Castor Troy wrote:trythil wrote:And yes, my answer was cynical. In my opinion, AMV panels are ridiculous. There's just something wrong with fanboys holding some sort of authority over fanboys. Panels for people actually involved with the production of anime -- ok, sure, I can see that. But not AMVs.
Who knows. Maybe this fandom has a higher status that I think it does.
Too bad we don't live in a magical fairy tale world where everyone is equal to each other. :roll:
Oh, I never disputed that, and in fact I agreed that inequality exists in the text you quoted.
What
I have a problem with is granting that same sort of status to AMV editors. I don't believe that AMV editors do something so positive, so mind-boggingly cool for any anime community that they deserve a panel. Nor do I believe that the task of an AMV editor is so mysterious, so difficult, and so lusted after that it deserves a panel to educate people about it. I make these assertions from experience in making complex AMVs and showcasing AMVs at conventions.
As a secondary objection, some AMV panels degrade into nothing more than a large circle-jerk. Though you couldn't get away with calling an AMV panel "Masturbation Voyeur Session With [Editor] And Friends" for decency reasons, you'd at least be more accurate 30-40% of the time. I have only anecdotal evidence to support me in this regard, which is why this objection is secondary, not primary.
Panels can be and often are used for promotion. However, I don't think that AMVs or AMVers deserve that kind of promotion -- see above reasons. The contest, in my opinion, is enough.
(Two specific examples: Mindwarp panels, dwchang's Iron Chef panel at ACen 2004.)
azulmagia wrote:
But - you're an AMV creator saying that AMV panels are ridiculous! If "fanboys" are not going to run such panels, pray tell who is going to.
In my opinion, fan panels like AMV panels shouldn't exist.
The panels should go to those who are making direct, difficult contributions to anime. By "difficult", I mean those in the anime industry who are making or have made innovative contributions to the field or those who are famous for their work through such innovation or some other method. AMVers, for the reasons stated above, are exempt from consideration. IMO, of course. I know lots of people are going to scream bloody murder at me for daring to write this heresy.
One exemption I need to make relates to the will of the fans. If the fans who attend a given convention want a panelist, then a convention should make all the efforts to get that panelist. If that panelist happens to be an AMV editor, then I suppose I can't argue against that.
However, I've never seen wide demand for AMV panels. If I'm wrong, let me know.
If "fanboys" are not going to run such panels, pray tell who is going to.
