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Not quite sure what I was thinking about cinema either. My defense was that it was 3 in the morning. Ghavrel Send a noteboard - 31/01/2010 10:26:03 PM
Any good play is mostly about the characters and their interaction, as evidenced by the popular concept nowadays (actually, it's been a popular concept for centuries, I suppose) of taking old classical stories and plays and putting them in a contemporary setting and decor, rather than striving for historical accuracy in the costumes and decors. Jesus Christ Superstar did it, Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet did it, and more theater productions than you can see in a lifetime (that may be slight hyperbole, but not by that much, I don't think :P ). So how/why write a play that focuses instead on creating a fantasy or sci-fi setting?


I guess my contention is that if sf/f is more than special effects or worldbuilding, why isn't it popular in theater? Basically, why aren't there more District 9s (or, you know, movies that are like District 9, except they don't suck :P)? And why are there almost no serious sf/f plays/musicals?

If one of the powerful abilities of sf/f is that by removing preconceptions of our world, it allows us to view certain truths about humanity, why isn't that reflected in other media? Maybe because the effort of removing preconceptions of our world takes so much time and worldbuilding, which isn't conducive to theater. But I'm pretty sure Larry would dispute that if he and I would stop arguing about the importance of theater. :P

I suppose I'm issuing a challenge of sorts to the stalwart defenders of sf/f. If the best of the genre is more than worldbuilding, if it focuses so heavily on character development, for what reason is it that sf/f doesn't show up in a medium that is primarily dedicated to character development?

There's at least one critically acclaimed sf/f play. I think Waiting for Godot is undeniably fantasy. I want to know why there aren't more Godots.
"We feel safe when we read what we recognise, what does not challenge our way of thinking.... a steady acceptance of pre-arranged patterns leads to the inability to question what we are told."
~Camilla

Ghavrel is Ghavrel is Ghavrel

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Obviously I have musicals on the brain. Ghavrel - 31/01/2010 06:36:33 AM 975 Views
Musicals are tricky things to do LadyLorraine - 31/01/2010 07:57:44 AM 707 Views
If sf/f relies on effects, then it doesn't deserve respect. Ghavrel - 31/01/2010 08:04:10 AM 819 Views
I'm not saying it can be done or relies on effects. I'm just saying it might be tricky LadyLorraine - 31/01/2010 06:40:44 PM 692 Views
Dr. Horribles' Sing A Long Blog MightyYT - 31/01/2010 08:37:37 AM 715 Views
I think so. Darth_Katie - 31/01/2010 04:25:27 PM 682 Views
There is a musical episode of buffy.... jh - 31/01/2010 09:50:22 AM 809 Views
The board ends up being about books, but it's actually titled "Sci-Fi & Fantasy." Ghavrel - 31/01/2010 07:23:45 PM 707 Views
Yes, but the site is read and find out. Maybe you should go to listen and find out? *NM* jh - 31/01/2010 07:28:19 PM 295 Views
Tell that to the games board. *NM* Ghavrel - 31/01/2010 07:50:53 PM 287 Views
Which is an interesting example. jh - 02/02/2010 06:41:08 AM 734 Views
Very silly. Less silly, though, when you consider the lack of a Theater/Musicals board. *NM* Ghavrel - 02/02/2010 07:00:00 AM 316 Views
Very interesting question. lord-of-shadow - 31/01/2010 12:19:51 PM 932 Views
Adam's Hitchhiker's Guide stories were originally radio plays Larry - 31/01/2010 06:16:42 PM 838 Views
Which in turn reminds me of the infamous War of the Worlds radio broadcast with Orson Welles... *NM* Legolas - 31/01/2010 06:36:32 PM 286 Views
Nonsense. Ghavrel - 31/01/2010 07:22:25 PM 696 Views
I feel like I'm a broken record, telling you to re-read what I actually said Larry - 31/01/2010 08:40:17 PM 706 Views
Yes, well, it was a fairly weak defense when you started using it. Ghavrel - 31/01/2010 09:23:49 PM 812 Views
I think you're underestimating the number of theater fans LadyLorraine - 31/01/2010 10:00:52 PM 726 Views
I'd have to agree with you - it has become more of a niche. Legolas - 31/01/2010 10:16:02 PM 724 Views
I think cinema has outstripped theater more than theater has declined. Ghavrel - 31/01/2010 10:28:06 PM 611 Views
I don't know, I've seen a theater adaptation of The Hobbit, for instance... Legolas - 31/01/2010 10:11:47 PM 768 Views
Not quite sure what I was thinking about cinema either. My defense was that it was 3 in the morning. Ghavrel - 31/01/2010 10:26:03 PM 674 Views
Good excuse. Legolas - 31/01/2010 10:39:13 PM 856 Views
Yes it is. Ghavrel - 01/02/2010 02:25:44 AM 888 Views
I would definitely count Little Shop of Horrors among some sort of sf/f mold. Cockatiel of Doom - 01/02/2010 12:56:40 AM 858 Views
Definitely. But again, it's campy and ludicrous. Ghavrel - 01/02/2010 02:25:00 AM 758 Views
Well, of course. That's what makes it awesome. Cockatiel of Doom - 01/02/2010 04:57:07 AM 759 Views
Re: Well, of course. That's what makes it awesome. Ghavrel - 01/02/2010 07:58:32 AM 752 Views
There are tons of them ranagrande - 01/02/2010 08:37:35 AM 920 Views
Good point. Ghavrel - 01/02/2010 10:28:07 PM 799 Views
Repo! The Genetic Opera, both the play and the film were great. = Rocky-Horror + Bladerunner *NM* Bookwyrm - 02/02/2010 12:41:31 AM 338 Views
It is 19th century and it is opera . . . .. dadof5 - 02/02/2010 06:55:28 PM 820 Views
Return to the Forbidden Planet smaug - 06/02/2010 10:45:49 AM 905 Views
Yes, Wicked does. *NM* Ghavrel - 07/02/2010 04:19:56 AM 282 Views
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