Why is it that some people make it seem like anything fun or entertaining is bad?

sg-7

New Member
There are people out there that I've noticed that are just so snobbish that they'll do anything to make themselves seem more 'cultured' than everyone else. Critics in music, film and Literature especially seem to be like this. They always praise the things that are usually deadly serious, unentertaining or just plain pretentious that hardly anyone likes. Then they label the public as having 'bad' taste or as unintelligent. To go even further they label anything that's fun or entertaining as 'popcorn' and anything that's serious as 'art'. Several internet movie forums I've gone to seem to have this regular behavior where every movie that entertains and does well at the box office is bashed to death, whereas little seen movies don't get any bashing. Those who do bash the little seen movies get one brutal verbal thrashing. It seems like people are forced to worship the things they don't like and anyone who doesn't is labelled a threat. What is it with these sacred cows?
To add further...just in case you get the idea that things that entertain don't teach you anything, I often learn more from these movies than arthouse cinema (all I learn from that is my own thinking pattern).
 

hbofoates

Rookie
I agree, on most levels, with this argument. But I also think that there is intelligence and a lot of prestige in some of these cultural studies. That isn't to say that entertainment and contemporary art/lifestyle is not just as informative, in a different niche of course. And there is no reason to look down upon these interests. Everyone has different interests, experiences, and knowledge. There is such a thing as smart in science and smart in creative writing - it is the same idea with what is culturally notable. Just ignore the people that think like this. They are only limiting their own knowledge and experience.
 

Robert742

Rookie
One thing I have noticed on Internet movie forums, is no matter how good a film may be reviewed, either by the critics or the masses, there is someone posting that it is the worst movie they have ever seen.

Star Wars? What a piece of crap!

Citizen Kane? Boring? Spoiler Alert -- the guy misses his sled? WORST ENDING EVER!

Many classics everyone appreciates now -- The Wizard of Oz, for example, were box office bombs and panned by the critics at the time.

When someone tells you their opinion about books, music, or films, ask them for specifics why something is good or bad, and take it with a grain of salt.

But if you tell me you love Lady GaGa, the Twilight books, and think the last Transformers film was the best movie of the year, you have told me everything I need to know about your taste. I'll leave it to you to decide if I think it is good or bad. :)
 
You can't please everyone all the time- even if the issue is neutral and vanilla, someone will complain or feel they need to throw their opinion in...
 

janbibian

Rookie
I think most of the people you are talking about just wan to be 'different'... like everyone else!

I have passed caring about other's opinion about things I like.
 

auto123

Rookie
I agree, on most levels, with this argument. But I also think that there is intelligence and a lot of prestige in some of these cultural studies. That isn't to say that entertainment and contemporary art/lifestyle is not just as informative, in a different niche of course. And there is no reason to look down upon these interests. Everyone has different interests, experiences, and knowledge. There is such a thing as smart in science and smart in creative writing - it is the same idea with what is culturally notable. Just ignore the people that think like this. They are only limiting their own knowledge and experience.
Yes. sures. Agree with you both
 
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