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jackwabbitJJ Abrams, on spoilers:
Spoilers give fans the answers they want, the resolution they crave. As an avid fan of movies and TV myself, I completely understand the desire to find out behind-the-scenes details in a nanosecond. Which, given technology, is often how long it takes—to the frustration of the storytellers. Efforts to gather this intel and the attempts to plug leaks create an ongoing battle between filmmakers and the very fans they are dying to entertain and impress. But the real damage isn't so much that the secret gets out. It's that the experience is destroyed. The illusion is diminished. Which may not matter to some. But then what's the point of actually seeing that movie or episode? How does knowing the twist before you walk into the theater—or what that island is really about before you watch the finale—make for a richer viewing experience? It's telling that the very term itself—spoiler—has become synonymous with "cool info you can get before the other guy." What no one remembers is that it literally means "to damage irreparably; to ruin." Spoilers make no bones about destroying the intended experience—and somehow that has become, for many, the preferred choice.
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Spoilers give fans the answers they want, the resolution they crave. As an avid fan of movies and TV myself, I completely understand the desire to find out behind-the-scenes details in a nanosecond. Which, given technology, is often how long it takes—to the frustration of the storytellers. Efforts to gather this intel and the attempts to plug leaks create an ongoing battle between filmmakers and the very fans they are dying to entertain and impress. But the real damage isn't so much that the secret gets out. It's that the experience is destroyed. The illusion is diminished. Which may not matter to some. But then what's the point of actually seeing that movie or episode? How does knowing the twist before you walk into the theater—or what that island is really about before you watch the finale—make for a richer viewing experience? It's telling that the very term itself—spoiler—has become synonymous with "cool info you can get before the other guy." What no one remembers is that it literally means "to damage irreparably; to ruin." Spoilers make no bones about destroying the intended experience—and somehow that has become, for many, the preferred choice.
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Hear, hear!
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Date: May. 27th, 2009 04:51 am (UTC)Because for some people spoilers don't ruin the enjoyment! I totally get why people would want to avoid spoilers, but I don't get why people can't understand why some of us want them.
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Date: May. 27th, 2009 09:54 pm (UTC)I think the key word in JJ's statment is "intended." Spoilers change the intended experience. You aren't getting what you were supposed to. But that's ok. You got something else, and maybe you like that more. That's ok.
I like cherry, you like grape.
That's fine.
Just let me have my cherry, thanks. You keep your grapes.
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Date: May. 27th, 2009 09:52 pm (UTC)Honestly, I don't see how spoilers can't ruin a show/movie/book/whatever, but if they don't for you, then more power to you. I have no problem with you seeking them out and knowing them. Just keep them away from me.
Truly, knowing spoilers ruins a show so much for me that watching the show afterward only pisses me off. If I find out more than a touch of something, I won't even bother to watch. What's the point?
(That was rhetorical...it does not need answered. I understand that for many there is a point. Just not for me.)
I have come to accept that there is no way I can stay completely spoiler-free and be on the internet at all, so I no longer feel the urge to murder those that spoil me (much) but it still makes for a very, very bad day. My lightsaber used to be as red and the darkest rouge, but I've moved nearer to blue because there's just no sense in getting worked up over something I can't change. I will always get inadvertently spoiled a bit when some idiot doesn't properly label a post, so...whatever. And minor stuff like casting and whatnot really doesn't matter, so again...whatever.
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Date: May. 27th, 2009 10:44 pm (UTC)I'm just not someone who likes surprises, ha ha. Often shows will have clues to the mystery, taking for example Lost, which JJ mentioned . . . if I know the island's secrets then as I'm watching I'll notice the clues and be squeeful. While people who didn't know the spoilers would have to watch the episodes a second time to pick up on them.
Huh, I guess I'm just lazy. ;)
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Date: May. 27th, 2009 11:05 pm (UTC)Ie, TXF. I recently rewatched the entire series. I had no idea how early some plot lines started, etc. Fun to see!