Culture exchange 1
Dec. 5th, 2022 09:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowhiveSo in my lasts few posts I made a mentioned of making another post, well this is it. (And im working on it now cause it’s still a little too dark to properly uni read and there’s a bit of noise outside)
A few days ago I was reminded of a scene from the show Spaced (which I’ve not seen in about… 10 years roughly? But, funnily, I saw it was on channel 4 the other day). The jistof it is this: two of the characters decide to do a cultural exchange, in that they each watch something that the other likes but has never seen before. I can only remember clearly one half of it (which was Star Wars, much simpler at the time because it was pre-prequel). So I thought it’d be interesting to see what things people would do as their cultural exchanges with people. So feel free to make your own in the comments or as a post or whatever.
I’ve decided to do some of my own here, and I might make this a recurring thing. (I was gonna do a bunch of things but I’m only gonna do a few for this one).
(And this was all inspired by my friend saying she might try and visit this year I think)
So first, for me, is films and tv (and like I said I’ll likely do more later with other things) and I’m keeping a limit as three for each this time. (And I may add more in future ones since I’ve likely missed an obvious thing)
Films
Star Wars
Star Wars is the obvious thing (after all it’s the half I remember!). It’s not a thing that I grew up with, I didn’t watch it as a kid and the original trilogy came out before I was around to see them. So my love started with the special editions in 1997, where I insisted on mum taking me to the local cinema to see them. Since then I’ve seen every film since on release day (and went to midnight showings for some of the newer ones). It also gives one of the clearest, lasting memories of my grandad so…
I actually haven’t done a run of the main films for awhile (I’ll have to at some point soon) and I still need to finish Bad Batch before the next series comes out (and Tales Of The Jedi this week).
Since there’s 11 films though (the 9 episode films, though I’m still a bit eh on IX, maybe that’ll change on a rewatch), if I had to narrow it down to one… ok there’s two that fit (Revenge Of The Soth is objectively one of the best ones but I think it needs the context of the previous 2. Fun fact, it’s the film I’ve seen most in the cinema, it’s also one of the few things that made me cry). That’d be Empire Strikes Back, I know everyone says it’s the best one but that’s for a reason. I’d also go for Solo because it’s a standalone and it’s just so fun (I’m one of those that really loved it, more than I expected to). Rogue One is also epic but I think it needs the context of seeing Episode IV.
I could probably ramble more on Star Wars, but I’ll leave it there.
Mamma Mia
So I remember when we went to the cinema to see Mamma Mia. I was actually wanting us to see something else, but mum overruled me. (Honestly, at this point I can’t actually remember what that thing was.) I didn’t know what to expect going in (other than ABBA songs) but I came out loving it. Whenever I hear an ABBA song I get the urge to watch it and I get the songs stuck in my head for days after.
And yeah the concept is ridiculous (there’s no way I’d invite my potential dads to my wedding after never knowing them) but it’s fun and full of joy. (And I even did a TUA fic based on it, just without the singing)
The sequel I don’t love quite as much, but it’s still fun. And now I have the urge to watch it again, damn,
Trick R Treat
Every year on Halloween (bar one where the dvd went awol and I had to quickly order a replacement) I watch two films: Nightmare Before Christmas in the afternoon and Trick R Treat at night.
Trick R Treat is a horror anthology film. All of the segments are set in the same town and happen over the course of the same Halloween night. What makes it so great is that, because it’s all set in one place at one time, you can see people from the other stories in others (and I swear every time I watch it I see something I missed). Unlike the other two films I don’t know when I first watched it, but it’s now stuck as a holiday tradition.
(And, like Mamma Mia I’ve done a fic inspired by one of the segments)
Tv
Doctor Who
So I first started watching Doctor Who when the new version began. I’d seen there was hype for it and I love sci-if stuff so I was curious. I wasn’t quite hooked after the first episode, but I was by the second (which I still think is one of the best of the first season).
I think it’s hard to define what I love about Doctor Who, because it’s so varied. One episode can have you in the distant past, another in the far future, another in the now. Or it can be a subversion. It seems you’re in the past because castles, but really you’re on an alien planet and there’s androids around. It can be funny, it can be exciting, it can give you feels. It can be anything.
I didn’t see old Who until a former friend, upon hearing this, got me The Five Doctors, which I’d say works as a good intro because it shows 4 of the doctors (despite the name). Since then I’ve had all the old who on dvds and now I’m getting the collection blu rays (which are fantastic!)
The only thing is though because the show is so long running and varied which eps would I recommend to show someone? Hmm that’s probably a post all of its own. I do remember I saw with a friend one ep from each of the old Doctors, but I can’t fully remember which ones I chose. (Maybe I’ll do a separate post on that?)
…and now I’ve rambled more than for Star Wars Oop
Taskmaster
Taskmaster is an utterly ridiculous show and that’s what makes it so funny. Each series has a different group of celebrities (usually comedians, but not always) and they stay through the full length of the series. Each episode shows the contestants perform tasks, sometimes as a team but mostly alone. The tasks are rarely simple and are often utterly ridiculous. There’s also a live task at the end of the show, where they do something on the stage and there’s also a task at the start where you have to bring in an item that fits a ‘theme’. The items they bring in are then the prizes that the episode winner gets at the end (though some are more dubious than others)
As each series as a different group, the dynamics vary greatly but they all seem to work. It’s always good if you go in a series knowing a few of the people, if only so you have someone to root for. The show’s constants though are the Taskmaster himself, Greg Davies, who serves as judge handing out the points and making hilarious and scathing remarks. Accompanying him is his assistant, little Alex Horne, who is also there when people do the tasks.
It’s just so funny and, honestly, it’s hard to describe (I hope I’ve done a good job but I feel it’s one of those that needs to be seen). I know there has been versions of the show in other countries, but I’ve not seen them, but I’d like to! If only because I’m curious about how the dynamics work
I was gonna do a third tv show, but I didn’t have a set one in mind, plus it’s now light enough to read uni stuff (and the noises have eased too) so I’m gonna leave it there.
So feel free to leave in comments your ones, or make a post or whatever! I’m curious!
A few days ago I was reminded of a scene from the show Spaced (which I’ve not seen in about… 10 years roughly? But, funnily, I saw it was on channel 4 the other day). The jistof it is this: two of the characters decide to do a cultural exchange, in that they each watch something that the other likes but has never seen before. I can only remember clearly one half of it (which was Star Wars, much simpler at the time because it was pre-prequel). So I thought it’d be interesting to see what things people would do as their cultural exchanges with people. So feel free to make your own in the comments or as a post or whatever.
I’ve decided to do some of my own here, and I might make this a recurring thing. (I was gonna do a bunch of things but I’m only gonna do a few for this one).
(And this was all inspired by my friend saying she might try and visit this year I think)
So first, for me, is films and tv (and like I said I’ll likely do more later with other things) and I’m keeping a limit as three for each this time. (And I may add more in future ones since I’ve likely missed an obvious thing)
Films
Star Wars
Star Wars is the obvious thing (after all it’s the half I remember!). It’s not a thing that I grew up with, I didn’t watch it as a kid and the original trilogy came out before I was around to see them. So my love started with the special editions in 1997, where I insisted on mum taking me to the local cinema to see them. Since then I’ve seen every film since on release day (and went to midnight showings for some of the newer ones). It also gives one of the clearest, lasting memories of my grandad so…
I actually haven’t done a run of the main films for awhile (I’ll have to at some point soon) and I still need to finish Bad Batch before the next series comes out (and Tales Of The Jedi this week).
Since there’s 11 films though (the 9 episode films, though I’m still a bit eh on IX, maybe that’ll change on a rewatch), if I had to narrow it down to one… ok there’s two that fit (Revenge Of The Soth is objectively one of the best ones but I think it needs the context of the previous 2. Fun fact, it’s the film I’ve seen most in the cinema, it’s also one of the few things that made me cry). That’d be Empire Strikes Back, I know everyone says it’s the best one but that’s for a reason. I’d also go for Solo because it’s a standalone and it’s just so fun (I’m one of those that really loved it, more than I expected to). Rogue One is also epic but I think it needs the context of seeing Episode IV.
I could probably ramble more on Star Wars, but I’ll leave it there.
Mamma Mia
So I remember when we went to the cinema to see Mamma Mia. I was actually wanting us to see something else, but mum overruled me. (Honestly, at this point I can’t actually remember what that thing was.) I didn’t know what to expect going in (other than ABBA songs) but I came out loving it. Whenever I hear an ABBA song I get the urge to watch it and I get the songs stuck in my head for days after.
And yeah the concept is ridiculous (there’s no way I’d invite my potential dads to my wedding after never knowing them) but it’s fun and full of joy. (And I even did a TUA fic based on it, just without the singing)
The sequel I don’t love quite as much, but it’s still fun. And now I have the urge to watch it again, damn,
Trick R Treat
Every year on Halloween (bar one where the dvd went awol and I had to quickly order a replacement) I watch two films: Nightmare Before Christmas in the afternoon and Trick R Treat at night.
Trick R Treat is a horror anthology film. All of the segments are set in the same town and happen over the course of the same Halloween night. What makes it so great is that, because it’s all set in one place at one time, you can see people from the other stories in others (and I swear every time I watch it I see something I missed). Unlike the other two films I don’t know when I first watched it, but it’s now stuck as a holiday tradition.
(And, like Mamma Mia I’ve done a fic inspired by one of the segments)
Tv
Doctor Who
So I first started watching Doctor Who when the new version began. I’d seen there was hype for it and I love sci-if stuff so I was curious. I wasn’t quite hooked after the first episode, but I was by the second (which I still think is one of the best of the first season).
I think it’s hard to define what I love about Doctor Who, because it’s so varied. One episode can have you in the distant past, another in the far future, another in the now. Or it can be a subversion. It seems you’re in the past because castles, but really you’re on an alien planet and there’s androids around. It can be funny, it can be exciting, it can give you feels. It can be anything.
I didn’t see old Who until a former friend, upon hearing this, got me The Five Doctors, which I’d say works as a good intro because it shows 4 of the doctors (despite the name). Since then I’ve had all the old who on dvds and now I’m getting the collection blu rays (which are fantastic!)
The only thing is though because the show is so long running and varied which eps would I recommend to show someone? Hmm that’s probably a post all of its own. I do remember I saw with a friend one ep from each of the old Doctors, but I can’t fully remember which ones I chose. (Maybe I’ll do a separate post on that?)
…and now I’ve rambled more than for Star Wars Oop
Taskmaster
Taskmaster is an utterly ridiculous show and that’s what makes it so funny. Each series has a different group of celebrities (usually comedians, but not always) and they stay through the full length of the series. Each episode shows the contestants perform tasks, sometimes as a team but mostly alone. The tasks are rarely simple and are often utterly ridiculous. There’s also a live task at the end of the show, where they do something on the stage and there’s also a task at the start where you have to bring in an item that fits a ‘theme’. The items they bring in are then the prizes that the episode winner gets at the end (though some are more dubious than others)
As each series as a different group, the dynamics vary greatly but they all seem to work. It’s always good if you go in a series knowing a few of the people, if only so you have someone to root for. The show’s constants though are the Taskmaster himself, Greg Davies, who serves as judge handing out the points and making hilarious and scathing remarks. Accompanying him is his assistant, little Alex Horne, who is also there when people do the tasks.
It’s just so funny and, honestly, it’s hard to describe (I hope I’ve done a good job but I feel it’s one of those that needs to be seen). I know there has been versions of the show in other countries, but I’ve not seen them, but I’d like to! If only because I’m curious about how the dynamics work
I was gonna do a third tv show, but I didn’t have a set one in mind, plus it’s now light enough to read uni stuff (and the noises have eased too) so I’m gonna leave it there.
So feel free to leave in comments your ones, or make a post or whatever! I’m curious!
no subject
Date: 2022-12-05 12:11 pm (UTC)I think I'll make my own cultural exchange post(s) - this is a lovely idea.
no subject
Date: 2022-12-05 06:22 pm (UTC)Oh yay! I’m curious to see what you do
no subject
Date: 2022-12-05 06:01 pm (UTC)i haven't seen mamma mia in AGES but i remember both me and my mom loved it :D isn't there a sequel? i haven't seen that but i should. trick r treat is great, i love sam he's just so cute!
like i said on discord i'd be interested in watching some who :D and i've never heard of taskmaster (aside from u mentioning it sometimes) but i do like funny little reality type shows so i can see myself enjoying it (although, i admit sometimes british humour goes right over my head :p)
i might make a post later!
no subject
Date: 2022-12-05 06:29 pm (UTC)It’s so great! I might watch it again soon. And yeah there is a sequel, which I enjoy too (even though sometimes it’s contradictory) He is!
Awww yay! We’ll have to work something out (or wait till you visit?) I might watch some of the Christmas eps soon since I haven’t for awhile
Yeah! Taskmaster is really wild, I’m not sure if it’s available outside of the uk though alas (I think there is or was a US aversion? But I’ve never seen it).hee, a few series have had Americans (and others) on and they’ve said the same thing
Oh yay! I’m curious what you’d put!
no subject
Date: 2022-12-05 07:58 pm (UTC)I'm so behind with Doctor Who - the last Doctor I watched was Matt Smith - but I still have fond memories of catching random episodes with the 4th Doctor when I was younger ... and then again in College via weekend PBS programming. I need to catch up, but my To Watch stack has gotten so completely out of hand that all I really want to do is re-watch stuff I've already seen a hundred times.
no subject
Date: 2022-12-06 10:56 am (UTC)Oh wow! I’ve not seen any of the 11th doctor in ages! That’s so cool! I don’t think I’ve ever seen any of the old who eps on tv sadly. I’ll never understand why the bbc didn’t show them especially during the height of the new Who popularity.
Oh I feel you my to watch list is so long and I’ve…. Not been going through it. It feels every time I plan to watch something, something comes up.
no subject
Date: 2022-12-06 07:49 pm (UTC)When I was little (so the 80s), I think the only stations with access were PBS? Certainly when I was in college (mid 90s), I was watching them via the uni's PBS station having an old school SF block on the weekends. I need to check to see who has the rights now, cuz I want to show my wife more of the new Who plus maybe get caught up at some point? But then again the To Watch is ridiculous (I'm only just getting around to actually watching Teen Wolf (and bitching thru every ep) and that's been on the list for YEARS, so that's how bad it is). I have a harddrive with all the classic who eps on it that I got when BBC was offering them via torrent, but the drive's not where I can get at any of its data, sigh. Someday!
I know for me it's definitely an anxiety thing - there's so much instability around me already that my brain just shuts down at the idea of consuming something that isn't at least somewhat familiar (wife's been a Teen Wolf fan for ages and rewatched it several times around me, so I already know the major beats. Plus I can bitch about all the ways the writers Got Everything Wrong). Between that and not being able to binge watch - if I'm watching something, I can maybe fiddle with mobile games or knitting, but not anything else, so the Guilt starts creeping in - progress is Slow. XD
no subject
Date: 2022-12-07 12:39 pm (UTC)I did look up the US version but it didn't work for me. They seemed to take it too seriously and the sense of ridiculous fun was missing.
no subject
Date: 2022-12-08 02:32 pm (UTC)Aww that’s a shame. It sucks when Americans try to do anything or just ‘get’ it
no subject
Date: 2022-12-07 07:16 pm (UTC)I started watching classic Who on BBC Prime back in 2000 and got completely hooked but I could never get into the new series. I've tried several time but never succeeded. So I have to be content with rewatching old favourites :-)
no subject
Date: 2022-12-08 02:37 pm (UTC)Oh nice! I’m so glad I started getting the dvds to watch them all, even though I’ve only watched most of the classic ones once (until the blu box sets started coming out). New Who is really good, but yeah sometimes there’s bad times to join in