As a writer, I understand where Lucas is coming from. I deleted a piece of fanfiction in order to rewrite it because I was appalled at how far short I felt I had fallen from what I wanted to write. Several readers were worried about this, and complained to me that I'd left some of their favourite moments out of my new version. So I emailed them the original and they were very happy with both - and I think that's one of the big problems. Lucas isn't giving people both.
I think the problem is one of nostalgia. I can understand being frustrated at not being able to buy the version you loved as a child on DVD/Blu-Ray. I think any changes to something like 'Star Wars' will more often than not be met with hostility because you're messing with someone's childhood memories. It's not a question of "raping" anyone's childhood - my goodness, that oft quoted line is irritating! - but simply meddling with it.
And I can understand this. I would be pretty damn upset if the creators of 'Watership Down', my favourite film as a child, re-released it on DVD with completely different colouring and voice-acting because they wanted to make it "better". It's not a question of better or worse, but of me wanting to enjoy again the film I loved unaltered. Simple nostalgia.
I think a lot of the hostility comes from not re-releasing the originals with with the new addition discs. My VHS collection was ruined by mould and I no longer have my favourite edition of 'Return of the Jedi'. I want to watch the new additions (pun!) too, but I also want the old film... and now I can't just go and buy it. That's the only thing I resent, really. That I can't have the original along with the new in the same box, since it's commonplace when buying a Director's Cut on DVD. And that's what Lucas is doing, really. A continued series of Director's Cuts.
As for everything else, you get bitching and hate in every fandom, especially, as was noted above, in those where people are most passionate, where they have taken the material the most to heart. I hear Harry Potter fans bewail and curse the seventh book all the time. Nothing brings people together like mutual hate of something - as we learn from history! >.>
The unfortunate thing about 'Star Wars' is that it is so mainstream that the media exacerbate and encourage fan irascibility by presenting it as the norm. Stereotyping plays a big role in this too: I am a SW nut, ergo I must hate Jar Jar and deplore the prequels. Therefore, to be a SW nut, I must hate Jar Jar, etc... I know people who like SW but aren't what I would call real fans, who loudly proclaim they despise Jar Jar and it isn't because they really have any opinion about Jar Jar, but because disliking Jar Jar Binks is the fan culture equivalent of saying "oh, modern art is rubbish" as a way of showing you know something about art. It has gotten to the ridiculous point, however, when saying "I love Jar Jar", means you are not a SW nut! It's crazy!
In other words, a lot of it is pretentious, self-absorbed wank. Hate is cheap, hate is easy. The faster, more seductive path... Far easier than actually participating in fanart, fanfiction, rpgs, cosplay, and so forth.
But it's 2.13 am and my brain just blanked out on what I was going to say next. But I definitely think that more people should remember that being a fan is about loving something, not hating it. Also, Thumper's mother's advice is always good to remember: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
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I think the problem is one of nostalgia. I can understand being frustrated at not being able to buy the version you loved as a child on DVD/Blu-Ray. I think any changes to something like 'Star Wars' will more often than not be met with hostility because you're messing with someone's childhood memories. It's not a question of "raping" anyone's childhood - my goodness, that oft quoted line is irritating! - but simply meddling with it.
And I can understand this. I would be pretty damn upset if the creators of 'Watership Down', my favourite film as a child, re-released it on DVD with completely different colouring and voice-acting because they wanted to make it "better". It's not a question of better or worse, but of me wanting to enjoy again the film I loved unaltered. Simple nostalgia.
I think a lot of the hostility comes from not re-releasing the originals with with the new addition discs. My VHS collection was ruined by mould and I no longer have my favourite edition of 'Return of the Jedi'. I want to watch the new additions (pun!) too, but I also want the old film... and now I can't just go and buy it. That's the only thing I resent, really. That I can't have the original along with the new in the same box, since it's commonplace when buying a Director's Cut on DVD. And that's what Lucas is doing, really. A continued series of Director's Cuts.
As for everything else, you get bitching and hate in every fandom, especially, as was noted above, in those where people are most passionate, where they have taken the material the most to heart. I hear Harry Potter fans bewail and curse the seventh book all the time. Nothing brings people together like mutual hate of something - as we learn from history! >.>
The unfortunate thing about 'Star Wars' is that it is so mainstream that the media exacerbate and encourage fan irascibility by presenting it as the norm. Stereotyping plays a big role in this too: I am a SW nut, ergo I must hate Jar Jar and deplore the prequels. Therefore, to be a SW nut, I must hate Jar Jar, etc... I know people who like SW but aren't what I would call real fans, who loudly proclaim they despise Jar Jar and it isn't because they really have any opinion about Jar Jar, but because disliking Jar Jar Binks is the fan culture equivalent of saying "oh, modern art is rubbish" as a way of showing you know something about art. It has gotten to the ridiculous point, however, when saying "I love Jar Jar", means you are not a SW nut! It's crazy!
In other words, a lot of it is pretentious, self-absorbed wank. Hate is cheap, hate is easy.
The faster, more seductive path...Far easier than actually participating in fanart, fanfiction, rpgs, cosplay, and so forth.But it's 2.13 am and my brain just blanked out on what I was going to say next. But I definitely think that more people should remember that being a fan is about loving something, not hating it. Also, Thumper's mother's advice is always good to remember: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.