A Look At Things To Come

      Hello, readers. Apparently there's more of you than I thought. This is both pleasing and surprising ,as I'm little more than a hack who thinks too much. So, either you've made a terrible choice in considering a single word I have to say, or you actually like it.


    Over the next few weeks, I'll be unveiling some new features to the blog:

• IT'S COMPLICATED - A series of essays on topics widely discussed, but possessing many angles
• A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS - a look a some of my favorite games, movies, television shows, and albums

      Over time I hope to have more features of increasing quality. 

      I'm terrible at ending these.

      

Avengers: Age of Overused Trailer Tactics

The "Avengers: Age of Ultron" teaser (leak...spill..) just further strengthened my resolve in not being a fan of trailers.

Not only did i already know what would be in it, but it pretty much adhered to the all-too-common "appeal to the lowest common denominator" style of trailer. Throw as many shinies on the screen as possible and that's it. Add in a little bit of some ominous music. Throw in a hook that's memorable.

The whole thing rubs me the wrong way. I mean, yes, i understand the nature of the business and the need to advertise the product (which, let's be honest, is all many studios see their films as), but too often I've been sold on a film only to discover the thing is nothing like I've been told. Certain scenes are picked based on how they tested and on their marketability. The thing is edited in such a way as to seem to elevate those scenes.

If it all seems cynical, it's because they seem to have a pretty cynical view of the audience...but to be honest, can you blame them? These trailers test well and many of the movies attached to them do well commercially, both domestically and internationally. Obviously, the critical response is a totally different matter. So, basically,  we're telling them that we want their pandering, bombastic trailers. We want to see most of the main plot in the  trailer. No, we're not smart enough to see that you're using the same cheap tactics over and over.

Or at least, that what many of them may see. So, i don't watch trailers. I may read a review or two from sources whose writing I enjoy, but i try to avoid trailers. For me, it preserves the sense of discovery, and allows me to get the real McCoy, not just an imitation of it.

A Beginning

     I'm the kind of person that has too many thoughts. It's as though there's a mass of competing voices, all trying to take prominence over the other. They pile one on top of the other until I lose possible motivation to even express the points in question. It's immensely disheartening.

     That being said, it's my hope that this blog will alleviate some of the anxiety that comes along with having a head full of thoughts with no way out.

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      Well, that was dour.

      Hello! Welcome to my introductory post on my blog "A Mind for Media." On this blog I'll be discussing a variety topics pertaining to different aspects of media. This includes movies, music, television, comics, books, and video games. 

      For the sake of full disclosure I should mention some things:

•       I have no professional background in art critique 
•       I have no affiliation with any company or studio
•       I am an advocate for gay rights and am a pretty pronounced feminist
•       I am a Christian

      Knowing all of this, I hope this properly informs you and provides some context going forward. One thing I hope my posts do is inspire conversation. I most certainly know that everyone who reads this won't always agree with what I say, but I welcome the conversation. Art doesn't exist in a vacuum, and it's conversations and thoughts on how we interact with it that affects how we deal with it as society. It's important, so I hope this blog is at least a drop in the bucket with regards to that.

      I'm of the feeling that humanity's ability to create is a massive element of God in all of us. Considering that, the ability of art to connect people of various cultures and beliefs makes me treat it as practically holy. So, I certainly hope to bring people together via this blog, as well.

      I end this first post here. Also, I'll end it with a quote that, sadly, I don't know the source of . It succinctly describes my mentality regarding art.

"Art is the attempt to bridge the gaps between ourselves."