tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735644144263744003.post2569636384900684513..comments2024-03-13T06:23:10.057-04:00Comments on Of Dice and Pen: Knowing What's to Come: The Fascination with, and Fear of SpoilersMichael Ray Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15651916698207855060noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735644144263744003.post-56841750284030070652014-07-29T16:04:37.817-04:002014-07-29T16:04:37.817-04:00Very interesting. I actually approach things somew...Very interesting. I actually approach things somewhat the opposite way around. My first viewing tends to be the more "intellectual" one, as you put it, which is probably why I utterly despise most summer action movies. I tend to view everything quite analytically (which is something I actually really quite enjoy doing). I remain somewhat analytical on future viewings as well, but since a large portion of the analysis has already been done, I'm more open to the emotional side of things.<br /><br />That's not to say I'm never emotionally affected the first time--I quite frequently am, especially if the movie or programme is good enough. However, those good ones will generally affect me even more on the second or third viewing.<br /><br />At any rate, thanks so much for the alternative look at this!Michael Ray Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15651916698207855060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7735644144263744003.post-75282822141131721042014-07-29T15:51:22.151-04:002014-07-29T15:51:22.151-04:00There are two ways to experience a story. The firs...There are two ways to experience a story. The first way, the "spoiler free" one, is to come into it with as little expectations as possible, and enjoy the enfolding of a new story. When you experience a story this way, there's a lot of tension and fun in finding out what comes next, and in getting to know the people, places and events that compose the story. When you walk into a brand new story, you get to feel it in a very emotional level - you go through this whole experience that the story teller designed for you. If the story is good, you will be hopeful when the story wants you to be, frightened when it wants you to be, happy when it wants you to be. <br /><br />When you experience a familiar story, or one where you know where the story is headed, the experience, at least to me, is for more intellectual. As you go through the various parts, you see them in a different way given the information you already have. You acquire a whole new context for the story. Things that didn't make sense before make sense now. Perhaps you become more aware of the motivation of each character because now you know the characters better. Some stories are built in such a way that you can experience them over and over again, and find something new every time. <br /><br />So to sum up, I think that while the first time experience of a story is a very emotional one, the second and third and later times become increasingly intellectual. Is one of the ways better than the other? I would say it really depends on the story and the way it's being told. There are many movies that I enjoyed way more in my second viewing, when I knew what kind of movie this was and what I should be looking out for. However, other movies (for example, summer action movies) are only fun on their first viewing, because intellectually there's not much going there. <br /><br /><br />However, I firmly believe in keeping my options open for having *both* kinds of enjoyment out of every story - which is why I dread stories. See, spoilers only "spoil" that first time experience, the emotional one. However, the thing with first times is that you only ever get one of them. I'd much rather my first time experiencing an awesome story will be through reading/watching/hearing it, then over a careless comment someone made in some massage board post. That is why spoilers are widely feared, while things that "spoil" second and third viewing (like written essays that analyse a movie) are not feared nearly as much.<br /><br /><br />So, to actually sum up - first viewing is emotional and unique. Each further viewing becomes more intellectual and less emotional, and non of the further viewings can ever come close to the emotional experience of the first time. Which is why I dislike spoilers.Etay Livnehttp://iswordgame.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com