Thursday, January 8, 2009

Witless Dictionary #2--Sim Meridian

Continuing our ongoing handy guide to the peculiar idiomatic terminology of the guy what writes this 'ere thing in an effort to make the gibberish that comes out of my mouth somewhat understandable (fool's errand though that might be):

Sim Meridian: Point in an artist's evolution past where burgeoning mental illness finally overrides any inherent charity on the part of the critical consumer and even former giants of their chosen medium must be seen for what they are--namely, raving lunatics who are determined to make fools of themselves on the public stage and artists a distant second. Named for this guy, but not exclusive to him. No sir.

E.G. "About the time he did Dark Knight Strikes Again, Miller crossed the Sim Meridian, and we're really not sure what the hell he's been on about ever since. I mean . . ."Love chunks? Really?"

10 comments:

Diana Kingston-Gabai said...

I wonder whether it's possible for writers who cross the Sim Meridian to find their way back to solid ground. In comics, this is unlikely because of the yes-boy phenomenon - any writer, no matter how odious, can find a cluster of fanboys to defend his every move (with the apparent exception of "The Spirit", because even Assbar fans aren't touching that one). And if you're surrounded by a raving pack of hyperactive 40-year-olds-masquerading-as-teens who tell you you're awesome just the way you are, why would you bother trying to improve?

Kazekage said...

I'm racking my brain trying to find someone who crossed the Sim Meridian and came back, and I'm coming up lemons, honestly--it tends to be something of a inexorable forward movement.

(This discounts those who started their career on the wrong side of the Sim Meridian--Liefeld springs to mind)

Well, that's what happens, isn't it? The cult of personality that surrounds most comic creators forms this weird Cone of Silence in which no real criticism has a hope in hell of penetrating.

I'm sure it's gotten worse since everyone got online, too--and yet, the same people who benefit from this bitch incessantly about those darned snarky bloggers who Mess It Up For Everyone.

The Witless Dictionary really needs a term for that. ;)

Diana Kingston-Gabai said...

Depressing thought, huh? :(

It's one of the central paradoxes of mainstream comics: for a medium that depends on the Internet for publicity and drumming up interest in new projects, the major companies can be surprisingly insulated against any kind of feedback that isn't fawning praise. And if they do acknowledge their critics, it's with this shockingly juvenile "I know you are but what am I?" response that... well, it's the sort of thing that should make sophisticated adults embarrassed to be involved with it.

I'm sure you'll think of something. :)

Kazekage said...

Well, being fallible human beings, I suspect that they, just like all of us, want to pick and choose which criticisms they honour and which ones get tossed into the "Internet is always negative" bin. The next Witless Dictionary will address this very thing, sorta. ;)

I think that the fan/creator contact on the web is a lot like the current state of the separation of church and state in Amercia--they're both in each other's business and it really does neither no favours.

Look for it soonish. It's not exactly that but everyone who knows the term will know exactly what I'm talking about.

Diana Kingston-Gabai said...

I remember a particularly odious incident with Paul Jenkins basically castigating the entire fanbase for reacting so poorly to "The Return of Captain Marvel", which... there really was no defending that clunker, and the fact that he tried just made him look pathetic.

An accurate assessment indeed...

Kazekage said...

Oh MAN I'd totally forgotten about that. I think Jenkins has frequently distinguished himself as being almost comically think-skinned. Has been ever since that rather ghastly Hulk annual he did back in the day that featured She-Hulk coming on to her cousin in one of the most brain-blastingly tasteless comics I have ever encountered.

I have my moments! :)

Diana Kingston-Gabai said...

He probably still defends Emoball. Which was wrong on so many, many levels...

Kazekage said...

Yeah. Even in his most twisted Randian mental jabberings, I'm sure it never occurred to Ditko that his last gift to Marvel (excluding Squirrel Girl) would somehow be bent into dude with piercings who "hurts himself to atone for . . ." man, I hate comics sometimes. :)

Diana Kingston-Gabai said...

That's probably what he said too. :D

Kazekage said...

But he probably cussed more. :)