I mostly agree. The medium is the message, and so you can't change the medium without changing the message.
But I must demur on one point. The first experience we have of anything is normative to a high degree. The first performance of a song we hear becomes the norm for that song, and any significantly different performance we hear afterward sounds wrong. (This is probably why most covers are so slavishly derivative of the original. That is what the audience wants.) The order of exposure matters.
For instance, many people now encounter Lord of the Rings through the movies, which some at least then prefer to the books. This can also determine whether they read the books at all. If you see a movie and hate it, why would you read the book? And if you see the movie and love it, the book is then likely to disappoint, as, for example, PL Travers Mary Poppins books disappointed so many who read them after seeing the film.
Worse, the films may eclipse the books altogether, as, for example, Disney's fairytales have eclipsed Hans Christian Andersen. Who today knows The Little Mermaid from Andersen rather than Disney? And who, having seen one first, will not be disappointed, or, at least, discombobulated by seeing the other?
Would the world be a better place and its children's lives richer if they read Andersen rather than watching Disney? Without a doubt. Is there any hope of that happening again? Alas, no. No adaptation of any classic is a neutral act.
I think anger has become a default response to so much in our society. The impact of cable news and other online media operating their model of “Outrage Porn” has created an extreme reaction habit that is almost Pavlovian in nature. Leaving aside the whole it’s not out yet issue (very well said Joel), to respond to the use of Streep as Aslan’s voice with “ Huh, I wouldn’t have made that choice” seems too tepid in today’s world. We are being trained to view everything as an 11 on a 1 to 10 scale. And to vehemently express that opinion. It’s exhausting. The best response to this? Get offline and go read a book!
This isn't dismantling anything, even if it's terrible (which, again, we don't know yet). I agree that aspects of Christian culture are on the ebb. The answer is to reinvigorate it through new and compelling cultural artifacts while celebrating the inheritance we have. The freakout is mostly a distraction from that.
Thanks for helping reorient my perspective! I like your point that Gerwig's take only adapts and adds, it can't affect the original artifact. I think my biggest concern is one you touched on is that this might be the only exposure some kids gave to Narnia...which is like some kids only knowing Anne of Green Gables from the Anne with an E show (and plenty of others). Warped images are depressing--especially when many kids aren't picking books to begin with or have parents who will read to them. But that's a problem I might be able to do something about. Fixing the movie isn't!
Clarifying. I lost my mind over the movie version of one of my fav novels and Brandon finally asked to stop talking about it at friendly gatherings. (Which is why I just deleted the grievances I still really want to vocalize🤣)
Great points. I thought Streep had been announced for going on a year now but I guess those were only rumors. It’s interesting to see what sparks controversy. (I’m pretty sure the lion will still be a male lion even if voiced by a female) Like you said, everything is going to be ok.
I hadn’t heard those rumors (nor apparently had all the people who erupted on X at the news)! I think Gerwig has clarified that Aslan remains male. I’m interested to see how this plays out.
I mostly agree. The medium is the message, and so you can't change the medium without changing the message.
But I must demur on one point. The first experience we have of anything is normative to a high degree. The first performance of a song we hear becomes the norm for that song, and any significantly different performance we hear afterward sounds wrong. (This is probably why most covers are so slavishly derivative of the original. That is what the audience wants.) The order of exposure matters.
For instance, many people now encounter Lord of the Rings through the movies, which some at least then prefer to the books. This can also determine whether they read the books at all. If you see a movie and hate it, why would you read the book? And if you see the movie and love it, the book is then likely to disappoint, as, for example, PL Travers Mary Poppins books disappointed so many who read them after seeing the film.
Worse, the films may eclipse the books altogether, as, for example, Disney's fairytales have eclipsed Hans Christian Andersen. Who today knows The Little Mermaid from Andersen rather than Disney? And who, having seen one first, will not be disappointed, or, at least, discombobulated by seeing the other?
Would the world be a better place and its children's lives richer if they read Andersen rather than watching Disney? Without a doubt. Is there any hope of that happening again? Alas, no. No adaptation of any classic is a neutral act.
I think anger has become a default response to so much in our society. The impact of cable news and other online media operating their model of “Outrage Porn” has created an extreme reaction habit that is almost Pavlovian in nature. Leaving aside the whole it’s not out yet issue (very well said Joel), to respond to the use of Streep as Aslan’s voice with “ Huh, I wouldn’t have made that choice” seems too tepid in today’s world. We are being trained to view everything as an 11 on a 1 to 10 scale. And to vehemently express that opinion. It’s exhausting. The best response to this? Get offline and go read a book!
I often wonder if these people get this pissed off about stuff that actually matters.
Very possibly. But there does seem to be an inverse correlation between how meaningful an issue is and how much attention it gets.
It’s ok to lament the attempted dismantling of your cultural inheritance.
This isn't dismantling anything, even if it's terrible (which, again, we don't know yet). I agree that aspects of Christian culture are on the ebb. The answer is to reinvigorate it through new and compelling cultural artifacts while celebrating the inheritance we have. The freakout is mostly a distraction from that.
Thanks for helping reorient my perspective! I like your point that Gerwig's take only adapts and adds, it can't affect the original artifact. I think my biggest concern is one you touched on is that this might be the only exposure some kids gave to Narnia...which is like some kids only knowing Anne of Green Gables from the Anne with an E show (and plenty of others). Warped images are depressing--especially when many kids aren't picking books to begin with or have parents who will read to them. But that's a problem I might be able to do something about. Fixing the movie isn't!
Clarifying. I lost my mind over the movie version of one of my fav novels and Brandon finally asked to stop talking about it at friendly gatherings. (Which is why I just deleted the grievances I still really want to vocalize🤣)
Great points. I thought Streep had been announced for going on a year now but I guess those were only rumors. It’s interesting to see what sparks controversy. (I’m pretty sure the lion will still be a male lion even if voiced by a female) Like you said, everything is going to be ok.
I hadn’t heard those rumors (nor apparently had all the people who erupted on X at the news)! I think Gerwig has clarified that Aslan remains male. I’m interested to see how this plays out.