(no subject)

You know, what I didn't say before when I mentioned the Movie Magic magazine, and what I ought to, is that while I'm not terribly vocal about my fandom or my fanwriting -- it's just not something I feel anyone not in fandom anyway is going to care much about -- I love articles about fandom.

Because, even if they paint fanfic writers as a bunch of whack jobs, which is not what Movie Magic does at ALL, for a nice change -- even then, the information is out there. It's sort of like when people write negatively about Furries, and someone somewhere reads the article and even through the bullshit about deviance or whatever, says "Hey -- that's me!"

( And here's some more personal Why. )

So how'd you get into fandom?

(And if someone else mentions that Omni article, I'm going to die laughing.)

Original URL: http://www.livejournal.com/users/copperbadge/341270.html

(no subject)

The Storytellers
I'll be linking to Hamlet In 2 1/2 Minutes and The White Trout (for Jaida and Cali, my contribution to the Depp-Bean project) later this evening, if I can get them uploaded; but I had some reflections to make on the whole process of taping storytelling-festival bootlegs to MP3...

"Because random atoms do not buy raffle tickets."

I forgot how great these tapes were.

A couple of years ago I was invited along to set up rain tents and pavilions at the 13th annual Bay Area Storyteller's Festival, with [info]eruthros, who always managed to find the cool stuff to do. This meant we got to go to the festival itself for free, and also meant we were momentary heroes, as it did in fact rain, and our pavilions happened to save the day, even if my duct-tape job wasn't perfect and certain seats were Very Wet.

"I'd like to point oot there's nae flash photography or audio recordin' from the audience. But tha's nae to say I cannae take a picture of you lot."

But oh, it was wonderful; as I am sure you are all aware, I love and respect storytelling and storytellers. One of them put it well, after we had all madly dashed for shelter -- that this was how it was supposed to be done: without sound systems, without lights, people huddling together under shelter and listening to the stories that were there to be told.

"...which just goes to show you: never trouble trouble, lessen trouble troubles you."

What I love best is that the storytellers always give their own lineage as well; "I heard this story from suchandsuch on a retreat two years ago, who had it from soandso, who had it from a poem of WB Yeats, which you may be familiar with." (The White Trout) These are people who work because they love it and have a gift for it; you will never find a storyteller who hadn't got job satisfaction. Because if you didn't like it, you wouldn't do it. It's not like you couldn't make more as a waiter or a secretary, though secretaries are not well-known for their vast oral tradition.

"It's said that after that he fasted three times a week and he never et fish, not even on a Friday."

Now, granted, I did bootleg the whole thing, which was illegal and very much Frowned Upon; I had an elderly, small boom box which had the best goddamn mic pickup I've ever encountered, and I tossed it in my backpack and let it roll. It worked remarkably well, and I still bought a couple of tapes, so I don't feel too bad about it. Bet these folks never thought they'd be bootlegged on the internet.

"There was a little skeeter and she wasn't any bigger than the wee small head of a pin...but the bite that she raises well it hurts like the blazes, and that's where the rub comes in..."

Comment conservation:

[info]gaiamyles
You go to storytelling festivals, too? Thought I might be the only one....

[info]copperbadge
Well, I've been to a grand total of two, but I try to go if I hear about them. It's not as though they get a lot of press :D

[info]essayel
Love the storytelling festival idea. We have a professional tale teller who comes into the museum on occasion - he's excellent.

[info]metallumai
If possible, you should look wherever you can to find a tape or two by Ribin Williamson-- best storyteller I EVER heard. Plays the harp while combining Celtic myth, hilariously, with modern circumstances. He's a Scot, the same Robin Williamson who was one half of the Incredible String Band. re: the 2 1/2 minute Hamlet-- is that the one written by Adam McNaughton? Too funny to be allowed. If you're looking for it, try to find a copy sung by McNaughton himself; the Glasgow accent is half the fun.

[info]copperbadge
I believe it is the McNaughton song; there are some word adjustments, but essentially it's the same. I'll have to keep an eye out for that, though Billy's version is amusing enough :D

[info]gwendolyngrace
Robin Williamson is astounding. I have a copy of an album where he tells 5 Celtic mysteries and 5 Celtic legends (being the Battle of the Trees, the Spoils of Annuwn, the Tale of Michael Scott, several nature poems, the tale of Bran, Tristan and Ysolde, a tale of Fionn MacCuihl, Thomas the Rhymer, and a couple others I'm forgetting). It's just phenomenal.

[info]nonamouse
YAY, you used the word scop. :P God, I'm just in the middle of being depressed over how poetry and storytelling and so forth is like this obscure fucking thing, now, as opposed to the entertainment and the life and the heart of people and a culture. Bah.

[info]copperbadge
Well, it still exist in informalised settings. Fanfic, for example :) People still swap stories around beers at the pub, and LJ in some forms could be considered storytelling...

[info]eruthros
To be fair, no-one's duct tape job coulda been perfect. I mean. We were pairing tents together so the roofs sloped together in the middle, and really, there's nothing you can do about that. The water will eventually beat the duct tape. Sadly, even duct tape can't win every battle.

[info]copperbadge
I think it was the poles that did us in, really.