mrbig's recent activity

  1. Comment on Substack just made a major new hire as it goes after comic-book writers and expands its fiction efforts in ~books

    mrbig
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    I wonder if they'll have scrollable comics like the WebToons app. Seems like a no brainer, but I assume one can't just copy and paste from traditional page based comics. Aditionaly it's kinda...

    I wonder if they'll have scrollable comics like the WebToons app. Seems like a no brainer, but I assume one can't just copy and paste from traditional page based comics.

    Aditionaly it's kinda surprising to me how much of a big deal e-mail is for writers. To me email is a nuisance, something I use because I have to. Most of the time it just accumulates spam and subscriptions I'm too lazy to remove.

    I looked into Substack for a project but greeting the reader with a subscribe screen is not something I want.

    1 vote

  2. Comment on Scream (review, 1996) in ~movies

    mrbig
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    When Scream was released in 1996 I was a young teenager. My cool older cousin told me about a horror movie in which the characters talk about horror movies all the time, and are aware of the...

    When Scream was released in 1996 I was a young teenager. My cool older cousin told me about a horror movie in which the characters talk about horror movies all the time, and are aware of the tropes of the genre. He didn't use the word "metalinguistic", but his explanation was spot on and got me excited. I saw it on VHS later on, which felt appropriate for a film in which video renting culture is so present.

    I watched it many times ever since, and it's one of my favorite movies. The combination of horror, satire[1], and teenagers probably makes it harder for "serious" people to take Scream more seriously, but I really think it has a very special place in film history.

    It is not often for a single movie to be able to summarize an entire genre (horror, slasher film in particular) so perfectly, and the film itself is delightful. Wes Craven knows how to play with our expectations, and use genre conventions to make something powerful and unique.

    Scream is profoundly referential, and to write about it one needs to know these references very well. This review, by Roger Ebert, is spot on, something that only a dedicated movie aficionado like himself could do. He gave it 3 out of 4 stars, which makes sense. Scream is superb, but I don't think it should be up there with 2001 A Space Odyssey.

    The only thing I didn't like about this review is that Ebert seems to be very sensitive to gore. In the grand scheme of things, the violence on Scream is quite tame, almost harmless. Maybe he was catering to oversensitive readers.

    [1] Scream is definitely satirical, and there are funny bits, but I never thought it was really a comedy.

    4 votes

  4. Comment on What's the most expensive food you splurge on to make you happy? in ~talk

    mrbig
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    Well, a KFC bucket is quite expensive around here, and I love it. Also, a really good Brazilian all you can eat churrascaria (barbecue joint), even more so when you add beverages. So I'll go with...

    Well, a KFC bucket is quite expensive around here, and I love it. Also, a really good Brazilian all you can eat churrascaria (barbecue joint), even more so when you add beverages.

    So I'll go with that.

    8 votes

  5. Comment on This is the only possible world in ~humanities

    mrbig
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    That's an interesting article that argues against the actuality of possible worlds. It's worth reading for the retelling of David Lewis hypothesis alone. I'm not exactly sure how the author can be...

    That's an interesting article that argues against the actuality of possible worlds. It's worth reading for the retelling of David Lewis hypothesis alone.

    I'm not exactly sure how the author can be so cathegorical about possibility, but there are definitely parts that went way over my head. The argument seems to go as such (please forgive my crude rendition):

    1. science is authoritative about things that are (what is actual)
    2. there are no things that are that science is not authoritative about
    3. modality is about what is possible
    4. possibility does not entail actuality
    5. Therefore, other possible worlds do not exist.
    2 votes

  7. Comment on Playtime (1967) review in ~movies

    mrbig
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    Link Parent
    It's a classic. I saw it as a kid, and again as an adult. Not an easy watch, as is often the case with French cinema. You are invited to let your gaze wander freely through the (usually static and...

    It's a classic. I saw it as a kid, and again as an adult. Not an easy watch, as is often the case with French cinema. You are invited to let your gaze wander freely through the (usually static and wide) frame. Tati makes the entire scenery come alive, he's constantly playing with our assumptions.

    To be quite frank, not the kind of film I'd watch for pleasure. But it's a great material for inspiration, study, research, etc.

    edit: the quick cuts in the video don't make justice to Tati's style. I get what he's trying to do, but length and rhythm are essential to his craft. As they say, time is of the essence. A super-fast video cannot convey that. One or two shots with fewer or no cuts might have helped with that.

    1 vote

  8. What are some great LGBT speculative fiction?

    ~talk Ask (recommendations)
    Speculative fiction contains elements that don't exist in reality. It includes genres such as science fiction, fantasy, and supernatural horror. A producer friend is looking for stories with a...

    Speculative fiction contains elements that don't exist in reality. It includes genres such as science fiction, fantasy, and supernatural horror.

    A producer friend is looking for stories with a focus on LGBT issues. As someone with a predilection for speculative fiction, it would be great to read/watch some speculative stories that deal with issues in that area. I am aware of some stories with LGBT characters, but gender and LGBT issues are generally not the main themes. I'd love to get suggestions for movies, TV shows, and books (especially short stories) that deal with those issues in a proper and inventive way.

    As usual, Wikipedia has an extensive list on the subject, but I was hoping to get some more personal suggestions from the Tildes crowd.

    Thanks!

    7 votes

  9. Comment on Hollywood loved Sammy Davis Jr. until he dated a white movie star in ~humanities

    mrbig
    Link Parent
    I don't see the value in having comments on a history article, TBH. I never read those anyway.

    I don't see the value in having comments on a history article, TBH. I never read those anyway.

    1 vote

  10. Comment on What's the cheapest food that makes you really happy? in ~talk

    mrbig
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    As an outsider, I get the impression that when people criticize fast food in America they mostly mean large chains. A cool locally owned taco truck is probably thought as "authentic" so it gets a...

    As an outsider, I get the impression that when people criticize fast food in America they mostly mean large chains. A cool locally owned taco truck is probably thought as "authentic" so it gets a pass, even though it is both fast and food. No?

    As a comparison no one uses the word "authentic" here because almost everything you eat on the street is more or less "authentic" by default. And multinational fast food chains are highly valued as the not cheap at all occasional treats they are.

    2 votes

  11. Comment on What's the cheapest food that makes you really happy? in ~talk

    mrbig
    Link Parent
    I think everyone knows that the problem with fast food is not just that it is generally unhealthy, but that it is generally unhealthy while also extremely tasteful and reasonably affordable.

    While we're on that topic, is there a more respectful term than fastfood or junkfood? Kinda annoyed that those seem to be the only terms.

    I think everyone knows that the problem with fast food is not just that it is generally unhealthy, but that it is generally unhealthy while also extremely tasteful and reasonably affordable.

    4 votes

  13. Comment on What's the cheapest food that makes you really happy? in ~talk

    mrbig
    Link Parent
    That's kinda weird but I'd give it a try!

    That's kinda weird but I'd give it a try!

    1 vote

  14. Comment on What's the cheapest food that makes you really happy? in ~talk

    mrbig
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    Link Parent
    Yeah. There's chicken in it for sure, it's a cheap protein. If McDonald's (and other multinacional fast food) was cheap in Brazil I'd be very unhealthy...

    Yeah. There's chicken in it for sure, it's a cheap protein. If McDonald's (and other multinacional fast food) was cheap in Brazil I'd be very unhealthy...

    4 votes

  15. Comment on What's the cheapest food that makes you really happy? in ~talk

    mrbig
    Link Parent
    Looks awesome, I'd kill to have this kind of variety here.

    Looks awesome, I'd kill to have this kind of variety here.

    3 votes

  16. Comment on What's the cheapest food that makes you really happy? in ~talk

    mrbig
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    Link Parent
    Yeah, branded fast food like McDonald's and KFC is not really cheap in Brazil. But we do have some highly accessible street foods. Coxinha, Brazilian hot dog, churrasquinho, acarajé and abará (in...

    Yeah, branded fast food like McDonald's and KFC is not really cheap in Brazil. But we do have some highly accessible street foods. Coxinha, Brazilian hot dog, churrasquinho, acarajé and abará (in my region).

    1 vote

  17. Comment on What's the cheapest food that makes you really happy? in ~talk

    mrbig
    Link Parent
    Dude, I literally just ate a can of sardines by myself (I'm out of Cup Noodles).

    Dude, I literally just ate a can of sardines by myself (I'm out of Cup Noodles).

    4 votes

  18. Comment on What's the cheapest food that makes you really happy? in ~talk

    mrbig
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    Right now I'm kinda addicted to Cup Noodles with a can of sardines on cheap oily "tomate sauce". Yep. Please don't judge me. Converted to US dollars the whole shebang costs 1.19.

    Right now I'm kinda addicted to Cup Noodles with a can of sardines on cheap oily "tomate sauce". Yep. Please don't judge me.

    Converted to US dollars the whole shebang costs 1.19.

    9 votes

  19. What's the cheapest food that makes you really happy?

    ~talk Ask (survey)
    I'm a person of simple tastes. It's not hard to make me happy foodwise. I don't need fancy stuff. I'd probably be happier with tasty street food than in a pricey restaurant. I actually like pizza...

    I'm a person of simple tastes. It's not hard to make me happy foodwise. I don't need fancy stuff. I'd probably be happier with tasty street food than in a pricey restaurant. I actually like pizza from the grocery store. What about you? What's some super cheap food that makes you instantly happy?

    26 votes

  20. Comment on Asian Americans: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver in ~tv

    mrbig
    Link Parent
    I mostly agree but his segment about Operation Car Wash in Brazil missed crucial nuance and reminded me how much of an after thought we are in North America.

    Every now and then, Johnny O covers a subject that I am somewhat familiar with and I'm always impressed by how well they summarize issues

    I mostly agree but his segment about Operation Car Wash in Brazil missed crucial nuance and reminded me how much of an after thought we are in North America.

    1 vote