The "You're Doing It Wrong" Theory Applied to Media

[Zorpheus]

I was picking up an order at my local Pizza Hut and two employees noticed that I was prominently wearing an "Avatar: The Last Airbender" t-Shirt. The money collector commented that he saw the recently released movie "The Last Airbender" (they cut the "Avatar" part of it out so people wouldn't think the movie was about giant blue space elves, I guess). He said they liked it, but mentioned he had not seen or wanted to see the original show, and I said, "That's probably why you liked it." I've seen the original cartoon show (well, most of it) and I thought the trailers looked like they dumped the spirit of the TV show entirely and was not interested then in seeing the film.

See, our enjoyment (or potential enjoyment) of the movie hinged on what we saw (or didn't see) first. Because I saw the cartoon first, I immediately judged the movie to be, as they say, 'doing it wrong'. Hence the little theory I call the "You're Doing It Wrong" Theory: Once you experience a story one way, you will not be satisfied with any other adaption of it because you feel the way you experienced it the first time is the "right way", and anything else is doing it wrong.

There are virtually no exceptions to this rule. I've seen evidence of this time and time again: The familiar mantra of readers, "The book was better", is spoken often during or after a movie (see Lord of the Rings). With all these remakes of older movies coming out, a lot of people who saw the originals shake their heads and say "This movie pales compared to the original" (see Star Trek). Among those who watch those 'Japanese cartoons', anyone who saw it in the original Japanese language with English subtitles will slam the English Dubbed version regardless of the quality of the voice work therein, and then use that as justification to never watch any English Dub ever again. Those who played domestic video games and have their attention called to the fact that the game was localized (names and locations changed from the original language version) will still insist the localized version is the best of the two. Because that's what they heard first, and they'll be schlocked if anyone's going to tell them differently. I myself am not immune to this theory. No one really is.

Honestly, that's not to say preferring one iteration of the story over another is a BAD thing. People have their preferences, and that's fine. The problems come about when one insists that one version of it is superior to the other, unquestionably. Hence why the theory is called the "You're Doing it Wrong" theory instead of the "You're Doing it Differently" theory. The opinion of 'wrongness' is what brings about the shouting, name-calling, arm-pinching and the insulting of ancestry. When you think about it, it's kind of silly. Even when newcomers and fans alike slam the particular adaption, is this really undisputed proof the adaption is bad? Well, maybe. But when you boil it all down, it's all just opinion in the end, based on the things we're 'used to'.

Next time you're going to see a film adaption of a book you particularly liked, or a live-action adaption of a cartoon, or hear an artist cover of a song you loved as a child, do yourself a favor and try to turn the part of your brain off that says "But it's not SUPPOSED to be like that" and try to enjoy it for what it is, like you're experiencing it for the first time. Judge it by its own merits, not how well (or miserably) it stacks up to the original. And if you still hate it, and guy next to you likes it, remind yourself that it's a matter of opinion, smile and nod, and go home and enjoy whatever it is how you like it.

CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?!

[~Brain.Wav~]

It's hard to not draw comparisons. Generally, I'm fine with changes, so long as they maintain the spirit of the original. Pissing giant robots do not do this.
I'm generally really easy on book to movie adaptations too. I actually liked the LotR movies more than the books. Generally, I see movies (or tv series) based on books as a visual guide.

[Tenshi no Obutsu]

"The Hogfather" television adaptation was actually pretty good and kept with Pratchett's spirit, and I liked the LotR movies (for movie adaptations of books.)

But The Sword of Truth/Legend of the Seeker...there's no excuse for that.

[Zorpheus]

Originally Posted by Tenshi no Obutsu

But The Sword of Truth/Legend of the Seeker...there's no excuse for that.

And yet I know a lot of people who love the show. Coincidentally, these people haven't read any of the books.

[Silverwolf]

See, our enjoyment (or potential enjoyment) of the movie hinged on what we saw (or didn't see) first. Because I saw the cartoon first, I immediately judged the movie to be, as they say, 'doing it wrong'. Hence the little theory I call the "You're Doing It Wrong" Theory: Once you experience a story one way, you will not be satisfied with any other adaption of it because you feel the way you experienced it the first time is the "right way", and anything else is doing it wrong.

There are virtually no exceptions to this rule.

Me + Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles = Statement disproven. The last part anyway.

... hell, I can think of several things where the inverse of what you said was true.

Friday the 13th, Godzilla (though that gets retold a little too frequently), I liked the Justice League cartoon far more than the original (or any of the comics for that matter), and my favorite Transformers series is Beast Wars and I like the G1 comic under Simon Furman more than the cartoon. I also liked Superman Returns and most any one loved The Dark Knight even though it greatly altered the character of the Joker.

But I think what you are talking about is more a case of familiarity. We like that that we are familiar with and chide that which is different.

[Zorpheus]

Originally Posted by Silverwolf

Me + Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles = Statement disproven. The last part anyway.

... hell, I can think of several things where the inverse of what you said was true.

Friday the 13th, Godzilla (though that gets retold a little too frequently), I liked the Justice League cartoon far more than the original (or any of the comics for that matter), and my favorite Transformers series is Beast Wars and I like the G1 comic under Simon Furman more than the cartoon. I also liked Superman Returns and most any one loved The Dark Knight even though it greatly altered the character of the Joker.

But I think what you are talking about is more a case of familiarity. We like that that we are familiar with and chide that which is different.

To clarify, I'm not talking about sequels. More either remakes or format-changes. You know, only just in case it was misunderstood.

Didn't you say you saw Beast Wars first? I'm fairly sure you mentioned that.

I'm not sure The Dark Knight qualifies as an example of an exception to the rule, either, unless you're comparing the original Batman movie to it. Then... well, maybe. But it's not a remake in the truest sense. One was not meant to replace the other.

All's said, perhaps I shouldn't have said 'virtually no exceptions' and instead 'as a general rule'.

[Silverwolf]

Yeah, that would work. People definitely tend to have a preference for the 'first way'.

But how can you see the new Batman movie series as not being a reinvention and retelling of the character (for the hundredth time)?

As to Beastwars... I honestly can't remember at this point. I remember watching Transformers at one point of the 80s and not caring for it as I was far more into TMNT. Which is funny, considering now I love the original TF series and think TMNT is kind of terrible.