A little white lie is what you tell your friend when she gets a bad haircut. Or perhaps when your significant other cooks you a horrible dinner but you tell them you love it. A little white lie is when you arrive late because of "traffic" but really you slept in. Those are little white lies, not telling a life story that is untrue, or publishing a memoir that is falsified. Those are great big lies full of exaggeration and manipulation.
Often times, little white lies can turn into great big lies. They may start off with good intentions but manifest into a downward spiral of lie upon lie until it is so big it begins to hurt people. This is what happens more often than not. Unfortunately, it may not have began that way but a lie is a lie no matter what! Including little white lies. Regardless of how innocent the lie may appear, the truth is you are being honest. For instance, if your friend discovers you dislike her hair, she will no longer trust your opinion. If your significant other finds out you dislike their cooking, you could hurt their feelings. Or if your co-worker takes the same route to work with no traffic, you are found to be a liar hurting your credibility.
These little white lies appear to be helping you in the moment but the reality is that unless it is the truth, it's not worth stating. Especially in the case of literary works. Fiction is understood to be the telling of an untrue story and a memoir is understood to be truth based on real experience. Once you begin to confuse the two, the reader no longer trusts the author therefore loosing credibility as a literary genre.
Thus, a lie is a lie is a lie regardless of the intention or outcome. Witholding the truth in any circumstance discredits you of honesty especially as a writer. Trust is the most difficult virtue to earn and once it is broken it is three times more difficult to gain back. Therefore, avoid lying at all costs whether the intention is good or bad. Afterall it's usually the worst problems that began with good intentions.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Little White Lies
Little White Lies:
I hardly consider fabricating a criminal career and creating an entirely new identity for oneself "little white lies". Both Frey and Belaney were full-out lying. Although I think it's pretty low and heavily lacking in integrity to purposely lie in order to embellish a story, I am able to accept it in the case of a memoir. It's not as though it is an autobiography. I'm not the least bit affected by whether or not James Frey was telling the truth or not. He claimed he was a worse criminal than he actually was and now we know he is a liar. I can't say I'm surprised. I think people are much too invested in their entertainment. When it comes to internet videos I remember that anyone can put anything on the internet and I'm immediately questioning the credibility of the material. Because neither the youtube video or Frey's book are educational in nature I don't care what is truth or fiction in them. I would be much more upset if an informational piece of writing like a scientific paper had published false test results and data (as many of them do). As far as white lies go, everyone draws the line between a white lie and a full lie somewhere else, thus it is difficult to distinguish when it is appropriate and just how slightly one can allow himself to be dishonest. People eventually start taking advantage of this "innocent lie" to start telling full, concrete lies. As disheartening as it is, that is how people are.
- Lucie M
I hardly consider fabricating a criminal career and creating an entirely new identity for oneself "little white lies". Both Frey and Belaney were full-out lying. Although I think it's pretty low and heavily lacking in integrity to purposely lie in order to embellish a story, I am able to accept it in the case of a memoir. It's not as though it is an autobiography. I'm not the least bit affected by whether or not James Frey was telling the truth or not. He claimed he was a worse criminal than he actually was and now we know he is a liar. I can't say I'm surprised. I think people are much too invested in their entertainment. When it comes to internet videos I remember that anyone can put anything on the internet and I'm immediately questioning the credibility of the material. Because neither the youtube video or Frey's book are educational in nature I don't care what is truth or fiction in them. I would be much more upset if an informational piece of writing like a scientific paper had published false test results and data (as many of them do). As far as white lies go, everyone draws the line between a white lie and a full lie somewhere else, thus it is difficult to distinguish when it is appropriate and just how slightly one can allow himself to be dishonest. People eventually start taking advantage of this "innocent lie" to start telling full, concrete lies. As disheartening as it is, that is how people are.
- Lucie M
Little White Lies
In my opinion little white lies are harmless, what you don't know wont hurt you, right? Or does it, to some people any lie is a bad one. The crazy bride video is harmless to people watching, it is just entertaining, you would never know what it was made for until someone tells the truth. Where as James Frey had lied, but the whole world had seen it as a tragedy, and many look up to the book as inspiration and sympathy. Oprah had added this to her book club, and to her it was an amazing story, straight to the heart and she felt for him. When she had found out it wasn't true she was ashamed to have put this book out there to her viewers as a great read, but actually was giving them a story that was false. To her she had lied to the world, even though she had not known this before. In ways little white lies can be extremely hurtful, but when they are unknown to others it is harmless. I am sure many books or any story is altered with lies, to the creator it could just make their story more interesting, we will never know what story's have little white lies unless the truth comes out.
White lies while Oprah gets taken for a ride.
I laughed to myself during the "Frey" debacle. It is one of the only times Oprah Winfrey has been takin for a ride. And I like that. However, for James Frey to present this book as unswerving truth is kind of dumb and reckless.
To present a piece of work in a public setting is like playing with fire, as we saw with the smoking gun. The folks at TSG were diligent and followed the paper trail all the way to its logical end. Which in the case of "A Million Little Pieces" exposed the memoir as a lie. Not a little white lie but a huge stinking stew of lies involving real life events and people. That my friends is a recipe for disaster and Frey should of expected it. In this case, the huge tainted falsehoods of Frey's memoir are unacceptable considering he himself lauded the work of fiction as non-fiction. All his fault.
In regards to the Grey Owl, I see a man in search of an identity he could believe in. I don't see a man harnessing the power of the little white lie to benefit himself at the expense of others. Instead Archie Stansfeld Belaney at the crossroads age of 18 latched onto the allure and romance of the wilderness. Taking on himself the identity of a native indian. What I see here is more of a search for purpose. Although Archie labeled himself a native his ruse did not affect others. His transformation was for the peace of his soul.
The crazy bride is ridiculous, I am surprised anyone would invite her onto a talk show. Why? Why would you want a guest who's only claim to fame is a video showing her throw a hissy fit, albeit a staged one. That is retarded and just goes to show the state of the public and our need for drama.
The crazy bride is the ugly ducking out of the three talking points and won't get a response from me. I would rather stick my tongue in hot toaster.
- Chris Ribau
To present a piece of work in a public setting is like playing with fire, as we saw with the smoking gun. The folks at TSG were diligent and followed the paper trail all the way to its logical end. Which in the case of "A Million Little Pieces" exposed the memoir as a lie. Not a little white lie but a huge stinking stew of lies involving real life events and people. That my friends is a recipe for disaster and Frey should of expected it. In this case, the huge tainted falsehoods of Frey's memoir are unacceptable considering he himself lauded the work of fiction as non-fiction. All his fault.
In regards to the Grey Owl, I see a man in search of an identity he could believe in. I don't see a man harnessing the power of the little white lie to benefit himself at the expense of others. Instead Archie Stansfeld Belaney at the crossroads age of 18 latched onto the allure and romance of the wilderness. Taking on himself the identity of a native indian. What I see here is more of a search for purpose. Although Archie labeled himself a native his ruse did not affect others. His transformation was for the peace of his soul.
The crazy bride is ridiculous, I am surprised anyone would invite her onto a talk show. Why? Why would you want a guest who's only claim to fame is a video showing her throw a hissy fit, albeit a staged one. That is retarded and just goes to show the state of the public and our need for drama.
The crazy bride is the ugly ducking out of the three talking points and won't get a response from me. I would rather stick my tongue in hot toaster.
- Chris Ribau
Friday, March 20, 2009
white lies
A 'little white lie' can be described as an unimportant lie (especially one told to be tactful or polite), or told to avoid hurting someone's feelings. So it is basically a lie told to add positivity to a situation rather than negativity. This applies in all cases studied including the crazy bride, James Frey and Grey Owl.
Of the three I believe Grey Owl is furthest from the label of being a liar. Having been re-born into a tribe and adopting a new identity his situation is legit. Of course he was born English and has no ounce of Native blood in his body, it is his spirit and soul which was adopted by the wilderness and he continued to live in that way, passionate about the forest and everything in it. His identity had changed drastically, claiming to be half-blood or named Grey Owl or part of a tribe is not far from the real truth at all.
James Frey on the other hand, is a little more severe. Having been investigated on his memoir, which he insists is non-fiction, and error in his story telling has been revealed. Yet we have studied that memory can be drastically changed by time, emotions, personal experience etc. The article 'A Thousand Little Lies' makes his story seem drastically false. Regardless of this I believe it is his life and how he perceived it. He could have even been writing from his own point of view, how he regarded himself at that time. Maybe he thought he deserved to go to prison, maybe he desired so strongly to rebel that he convinced himself it actually happened, or deserved to have happened? No matter the case, his novel is about his life and it has captured thousands in the pages and even changed peoples lives. A story of hope for addicts, alcoholics and criminals. A story of triumph against all odds.
The crazy bride clip on youtube doesn't apply to the category of a white lie, in my opinion. The whole film is a fake, but maybe it could be a white lie because it was made to entertain? I'm not sure how this video fits into the category or how it can be vouched for, other than the fact that it is entertainment.
In conclusion, I think white lies are absolutely acceptable in these cases. Whether you change your identity because you truly believe you are living where you belong. Or if you're writing about your own life and you twist stories or over exaggerate for the sake of a successful story. Whose place is it anyways to investigate your story and tell you you're a liar? That's just a bit rude if I say so myself.
Of the three I believe Grey Owl is furthest from the label of being a liar. Having been re-born into a tribe and adopting a new identity his situation is legit. Of course he was born English and has no ounce of Native blood in his body, it is his spirit and soul which was adopted by the wilderness and he continued to live in that way, passionate about the forest and everything in it. His identity had changed drastically, claiming to be half-blood or named Grey Owl or part of a tribe is not far from the real truth at all.
James Frey on the other hand, is a little more severe. Having been investigated on his memoir, which he insists is non-fiction, and error in his story telling has been revealed. Yet we have studied that memory can be drastically changed by time, emotions, personal experience etc. The article 'A Thousand Little Lies' makes his story seem drastically false. Regardless of this I believe it is his life and how he perceived it. He could have even been writing from his own point of view, how he regarded himself at that time. Maybe he thought he deserved to go to prison, maybe he desired so strongly to rebel that he convinced himself it actually happened, or deserved to have happened? No matter the case, his novel is about his life and it has captured thousands in the pages and even changed peoples lives. A story of hope for addicts, alcoholics and criminals. A story of triumph against all odds.
The crazy bride clip on youtube doesn't apply to the category of a white lie, in my opinion. The whole film is a fake, but maybe it could be a white lie because it was made to entertain? I'm not sure how this video fits into the category or how it can be vouched for, other than the fact that it is entertainment.
In conclusion, I think white lies are absolutely acceptable in these cases. Whether you change your identity because you truly believe you are living where you belong. Or if you're writing about your own life and you twist stories or over exaggerate for the sake of a successful story. Whose place is it anyways to investigate your story and tell you you're a liar? That's just a bit rude if I say so myself.
Monday, March 16, 2009
The whole truth and nothing but the truth...I don't think so
I think that memoir’s should tell the truth but not always 100 percent. I mean this in the way that, I don’t believe that someone writing a book that begins in their childhood, thirty years earlier, is going to remember every piece of information and detail about the situation, which they write in their memoir. So some points are going to be factual and some are not. There is no way you can recall every detail about the experience you are writing about, unless maybe it had some profound meaning in your life, where you would remember it exactly. I think that memoirs should be at least 90 percent real, only because it leaves that 10 percent open for error or for imagining how you think you remember something.
Although John Glassco lied about his memoirs, it seemed as though the only way for him to deal with some of his issues was to write a book and call it his memoir. He probably shouldn’t included famous poets and authors that he didn’t actually meet. Would it have been as interesting if it had not been called a memoir? In a way it would seem as though he deceived his readers and made them believe this happened. Only when they found out it was a lie they were upset. I wonder if they still felt the same way about the book after? If only a quarter of the book was un-true then it shouldn’t be that big of a deal.
As for Lonelygirl15, I thought it was boring and I wouldn’t have considered watching it if I didn’t have to. If Mesh Flinders, the co creator, didn’t make any money off it then who cares. He lost out because he went and bought all the stuff from Target to change the appearance of his room. And he gave YouTube the million or so hits every time this aired. In my opinion it was not worth the controversy.
If it's not true...it's not a memoir!
I understood a memoir to be a recounting of someone's life experiences. The author is writing from an autobiographical perspective and incorporating their feelings, emotions and observations. Should the recounting of a certain event included in a memoir not be factual, then essentially it is not a memoir, it would be a fictional story based on true events. I also believe that a memoir should definitely be factual. It is a collection of memories and intimate experiences and therefore should be as honest as possible or it essentially is not a memoir.
In reference to the Glassco passage, it is apparent that once people find out that the memoir, or recount of a life experience, is not true they are angry and dissapointed. The anger is not because they were hoping the story was true but rather the anger is a result of feeling as though they were lied to. It is almost insulting to pass off a story as being true and then at the end after all emotions, sympathy's and many other possible emotions are evoked they become insignificant. People can express emotions toward fiction but the emotions that are expressed when something is believed to be truthful is different. Therefore, when you realize that the emotions evoked for something believed to be true is not true, it can be insulting. The reader is made to feel vulnerable and as though they have been taken advantage of. It is not a good feeling. Therefore, in the case of Glassco, telling a lie did make people angry because no one enjoys being lied to when they believe it is real.
In reference to LonelyGirl15, I think it's disgusting. I was thoroughly preturbed by the entire concept that I don't even believe it is even close to being considered a memoir. Despite the recounting of personal experiences and emotions it is staged, made up and not even close to being based on real life events. I think it's also disturbing for a 30 year old man to be writing scripts for a 15 year old girl. I wouldn't even consider this to be a vlogging diary, it's a poor excuse for a new idea.
In the end, I don't believe a memoir should be falsified or embellished. I believe it should be an accurate account of a personal experience from an intimate perspective. If not, write a fictional short story!
In reference to the Glassco passage, it is apparent that once people find out that the memoir, or recount of a life experience, is not true they are angry and dissapointed. The anger is not because they were hoping the story was true but rather the anger is a result of feeling as though they were lied to. It is almost insulting to pass off a story as being true and then at the end after all emotions, sympathy's and many other possible emotions are evoked they become insignificant. People can express emotions toward fiction but the emotions that are expressed when something is believed to be truthful is different. Therefore, when you realize that the emotions evoked for something believed to be true is not true, it can be insulting. The reader is made to feel vulnerable and as though they have been taken advantage of. It is not a good feeling. Therefore, in the case of Glassco, telling a lie did make people angry because no one enjoys being lied to when they believe it is real.
In reference to LonelyGirl15, I think it's disgusting. I was thoroughly preturbed by the entire concept that I don't even believe it is even close to being considered a memoir. Despite the recounting of personal experiences and emotions it is staged, made up and not even close to being based on real life events. I think it's also disturbing for a 30 year old man to be writing scripts for a 15 year old girl. I wouldn't even consider this to be a vlogging diary, it's a poor excuse for a new idea.
In the end, I don't believe a memoir should be falsified or embellished. I believe it should be an accurate account of a personal experience from an intimate perspective. If not, write a fictional short story!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
I Believe in the Truth, In Most Cases
I believe that author writing a memoir should tell the truth in most cases, in some ways it can be a good thing to later the story. It can make it more interesting or even more mysterious. In some case not telling the truth can cause issues with the readers, but it can cause the same issue when it is a lie. A lot of these story’s that are alterations of the truth, have a hidden aspect that the writer isn’t comfortable sharing or they would like to make money off of it, like they do in Lonely Girl 15, people are still interested in it even though they notice that it is made up. They are all still drawn to these video stories.
Memoir ≠ Some Lies
According to the dictionary, a memoir is defined as “a record of events written by a person having intimate knowledge of them and based on personal [experience].” Therefore, if a book is labelled as a “memoir” the author or memoirist must stick true to his/her words and write the truth. When readers decided to pick up non-fiction books they expect raw stories with unbiased facts.
After reading the short passage from the Glassco’s memoir I wonder what the significance of the short story was. Why lie? That’s what I would like to know.
Furthermore, the situation with ‘LonelyGirl15’ is much similar to the Glassco’s actions. In both cases, Glassco and all the individuals involved in production of ‘LonleyGirl15’ have deceived the audience and viewers. The only difference between the two is the form of media. ‘LonelyGirl 15’ used what is most popular today – the’ vlogger’ –another term used as a video blogger. As audiences, may people assume what the bloggers are blogging about are based on accurate facts. However, ‘LonelyGirl15’ has proven that is not that case because they use scripts and fictional character which ultimately ruins the meaning of video blog.
In addition, this reminds me of the situation of James Frey the author of “A Million Little Pieces” whose book was labelled under "a memoir" and later on admits some of the characters and stories in the book was altered. (The following link is a small clip of James Frey confronted by Oprah: http://www.truveo.com/Oprah-confronts-Frey-about-Pieces/id/311221772)
In general, when someone commits to writing nonfiction or making a video blog they must abide without any modification and tell the truth based on truthful knowledge. (At least in my opinion.)
After reading the short passage from the Glassco’s memoir I wonder what the significance of the short story was. Why lie? That’s what I would like to know.
Furthermore, the situation with ‘LonelyGirl15’ is much similar to the Glassco’s actions. In both cases, Glassco and all the individuals involved in production of ‘LonleyGirl15’ have deceived the audience and viewers. The only difference between the two is the form of media. ‘LonelyGirl 15’ used what is most popular today – the’ vlogger’ –another term used as a video blogger. As audiences, may people assume what the bloggers are blogging about are based on accurate facts. However, ‘LonelyGirl15’ has proven that is not that case because they use scripts and fictional character which ultimately ruins the meaning of video blog.
In addition, this reminds me of the situation of James Frey the author of “A Million Little Pieces” whose book was labelled under "a memoir" and later on admits some of the characters and stories in the book was altered. (The following link is a small clip of James Frey confronted by Oprah: http://www.truveo.com/Oprah-confronts-Frey-about-Pieces/id/311221772)
In general, when someone commits to writing nonfiction or making a video blog they must abide without any modification and tell the truth based on truthful knowledge. (At least in my opinion.)
Lame, that's what I say
I absolutely, one hundred percent think that memoirs should tell the truth. if they don't, then they shouldn't be categorized as memoirs. We sit here and read these memoirs (or watch somebody's video blog) and expect the truth out of them. If we are being fed a lie, then it's hard to regain that trust back. I understand the point that the 'LonelyGirl15' people are aiming for - trying to create a new genre of the medium. That may be acceptable to some people, and if I actually cared for these types of online videos, it might have mattered to me. I can safely say that I use the Internet for a lot of different things, but these videos just have no appeal to me.
Something a little more appealing perhaps:
Video, may not be suitable for work.
At least if I'm going to take the time to watch a video, it's better to be something entertaining, rather than a fake video blog about some 'adorable' American teenage girl.
Something a little more appealing perhaps:
Video, may not be suitable for work.
At least if I'm going to take the time to watch a video, it's better to be something entertaining, rather than a fake video blog about some 'adorable' American teenage girl.
Truth in Memoir Writing
I think that any published text written as a means of story-telling or sharing has the potential for statements that are true only to a degree. When it comes to memoirs specifically, it's up to the author to recount how an event took place. However there is a line between absolute memory and wishful thinking that has the potential to blur, and when this takes place you have an embellished memoir. In my opinion your life should be exceptionally interesting or of historic insight to merit a published memoir. I think if you need to lie significantly to better your memoir, then maybe you should stick to non-fiction and write a nice little story based on how you wish your life really was. A memoir should be around 95% true and factual, the other 5 percent can be small details that are false only if due to the unavoidable error of human memory. Certainly if it is in an author's interest to deliberately script more than is true, then it is the author's responsibility to properly and thoroughly cover their tracks and deal with their conscience.
In my opinion Glassco's Memoirs of Montparnasse is quick and easy to dismiss; “One quarter of the book (Memoirs) was lies...” One quarter is significantly more than five percent in terms of truth leeway. I would call this piece a story, not a memoir, especially when interaction with other human beings is falsely claimed. When entire events are made up it's not a 'fuzzy detail' moment it is a blatant lie. In terms of Lonelygirl15, I personally found this weird, deceptive, and a comment on the world today where sneaky pretenses are used to make a quick and dirty buck. The videos are made by two older men who see the internet as a new venue of entertainment. Key word, entertainment, these videos are in no way a memoir. While the creators skirted the truth factor easily at first, it was unavoidable considering their desired and achieved traffic.
People still read the book and watch the videos, and they still enjoy them as a form of entertainment. Which is great. But entertainment such as Lonelygirl15 is completely different from an account of factual events and that distinction should be made clearly.
In my opinion Glassco's Memoirs of Montparnasse is quick and easy to dismiss; “One quarter of the book (Memoirs) was lies...” One quarter is significantly more than five percent in terms of truth leeway. I would call this piece a story, not a memoir, especially when interaction with other human beings is falsely claimed. When entire events are made up it's not a 'fuzzy detail' moment it is a blatant lie. In terms of Lonelygirl15, I personally found this weird, deceptive, and a comment on the world today where sneaky pretenses are used to make a quick and dirty buck. The videos are made by two older men who see the internet as a new venue of entertainment. Key word, entertainment, these videos are in no way a memoir. While the creators skirted the truth factor easily at first, it was unavoidable considering their desired and achieved traffic.
People still read the book and watch the videos, and they still enjoy them as a form of entertainment. Which is great. But entertainment such as Lonelygirl15 is completely different from an account of factual events and that distinction should be made clearly.
The truth.
Memoirs should consist of the truth. In a memoir the author is writing about something that has happened to them, which was important to their life. This is what the reader expects and is what they deserve. I think adding to a memoir or making one up is essentially lying.
In the case of Loneygirl15, the viewers believed they were watching the truth about her life. They came back week after week, to learn something new about her. In reality it was all staged, which was un-fair to the audience. They were expecting reality and did not get it. The same goes for Glassco's Memoirs, the readers believe that they were reading the truth about his life.
Lying is frowned upon anywhere else in life, so why is it ok in memoirs? I don’t think it is. However, if the piece of writing/show is represented as fiction from the beginning, I believe that is fine.
This is an interesting clip, which shows interviews with the makers of webshows. Included is Lonelygirl15: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQS3ztEdLEs
In the case of Loneygirl15, the viewers believed they were watching the truth about her life. They came back week after week, to learn something new about her. In reality it was all staged, which was un-fair to the audience. They were expecting reality and did not get it. The same goes for Glassco's Memoirs, the readers believe that they were reading the truth about his life.
Lying is frowned upon anywhere else in life, so why is it ok in memoirs? I don’t think it is. However, if the piece of writing/show is represented as fiction from the beginning, I believe that is fine.
This is an interesting clip, which shows interviews with the makers of webshows. Included is Lonelygirl15: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQS3ztEdLEs
In memoir writing, the author of the memoir has an obligation to tell the truth. A memoir is based on factual memories and to lie would be to create a fictional story, not a memoir. I think that there are times within a memoir that may call for a slight mistruth, but a majority and the important parts must be factual. To lie during a memoir is cheating the audience because many people will believe everything within the memoir as being true to the author’s life. Anyone can lie about their lives to make an interesting memoir.
The You Tube video “Lonely Girl 15” is an example of a negative way to demonstrate a memoir. “Lonely Girl 15” is a fictional character which changes the distinction from memoir to fiction. It is important for people to be aware of the misconceptions that can found on the internet in regards to memoir writing.
the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
Having been asked the question, 'should a memoir writer tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?", I have to disagree. Thinking to myself, if I ever wrote a memoir I would hope I would have the sense to add in some fictional details to spice up my own story, considering that I find we generally all go through similar things through our lifetimes.
Looking into Glassco's case, I think his make believe is very interesting. It shocks me somewhat to find he had made up his stories of meeting certain characters, describing encounters which never occurred. The first question I ask is why? My second is, why not? Why can't he throw in an imaginary event here and there? Of course it is lying, but so are most novels we so often enjoy reading. Maybe he just knew better than everyone else that a good read is likely to be fictional. Look at Harry Potter and Twilight novels, great series captivating all sorts of people worldwide, books of complete make believe! Seeing as Glassco is writing about his own life for anyone who wishes to read about it, I think he has the right to jot down anything he wants to, if in his opinion, it completes his life story.
On the subject of the lonelygirl15 youtube series, I believe there are two sides. Of course it was a clever idea to create a series by fooling an audience, but is it fair to trick an audience that way? It is almost like making a scripted film and telling everyone it is a documentary. The only difference between Glassco's memoir and lonelygirl15 is that most of Glassco's memoir is real, while lonelygirl15 is all fiction. I can see how viewers of the video clips could be angered by discovering their 'vlogger' is just a character, which may dampen the appeal to watch her entries, considering these days reality television is more appealing to most people. I do not think it was wise to stage this video blogger, but I also don't know if it would have been as successful if it was known to be fake. Either way, there is nothing anyone can really do about it.
So, considering in both cases there is nothing we can do about it, and considering that whether truthful or not we can't help but enjoy both of these medias, I really don't think it matters in a question of honesty. The main thing is entertainment and captivating your audience. I would rather be captivated and tricked than bored and unenthusiastic, wouldn't you?
Looking into Glassco's case, I think his make believe is very interesting. It shocks me somewhat to find he had made up his stories of meeting certain characters, describing encounters which never occurred. The first question I ask is why? My second is, why not? Why can't he throw in an imaginary event here and there? Of course it is lying, but so are most novels we so often enjoy reading. Maybe he just knew better than everyone else that a good read is likely to be fictional. Look at Harry Potter and Twilight novels, great series captivating all sorts of people worldwide, books of complete make believe! Seeing as Glassco is writing about his own life for anyone who wishes to read about it, I think he has the right to jot down anything he wants to, if in his opinion, it completes his life story.
On the subject of the lonelygirl15 youtube series, I believe there are two sides. Of course it was a clever idea to create a series by fooling an audience, but is it fair to trick an audience that way? It is almost like making a scripted film and telling everyone it is a documentary. The only difference between Glassco's memoir and lonelygirl15 is that most of Glassco's memoir is real, while lonelygirl15 is all fiction. I can see how viewers of the video clips could be angered by discovering their 'vlogger' is just a character, which may dampen the appeal to watch her entries, considering these days reality television is more appealing to most people. I do not think it was wise to stage this video blogger, but I also don't know if it would have been as successful if it was known to be fake. Either way, there is nothing anyone can really do about it.
So, considering in both cases there is nothing we can do about it, and considering that whether truthful or not we can't help but enjoy both of these medias, I really don't think it matters in a question of honesty. The main thing is entertainment and captivating your audience. I would rather be captivated and tricked than bored and unenthusiastic, wouldn't you?
Saturday, March 14, 2009
The Truth
In my opinion if someone is going to write a memoir, the understanding is that the content of the memoir is true. Or remembered as best as it could be. The fact that Lonelygirl 15 and Glassco's Memoirs were ultimately shown to have distorted the truth, taints it for me. From my understanding a memoir or a "vblog"/video-diary is a chronicling of a persons' experiences and events in their life. If those events or experiences have been proven false or distorted, that ultimately affects my ability to absorb what the author is saying, or trying to say. Although the emotions may be legit and real, the themes deep with meaning and the parables profound, when all is said and done it is the author's integrity that is damaged. And thus undeserving of my time or effort.
This youtube clip has nothing to do with memoirs or integrity, but it will get you thinking about double standards.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU5sP2CnIZ8
Chris Ribau
This youtube clip has nothing to do with memoirs or integrity, but it will get you thinking about double standards.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU5sP2CnIZ8
Chris Ribau
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