There is a yearly furry con just an hour's drive away. It seems to be driven by fursuit parades, fursuit hockey and gaming. The art, discussion and history panels just about died. In fact, I think all the panels died.
MLP:FIM has at its core a cartoon series with diverse characters in a weird ecology and nigh utopian social culture, with classical mythological creatures thrown in from time to time. This is the anchor to which the creative people and the fans are attached.
I think wider furries are not anchored to any show, book or movie. They are adrift with a concept of otherkin and they look inward to their OC's. Thus do they make their own paths.
"Who were born on third base and thought they had hit homers." That's a good line, by the way.
Much like with TV, though, we've upped our standards. What was good way back when now is outshone now the talent and creativity that's come on the scene. Did the older creators just not improve their craft, or has there just been such an influx of raw talent? I don't know.
I haven't been able to put my finger on what resonates with people with MLP. When I ask a fan what the draw is, I am told about how cleverly written it is, and how much smart writing there is for adults, in the great tradition of making cartoons suitable both for kids and adults. I keep wondering if there isn't also an appeal in having a show that's just generally happy. It's a twenty-something minute happy break.
It's the happy thing. Having something fun, sincere, and childlike that appeals to more than one audience. But of course some people don't trust happiness or sincerity, so they go with somewhat less emotionally-driven things like writing quality and cleverness.
I've watched a fair bit of MLP. A lot of it isn't for me, and that's fine. It's for little girls.
I was a very angry kid, and there's one episode that really resonates with me, and that's the one where this Rarity pony gets all upset at this rock, and she shouts at it, "Dumb ROCK!" in a way that I would shout at things when I was a little kid. I think it's super-cool that a show like that would show its characters having the same kinds of emotions that little kids get. Sometimes you just feel shy, or angry, or upset. I find that the "jokes for adults" actually hurts the show. We don't need the child molester from the Big Lewbowski snuck in there. Make it a show that tells kids it's okay to be people, to express yourself, to be.
As for the older creators... I'm not here to snub anyone, but there's quite a few who broke out into new markets. I can't think of a better example than multiple-award winner ursulav, but there's more, to be sure. I'm more disappointed at the people who were big fishes in the little pond and then didn't run with
( ... )
You make solid points. I think, as with anything, nostalgia plays a part; all the world seems filled with giants when you're smaller. But as to what's happening at brony cons that isn't happening here as much is an accessible focal point. The look and the basic world structure of MLP was established by the popular TV show, and that itself practically presents an entry-level DIY kit, where you begin by picking a color scheme and a butt tattoo and you're off to the races. The closest parallel to that in furry is derivative work from other popular media. Even with original IP anthologies like NAF or Yarf or Furrlough, the content is all over the map; the only common point being that it's furry -something-. Even with a title that had a narrower theme, like The Furkindred, each contributor would bring their own vision to the table, like a potluck. We all drink the same water, just at many points along a long and twisting river.
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MLP:FIM has at its core a cartoon series with diverse characters in a weird ecology and nigh utopian social culture, with classical mythological creatures thrown in from time to time. This is the anchor to which the creative people and the fans are attached.
I think wider furries are not anchored to any show, book or movie. They are adrift with a concept of otherkin and they look inward to their OC's. Thus do they make their own paths.
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Much like with TV, though, we've upped our standards. What was good way back when now is outshone now the talent and creativity that's come on the scene. Did the older creators just not improve their craft, or has there just been such an influx of raw talent? I don't know.
I haven't been able to put my finger on what resonates with people with MLP. When I ask a fan what the draw is, I am told about how cleverly written it is, and how much smart writing there is for adults, in the great tradition of making cartoons suitable both for kids and adults. I keep wondering if there isn't also an appeal in having a show that's just generally happy. It's a twenty-something minute happy break.
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I was a very angry kid, and there's one episode that really resonates with me, and that's the one where this Rarity pony gets all upset at this rock, and she shouts at it, "Dumb ROCK!" in a way that I would shout at things when I was a little kid. I think it's super-cool that a show like that would show its characters having the same kinds of emotions that little kids get. Sometimes you just feel shy, or angry, or upset. I find that the "jokes for adults" actually hurts the show. We don't need the child molester from the Big Lewbowski snuck in there. Make it a show that tells kids it's okay to be people, to express yourself, to be.
As for the older creators... I'm not here to snub anyone, but there's quite a few who broke out into new markets. I can't think of a better example than multiple-award winner ursulav, but there's more, to be sure. I'm more disappointed at the people who were big fishes in the little pond and then didn't run with ( ... )
Reply
But as to what's happening at brony cons that isn't happening here as much is an accessible focal point. The look and the basic world structure of MLP was established by the popular TV show, and that itself practically presents an entry-level DIY kit, where you begin by picking a color scheme and a butt tattoo and you're off to the races.
The closest parallel to that in furry is derivative work from other popular media. Even with original IP anthologies like NAF or Yarf or Furrlough, the content is all over the map; the only common point being that it's furry -something-. Even with a title that had a narrower theme, like The Furkindred, each contributor would bring their own vision to the table, like a potluck. We all drink the same water, just at many points along a long and twisting river.
Reply
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