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Main => General => Topic started by: Bamyasi on March 27, 2017 08:05 PM

Title: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: Bamyasi on March 27, 2017 08:05 PM
AKA How not to do things (write, art, etc.)

ITT: Post things you think are bad and explain why you think they're bad.

(https://thebackalleys.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebackalleys.com%2Fdump%2Ffiles%2F1530%2F0649Wc_Appleseed%2520v03%2520%25282008%2529%2520%2528Digital%2529%2520%25281024px%2529%2520%2528Lovag-Empire%2529%2520079.jpg&hash=107e684e0c80e43935241320b8ff8b38a4f122b6)

Shirow Masamune is a great artist but his early work definitely suffers from Tim Buckley syndrome (could partially be the translator's fault). Nobody talks like this. Who has time for all this expository dialogue that says absolutely nothing and doesn't drive the narrative forward at all? My eyes glaze over.

(https://thebackalleys.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebackalleys.com%2Fdump%2Ffiles%2F1530%2F86k6D_dorohedoro_1_124.jpg&hash=6273465156b16be8a63a2d047ff634a7a413d54c)

This on the other hand is good comic writing on one of the most word-heavy pages in the book. You could literally find this volume after the apocalypse with all previous pages missing and get the gist of what was going on (also true for every single other page). I'm two and a half volumes deep into Appleseed and I still couldn't sum up the story if asked.
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: Jon on March 27, 2017 09:48 PM
sometimes i feel like a heavy amount of words is kind of just an excuse to mask the fact that you dont really know how to get a scene across simply. or maybe the scene just needs to be revised to be more interesting, if its that much of a strain on the reader. i dunno. i feel like a sense of brevity or playfulness would help it. i dunno. i feel like you're better at this than me.

(https://thebackalleys.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fhiagb.com%2Fs%2Fhiagb-035_004_mf5pd5.png&hash=ae5317fe83e38735464d05051979eb9ec3ef67ed)
(https://thebackalleys.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fhiagb.com%2Fs%2Fhiagb-035_005_cxrb7r.png&hash=bb718749251ab6eff24e57f97fbed8c80879c42a)

i have a hard time understanding what this webcomic is trying to get across. this dude used to make comics that had kind of a get-in get-out style with the characters and the plots. but when it gets all wordy and conceptual like this, i feel like i'm reading a rough draft of what could be more interesting thoughts. i don't know. i feel like the appeal is lost on me because of how it's trying to explain it so hard. i feel like there's no levity or re-explaining of the ideas. i can't feel what the characters are doing.

i defenitely feel a little disillusioned by this guy. i have a hard time explaining the mediocrity of this comic (at least that's my opinion)
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: Bamyasi on March 27, 2017 11:01 PM
Yeah a lot of amateurs in that medium tend to tell rather than show. Words should assist the images not the other way around. That amount of exposition dump is only acceptable for setting tone imo, not telling a story (Oshii's way better at this than Shirow I've noticed revisiting their work).

KC Green isn't an amateur but I can't say it's easy telling what he's trying to convey there either. I mean I guess it's supposed to be funny that a crazy ant is discussing divergent universes with an acorn but I've never been much in the way of goon humor.
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: rtil on March 28, 2017 12:14 AM
the lowest form of exposition is when characters explain out loud what they already know just for the sake of the audience because the author has no other way of delivering it
(https://thebackalleys.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.tvtropes.org%2Fpmwiki%2Fpub%2Fimages%2Fscrooge_asyouknow.png&hash=fc04b0fcc3a906e34bfb93d02440564a20a0953b)
this is part of why i don't undersatnd why people love jojo as much as they do. to me it's enjoyable in its absurdity, and i think that's the point, but from a distance the fandom seems to treat it as a literary masterpiece. yet characters constantly stop and explain things out loud at almost any opportunity with no regard to the frame of time they have to actually do it. it's done so often it seems an even worse offender than dbz, a capstone of this trope. it gets a little tiresome when literally every piece of important information is explained to the audience in this way. when there's no subtlety or nuance in your narrative, it's hard to keep it interesting because everything becomes predictable and mundane.
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: Bamyasi on March 28, 2017 03:45 AM
In defense of Jojo I think a lot of the terribly overwrought exposition enhances the absurd tone as you mentioned. It does get grating but at least it's mostly propelled by action. Supplements the story with dumb, flawed narration instead of outright replacing it like in the Appleseed page I posted.
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: Bamyasi on March 29, 2017 05:19 AM
Too late I already saw it.

Quote from: SrsSam77 on March 29, 2017 05:00 AM
>bam is finally reading dorohedoro after bitching at me for not watching anime he recc'd me therefore ruining reciprocity

I Don't recommend things because I personally want people to read them, I RECOMMEND THINGS BECAUSE THEY'RE FUCKING GREAT BITCH
You got me I only recommended you things to engage in power play not because I legitimately think they're good and wanted to discuss them with you.

(https://thebackalleys.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebackalleys.com%2Fdump%2Ffiles%2F1530%2F6465bD_1487954923283.png&hash=bca7e9b7bb6dd54cefc7a00365c8707238d3e0f8)
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: Jon on April 10, 2017 09:50 AM
(https://writersedit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/circle-717x1024.jpg)

i read this for school twice

this book made me want to kill myself. it makes all the worst most cynical assumptions about young people and technology and god it's so YOUNG ADULT and MYSTERIOUS and WE'RE ALL JUST DRONES DUDE! FACEBOOK IS MIND CONTROLLING U DUDE YOURE LIKE A CHIMP THAT DOES EVERYTHING ON COMMAND IN FRONT OF UR COMPUTER UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: Bamyasi on April 10, 2017 11:24 AM
I got like a few sentences into that book before literally throwing it across the movie truck where I was supposed to be working.
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: Yvonne on April 10, 2017 01:50 PM
You should try out for ultimate frisbee.
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: SrsSam77 on April 10, 2017 03:50 PM
is a movie truck more akin to a shaved ice or taco truck or is it more like a rape van?
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: Bamyasi on April 10, 2017 07:44 PM
(https://thebackalleys.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebackalleys.com%2Fdump%2Ffiles%2F1530%2F45lR0_movietruck.jpg&hash=01e3c988643ef4e4a7c801a632ddabb43742e25a)

We need a lot of space for all the raping of muses and selling of tacos we do in the industry.

Also Jon post a passage so we can revel in Dave Eggers' hackitude.
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: Jon on April 25, 2017 08:41 AM
not enough bad things to be say bad things about presently
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: Bamyasi on April 25, 2017 05:44 PM
What about that game Lost in the Woods.

That seems like something you would hate.
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: Jon on April 28, 2017 03:31 AM
It looks like something I'd like probably enjoy but idk really it looks "relatable" and I guess that's ok but

Idk you play it. it looks so emo!
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: Bamyasi on April 28, 2017 04:08 AM
Stop calling me a homo.
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: Jon on April 28, 2017 04:44 AM
i like u
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: ExBerian on April 28, 2017 10:13 PM
This has truly become the tread of bad








: user's guide version
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: BluPhoenix on April 28, 2017 10:33 PM
Quote from: ExBerian on April 28, 2017 10:13 PM
This has truly become the tread of bad








: user's guide version

(https://thebackalleys.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F68.media.tumblr.com%2Fd9eff19a805b57587747529e51e924d0%2Ftumblr_inline_ngloc18WlG1ru65t3.jpg&hash=501c8b8fdee65f02b6b4a55a1b3a671f130a4c1c)
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: Bamyasi on April 29, 2017 01:59 AM
(https://thebackalleys.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebackalleys.com%2Fdump%2Ffiles%2F1530%2F123hN5_Bravo_Chiyomaru.jpg&hash=394a0fbac87325e10b67b96b8095afd1520ae7a0)

This is from the actual show.
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: rtil on April 29, 2017 02:26 AM
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oFd1PEfNHHs/hqdefault.jpg)
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: Casmos on April 29, 2017 03:01 AM
Quote from: Bamyasi on April 29, 2017 01:59 AM
(https://thebackalleys.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebackalleys.com%2Fdump%2Ffiles%2F1530%2F123hN5_Bravo_Chiyomaru.jpg&hash=394a0fbac87325e10b67b96b8095afd1520ae7a0)

This is from the actual show.
Show was a major disappointment apart from giant boob girl
(https://thebackalleys.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi63.tinypic.com%2Fo6ic1y.gif&hash=65e97c6a54b87462ca81af7af27735cd18a1d024)
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: Bamyasi on April 29, 2017 03:31 AM
Nah, it was like a decent 6/10 until going full redditard in the last arc. I'll play it safe and blame A-1.

I will never understand how the same author could be responsible for both that and the Chaos;Head anime but also Steins;Gate.
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: Casmos on April 29, 2017 04:14 AM
Yeah I watched it and there was potential for it to be great but it felt like they skimmed over too much, the main character was weak, and had everything set to 1.5 speed. It was so hard to freakin follow.

From what I heard they thought the manga was too slow so they sped up the story in the anime.... That being said, they went too far.
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: Bamyasi on April 29, 2017 04:25 AM
Eh I'd still contend all the flaws are rear-loaded. None of the plotlines get resolved very neatly. A bit more focus would have helped a lot but I guess it was really just an ad for the VN. Dialogue wasn't that much faster than Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei which people give a pass for some reason. Haven't read the manga.

What are you watching this season? (http://www.thebackalleys.com/forum/entertainment/spring-2017-anime/)
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: Casmos on April 29, 2017 04:31 AM
Not much honestly. Just Bake no Hero but I need to see if there are any surprise gems.

Waiting for summer! Owarimonogatari, Hell Girl, and that ballroom anime Sam is raving about
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: rtil on April 29, 2017 06:44 AM
ballrooom e youkoso will be the yuri on ice of 2017
Title: Re: thread of bad: user's guide version
Post by: ExBerian on April 30, 2017 02:16 AM
Quote from: rtil on April 29, 2017 02:26 AM
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oFd1PEfNHHs/hqdefault.jpg)
Who watches the suicide squad?