Last night I watched Matthew Broderick on the Conan O Brian show. He was talking about his new movie.
Apparently it's based on a true story. It concerns an FBI sting operation where they were trying to catch some mobsters involved with the teamsters. They set up a sting operation by hiring some wannabe movie producers to create a movie. The thing is they don't tell the producers it's just a sting. The producers proceed as if they are creating art.
I listened to that plot described, and thought to myself, "that so reminds me of comic book fanzines.
The industry with which fanzine kids work to create something of no noticeable merit is embarrasing to watch for anyone not involved with the scam.
Exploited comic nerds desperate to connect to the talent, but lacking anything like a real gift themselves are encouraged to endulge their egos, by creating a sham that masquerades as professional critique.
You've got comic book fanboys following minor talents around salivating over the fact that their hero did a levis Ad on TV, then presenting themselves as professional journalists on fansites.
So this is what you do is it Wes? And this is what entitles you to puff yourself up, and present yourself as some kind of superior being whose word enforces worthlessness on an another's enjoyment of the word.
You know why fanfic is superior to fanzine writing? It's honest. It doesn't wrap itself up in some pretentious illusion of professionalism.
It's written for personal enjoyment, and the vague hope that such enjoyment might be shared with a small group of like-minded individuals.
It makes no pretense of being anything other than what it is - fun. No-one writing fanfic expects to win the Pullitzer prize, and no offence, but don't be expecting yours anytime soon either.
BTW, thanks Bud. I did enjoy.
