1.08.2008

Positive side of the WGA strike?

Most people who have written about possible positive sides of this horrible strike situation have had one of two things to say. Either it's been some kinda snarky joke like the last comment on this Defamer thread. Or it's been some horrific statement from some executive who is actually delighted he can just run nonstop reality tripe and not have to bother with those pesky creatives. (Seriously, example here.)

But call me a cock-eyed optimist but I think there might be an actual positive side to this whole mess eventually. Maybe audiences deprived of the usual glut of entertainment options will begin to miss, to actually crave what solid writing provides: storytelling. Rather than a focus on celebrity, or effects, tastes might favor character more than ever before. The irony would be of course, that this focus on character and story is the opposite of what many arts organizations discuss these days. In my experience, arts organizations spend an inordinate amount of time discussing new media, podcasts, facebooks, and the like. The very things, the WGA is striking against! Here's to hoping the strike pulls the focus back where it belongs, on story.

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