There’s been a lot of attention given to Girls star and writer Lena Dunham’s publishing deal this week, a reported $3.5 million for her first book Not That Kind of Girl. Much of that has come in the form of bitter griping, of course, as is the natural course for the internet; never mind ‘we hate it when our friends become successful,’ we hate it when anyone becomes successful. But one thing we do like is when someone seems like they’re going to be successful. That’s the thesis at the heart of this interesting piece on Slate today The Irrational Allure of the Next Big Thing.
It’s the hypothetical space, the moment before take off, that thrills us, and why the ‘poised to break into stardom’ narrative is such a reliable cliche of entertainment writing, a crutch I’ve certainly leaned on more than a few times in my career. Success itself is an easy thing to hate, but the artist, or author, or musician, or athlete poised for success is a delight to behold — it’s an in between space where we can recognize and salute talent, which is a natural inclination, but not have that admiration sullied by the attendant depressing comparisons to our own lives that come when someone else has become truly successful. Read the rest at Bullett.
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7 comments:
I don't stop liking bands because they get mainstream popularity, but by the time they get really big I'll already have listened to them for a while and will have moved on to something else newer. And I think a lot of people do change their style in order to court even more mainstream success... for me rather than being excited about a band's potential for success it's that there is some pleasure associated with enjoying a band or singer not many people have heard of. You feel like you probably understand their music more, that it speaks more to you, when you're one of a relatively small group of people who knows about them. Then when they start getting props from people who haven't made an effort to dig out good music but just allow it to be crammed down their lugholes it's definitely not as special. I suppose this is a kind of snobbery but I don't think it's about envying success.
It is also more fun to see a band in small club when they and the audience are enthusiastic.
Absolutely. It's just not the same seeing a gig in a 70,000 capacity Anony-dome.
And because it's proof that they're not revolutionary, meaningful, or really going to change anything.
Yes, but you are excited about them when they are new because of the potential surrounding them, PK. No one feels like a giant band speaks to them except for people who don't really like music all that much to begin with.
Yes, being able to see a band in a club is crucial. There is nothing less conducive to the music experience than a sports stadium.
I saw Coldplay at the hollywood bowl well after they'd made it. and it was rad.
Jules - you're right, I'm kind of talking shit. Daft Punk, The Cure, Slipknot - I've seen them all at huge shows and had an amazing time. Definitely seen more disappointing big shows than good ones though.
Luke - I suppose I'm excited about the potential for more good music? I don't really feel like I'm excited about the potential for them to become massive.
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