Strange Tomato (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
strangetomato) wrote2009-03-09 05:53 pm
strangetomato) wrote2009-03-09 05:53 pm
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Thought for the day: Sim stories are like serial comics
Remember how I said I thought sim stories were more like graphic fiction than novels or movies? No? Well, I did. I think they're often sometimes like television shows too, in their serial nature, but the format speaks more to the comic medium (if we're talking about text and image sim stories, and I am).
The latest issue of Bitch magazine came in the mail today, and I was reading the review of Alison Bechdel's The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For (a GREAT read, in my opinion - you should check it out). At the end of the review, they quote her as saying, "A comic strip, like life, is a novel that never seems to get anywhere." It really reminded me of sim stories, especially mine. They just soldier on, perhaps with an end in mind, perhaps not, and that's just what I like about it. That's why I enjoyed DTWOF too. I came to really feel for the characters, and I was content to see them going through their day to day dramas, or even just cooking dinner (laced with politics, which makes it even more interesting). With sim storytelling, I'm writing (and playing) instead of reading, but I enjoy the feeling of following a set of characters as they gradually grow. Is it the same for you when you play and create? Or read, for that matter?
Of course, if I'm going to compare my story to a specific comic, I'd probably lean more towards Strangers in Paradise, which does have a plot, but it's really not nearly as important as the ongoing development of relationships between the characters. I love that series, but it's introspective to a fault, just like S,HWC is. It's obviously something I enjoy. In fact, when reading SiP, I often find myself going "yeah, yeah... crime stuff, plot... where's the next scene where the talk about that awkward kiss they shared?" Yeah, I may have a problem (I'll look into getting the help I need). SiP even ocassionally features pages and pages of lyrics, which is something a lot of us sim storytellers indulge ourselves in (it's super indulgent in the most teenagery kind of way - I know this, but still I just can't resist at times).
Anyway, I just wanted to share my musings. Feel free to add your own two cents or three.
(Is this what they call a meta? A baby meta, maybe?)
The latest issue of Bitch magazine came in the mail today, and I was reading the review of Alison Bechdel's The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For (a GREAT read, in my opinion - you should check it out). At the end of the review, they quote her as saying, "A comic strip, like life, is a novel that never seems to get anywhere." It really reminded me of sim stories, especially mine. They just soldier on, perhaps with an end in mind, perhaps not, and that's just what I like about it. That's why I enjoyed DTWOF too. I came to really feel for the characters, and I was content to see them going through their day to day dramas, or even just cooking dinner (laced with politics, which makes it even more interesting). With sim storytelling, I'm writing (and playing) instead of reading, but I enjoy the feeling of following a set of characters as they gradually grow. Is it the same for you when you play and create? Or read, for that matter?
Of course, if I'm going to compare my story to a specific comic, I'd probably lean more towards Strangers in Paradise, which does have a plot, but it's really not nearly as important as the ongoing development of relationships between the characters. I love that series, but it's introspective to a fault, just like S,HWC is. It's obviously something I enjoy. In fact, when reading SiP, I often find myself going "yeah, yeah... crime stuff, plot... where's the next scene where the talk about that awkward kiss they shared?" Yeah, I may have a problem (I'll look into getting the help I need). SiP even ocassionally features pages and pages of lyrics, which is something a lot of us sim storytellers indulge ourselves in (it's super indulgent in the most teenagery kind of way - I know this, but still I just can't resist at times).
Anyway, I just wanted to share my musings. Feel free to add your own two cents or three.
(Is this what they call a meta? A baby meta, maybe?)
Re: WARNING : rambly
Would you like to ask a mod of drabble group if that's okay? I've always gotten an invite-only vibe from it, and I only worked my way in by doing a "can I play too?" outside the playground fence (music_simbol's journal, actually). But if it's okayed, I think it's a great idea.
We should have a meeting again about STT (maybe just in an lj post), to discuss some ideas. I think an open invitation to the comm to ask what they want to do. I'm also thinking we should recruit a new mod. I have someone in mind, but we can discuss it (and maybe ask for volunteers? I'd personally rather ask someone, but maybe we ought to be more democratic).
Re: WARNING : rambly
I'll PM laridian and shewolfe (or whoever it is) and see if they mind us pimping drabblegroup on SST.
Agreed (to the "need to meet"). Your journal or mine? (I don't care either way, just say what you want--it it's in mine it's going to be locked just FYI).
I think the mod thing is better as an invite then a cattle call (and I'm super curious to see who you have in mind--I'm bored today, can you tell?)
Re: WARNING : rambly
Okay, sounds good.
I can post it, if you want. I also have a SST group I can use, from before. There's no need for everyone to peer into the inner mod happenings.
I agree. Cattle call would result in too many (or am I being too hopeful here?) and we have a good idea of what sort of person we'd want. I prefer a dictatorship.
Re: WARNING : rambly
I haven't heard back from the drabblegroup mods. I'll just go ahead and post the "check it out" SST thread if I get a green light from the drabble side.
Dictatorship? Nah, we just want to keep out the riff-raff. (JOKING--should anyone else be reading this)