Comic Dictionary - "Outside Writing"
I figure I will occasionally define some phrases that I use a lot.
OUTSIDE WRITING
Outside writing is what you call it when outside influences, like editors, influence the way a story is written, not the natural flow of the story.
For instance, in the Superman titles awhile back.
"Lois and Clark need to break up!"
Then, a few issues later, "No wait, they have to get married tomorrow!"
See?
Silly nonsense like that makes for bad comic books often....but not ALWAYS...
For instance, Morrison's JLA was big-time outside writing, Morrison really did not have an "inside" story reason why the "Big Seven" should form a team together, but the comic was excellent anyways.
This is not just a comic term, it also applies to other serial medium, like television. "Character X loves Character Y sooo much. But Character X's contract is up, and is leaving the show. So now Character X hates Character Y."
OUTSIDE WRITING
Outside writing is what you call it when outside influences, like editors, influence the way a story is written, not the natural flow of the story.
For instance, in the Superman titles awhile back.
"Lois and Clark need to break up!"
Then, a few issues later, "No wait, they have to get married tomorrow!"
See?
Silly nonsense like that makes for bad comic books often....but not ALWAYS...
For instance, Morrison's JLA was big-time outside writing, Morrison really did not have an "inside" story reason why the "Big Seven" should form a team together, but the comic was excellent anyways.
This is not just a comic term, it also applies to other serial medium, like television. "Character X loves Character Y sooo much. But Character X's contract is up, and is leaving the show. So now Character X hates Character Y."
posted by Brian Cronin at 1/14/2005 05:16:00 PM
3 Comments:
Hell, it doesn't even have to be a serial medium. This sort of rewriting goes on all the time in movies. "Let's make this character black." "There needs to be an explosion here." "Put in a scene in a nightclub so we can feature the single on the soundtrack." "Write in Madonna as a fencing instructor. No, I'm not crazy."
You're right, Michael, silly outside influences do screw up movie scripts as well, but I think the serial nature of comics and TV shows make it stand out more, because you see the story develop...and then suddenly veer to a different direction out of nowhere.
While a movie, it is less apparant.
"Put in a scene in a nightclub so we can feature the single on the soundtrack."
And MacQ sez: there is at least one director in Hollywood who insists on having at least one scene set in a strip joint in every movie he makes. He just likes shooting in strip joints. So if you see a movie where all of a sudden there's a random scene with strippers, check the credits. Eventually you'll figure out who it is.
Post a Comment
<< Home