[TheBlueMarvel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowflakian

I can understand that on feeling 'disconnected' from something you've supported for so long, but at the same time, it's this closemindedness and trying to keep it shoved in a box away from others that also kills franchises too. This entire aspect of acting as gate keepers is inherently selfish in itself and is strangling properties and excluding other fans that equally grew up with it too and supported it.

Transformers is an example with this as it was a "fan movement" of line of thought that tried to exclude Elita-1. Arcee, and other lore characters. Instead of seeing it as an expansion of the lore and richness of the alien basis of their society, they saw it as an affront with entire "women can't be robots!" type tirades. To the point even 'celebrated' authors of the property went on long winded ignorant diatribes on their personal blog about it. All because it didn't fit within their narrow views of what the property is because they couldn't see outside themselves even though it's always been a part of the franchise.

Looking back at Transformers Animated and other properties that did have such clear dedication to the fans and how it was treated with such revulsion and contempt when it was first shown is so disheartening at times.

"Fans" should celebrate things more. Look at the intricacies involved and how it carries the story. Or share the joy of what they remembered with others through this new interpretation. When fans try to "gate keep" stuff, it kills it. While we as fans do enjoy various works we grew up with, they do have to generate profits and interest to maintain getting made. They have to bring freshblood in to expand audiences and sales.

The more I see how some areas of "fandoms" work, the more I understand the direction of star wars episodes 7-9, and how Kylo Ren is pretty much them. Their death grip on everything and the tantrums when they don't get their way. How even when given chances at redemption, the ones that stick to their archaic off the mark views that don't grasp the work cause them to even stab Han Solo with a light saber and use others that were trying to save them to further fuel their egos and increase their stranglehold.

That's the way I see Godzilla too. This anime is such a clear love letter to other concepts from the brand but taken to the nth degree. You've got elements of final wars and the Planet X aliens, or the Ghidorah time travel movie interwoven in, but inverted to take it to a dystopian future type story. You've got elements of trying to show what Godzilla would look like and evolve after an obscene amount of time with no human interference. Potentially the Mothra priestesses, or at least a nod to them. And these aren't things that any normal casual observer would think about. These details are from someone that loves the property and found a way to get those fan-like "what if" questions made into an official work. I can appreciate that kind of depth to thought and the process behind it.

Seeing how some fans act though, it feels like seeing Smeagol or Kylo Ren. Smeagol for the possessive ones that don't get to work for their favored franchise, and Kylo Ren for the ones that do. And the more I deal with those areas of "fans" the more I really understand why those characters are the way they are for what they represent. And it's disturbing because of how fandoms were created to share things we all love, but then get so exclusionary, elitist, and selfish like that.

Sure, your point is well taken. That said, please don't conflate my statements about canon with the current wave of bigotry and misogyny masquerading as legitimate criticism. Certain elements of fan communities have co-opted the argument for a more faithful adherence to source material as a thin veil used to mask underlying intolerance. That is not my perspective. I’m a representative of the demographics that are, supposedly, depending on whom you ask, being “pandered to” by some secret “agenda.” The only agenda that I see is an effort to become more marketable given the changes within the world’s population and target audiences. It’s business, plain and simple. The path to remaining relevant requires that franchises (and individuals, in a more personal sense) be more flexible and inclusive. My druthers revolve around a wish that the process be more organic in nature (i.e. new characters and ideas designed to complement the old, rather than replacing or re-constructing what has come before).