January 2, 2004

Close, but no palantir

Posted by pete at January 2, 2004 2:23 PM

Xavier at Unfashionable Observations has a theory on why some of us chose not to make top 10 lists this year:

I've seen many a pop culture blog whose author consciously, explicitly refuses to post a top-10 list for 2003. Instead, they either post top-10 lists for years past, or look forward to what 2004 will bring. Ha. That's like refusing to celebrate Christmas in December. It's not nonconformist or contrarian; it's just confused. I would wager that the real reason underlying their reticence is their lack of exposure to this year's offerings.

Uh, not quite. Whether or not I've been "exposed" to all of 2003's offerings doesn't change the reality that the media world annually chokes on its own vomit of top 10 lists without any help from me. Every possible category, from news stories to CDs to annoying blogs, is flogged mercilessly for the last few weeks of the year. The movie lists are the worst, because (with few exceptions) at least 5 or 6 of the top 10 will be identical for every author. I'm not being "contrarian" when I say that most people can probably survive just fine without my own bloviations on the subject.

Besides, do you really want me to explain how the best movie released in 2003 was the DVD of To Live and Die In L.A.?

could you at least articulate your top 10 reasons for not doing a top 10 list?

--Posted by Denny on January 2, 2004 2:37 PM

I salute and support your choice not to top ten. Albeit I find it odd that a man who enjoys making up useless lists refuses to make one up now. I did enjoy the preview for next year and concur with your assessment of Ms. Roberts (I believe she lives a secret life as someone named "Eric"). I look forward to your review the cow movie coming from Disney. Go ahead and "Bust a moo." Now back to the Simpsons ...

--Posted by Mac in FL on January 2, 2004 5:16 PM

I didn't do a Top Ten for Bookslut, for exactly the reason that even I can't keep track of every comic book and graphic novel released in the last year. What I did write was a list of "Five Things That Cheered Me Up", trends or events that I felt reflected positively on the world of comics in general.

Which, I am arrogant enough to think, is more useful than a Top Ten list, which (usually, but not always) merely tells one either 1) what to think or 2) offers a handy lightning rod for outrage.

--Posted by Karin on January 2, 2004 5:38 PM

LOL Pete, funny 'link' on 'annoying blogs' there, even though this blog is anything but annoying!

--Posted by Brandonio on January 2, 2004 6:17 PM



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