The Clone Wars

I can't believe we've reached here. Maybe this is the darkest timeline. It's fun because I wasn't really planning on posting anything and was working on a future post when I got possessed with the need to write this instead (my phone died and I couldn't research the other post's topic). 

There is a limit. You can go too far. 

Some media is oversaturated. 

That perhaps the least threatening sentence I've written but bear with me. 

Gah. As someone who loves oversaturation because it means there's always something to watch or read...we've hit a dead end of sorts. This is not me saying 'omg creativity and originality is dead'. Because that would be false, especially in current times. 

No, this is me saying that the copycats are creating a cloning paradox so big that's its getting harder to ignore it. Every original idea from yesterday or 20 years ago is unfortunately getting its revisionist version today, as I'm typing this sentence out. And yes, this applies to reboots sort-of but that conversation is ever-relevant and not the focus of this particular discussion. (If we actually wanna have that debate, the Clone Wars reference was just a reference but...)

I'm talking about one concept, idea, scene, moment in time, whatever you call it being presented to us for the millionth time as something fresh. With nothing remotely new to add whatsoever. Done by random people who have no connection to whatever the topic actually is. This applies to half of the documentaries, memoirs and biopics out there today. It's not because they have no creativity that they do this but rather because of previous success and honestly? The people eat it up. 

I do not want another documentary about a serial killer but this time from the perspective of his second year college roommate or a biopic of a country singer but focusing on the manager who lost an eye for the fame or a memoir about the life of a person who the writer does not know even remotely. Stop beating a dead bush. 

This however does not stop specifically in these areas. Reviewers of whatever product are guilty of this as well. No actual criticism is given but rather a sort-of synopsis is provided to the audience that truly adds nothing to the topic being spoken about. The same can be said about clickbait articles but different magazines outlets that have different titles but its the same news with slight changes in sentence structure. There is no new information, no opinion or author input but just a rehashing of events that reads as interesting as the rest of their content. (Although print media has been doing that since the beginning of time of you think about it).

I do not blame organization for profiting of off consumer interests. I mean, trends exist for a reason. However, when you regurgitate the same content with no twist, flair or personal interpretations, that's just duplication. You can call it a reference all you want, but its still lazy. 

There is an actually difference between being inspired and being a rip-off. Just look at the fashion world. Look at artists. We're all inspired by others. But do we really need another reiteration of the same plot AGAIN? 

Unless you're planning on subverting the usual formula, its a waste of runtime (I'm looking at you Netflix). Which I feel like people are noticing more now but when you don't really have much to tell and the bare bones of your vision are well-known by now, it becomes very easy to tell when you try to pad out the story to make the runtime longer. Mini series profit off of this, so do trilogies and muti-episode show that truly do not need to be that long but are. Because money and viewership. Also money. Love that companies are into being eco-friendly these days but we do not need that much recycling.

Another example is the crazy amount of books that are published for a very specific reader base: Booktok. They all follow the same format, which I don't mind if done well but it's almost always not, and exist only as a quick cash grab with bland writing and outrageous descriptions. Honestly, I could be a millionaire just from the amount of times I read an insane quote as promotion for the umpteenth basic Y/A novel. 

Obviously finding novel ideas is hard and its easier to just do what works until people start loathing you but I simply cannot be bamboozled by yet another piece of content that has no actual content. The amount of reviews I had planned for this month just to be duped is insane. Its harder to avoid because they push this mediocre media down your throat and then disappear once it doesn't become an insta-hit. 

I suppose my thought process is very simple. The simplest solution really. If you have no substance to add to the conversation, maybe sit back and listen instead of repeating someone else's point as your own. Or just leave me alone. Annoy the others. 

Or...and I know this is a crazy idea but maybe stop canceling shows with actual potential. Let me have a second season. Let the people have their second season. 

🐄