent. But if they addict viewers they guarantee more advertising dollars, so that is implicitly their goal.

In conclusion, I do not believe we have as much choice as we would like to think. I think we are controlled greatly by our situations, a precept that is undeniable and very basic to my arguments. People who would ask us to believe we have unlimited choice think the Western Capitlaist system is the only system people are meant to live in and that all other systems are false. I believe that Kuznya is one of those people, but I somehow doubt you are.

Good call. Of all systems out there, I do tend to lean towards western capitalism because of all the systems I feel that people in this system have more oportunity for personal betterment. However I don't discount other peoples beliefs and political systems. They all have distinct advantages in their own ways. As western capitalist systems go, I however don't believe that the american model is the best application of that system. Especially politically. But that discussion should be saved for a different discussion board.

I just don't buy the fact that Angel, or any television program in any way takes away any persons ability to choose. In fact I believe that it offers more choices. People choose to watch it or not watch it. I do agree that it is the networks intent to "addict viewers". But that still doesn't change the fact that people have to make a concious decision to watch these programs. Because of that I feel the blame should rest on the individual for any addictions that they might incur.

As for whether or not Joss is intentionally trying to "addict" viewers for monetary reasons. I'm not so cynical as to assume that every artist in the world is in it for the money. I like to believe that there are true artists who make their artwork because they really just want to share their gift with the world. Sure there are show creators who are in their line of work primarily for financial gain, but I think it is important to give people the benefit of the doubt when it comes to whether or not they are a greedy money sucking suit or someone with a gift that they want to share.

Personally I think Joss is in the artist category. Take firefly as an example. A show that not a lot of people really got, and didn't do all to well in the ratings category. And yet even after it's cancelation, he just kept pluggin away at it. He is now set to make a firefly movie, even though he most undoubtedly has had much better opportunities for financial gain.

Now I must get back to work before the evil boss of death devours me whole...