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Fuck it, I will say it then. (dancing rant)
13 years ago
General
zoomba pulled his rant on dance competitions, and I though he had a valid point. Seeing that he pulled his rant, I will post a similar rant, with no intention of pulling it. And you know, I have really been behind on my manic "crazy artist" journals lately. I really should not be so neglectful about venting my random deluge of what should have remained nothing more than internal monologue. "Democracy is two wolves, and a sheep voting on whats for dinner."
-Bastardized quote from a 1991 news article, and totally not Benjamin Franklin.
You know what, fuck democracy. Just because the most eligible to vote individuals agree, does not make it right.
We see all around us evidence that democracy has time and time again failed you and I. From bad Presidents, to the "bum, bum" song topping the charts. From hiring Carson Daily, to picking the new Mountain Dew. With the Superbowl on Sunday you can even vote for what computer generated beer bottle donning a helmet wins the "Bud bowl". Whopty fucking do....
With such enthusiastic extol to a brilliant system delivering the "illusion of fairness", you have to wonder why I am suck a "stick in mud" about this?
One bastardized, corporate tailored, word... "Playlisting."
A word so stupid, that huffing gasoline is the sensible alternative to it's effect.
In 1982, this spit in the face, this insult to an entire industry trail blazed the path to musical, and eventual entertainment corporate tyranny, This system was introduced to eliminate the DJ, and systematically changed the chemistry of the whole music industry. The idea was simple. Call people that for all we know don't even have a radio, then play 30 second clips of song. From that point the person, whoever he or she is, gets to take part in this great social experiment we call democracy.
The trouble is, the DJ didn't care if you liked the song or not. We Trusted the DJ to know the music well enough to take a chance. Several of your favorite artists of the 60's and 70's would have never stood a chance in today's modern system of crowd sourcing. Imagine Jimi Hendrix making it in such a system..
When we removed the ability to take a chance, and placated to the crowds, we never even knew what we lost. Who knows what amazing things never had a chance? Something that could have been your favorite.
So, you can see I have a few issues.
Now before I keep going with this outburst, let me ask you a question.
Did you come to vote? or did you come to see the competition?
I happen to have a funny thought in my brain. I have a sneaking suspicion if that you intended to go to the dance competition you would not turn around the moment you found that you would not be voting.
Listen, FWA was a full house 2 years in a row. This, might I remind you was without crowd voting..
If we add something like this now, are we creating a false expectation?
And spare me the "but it's fun" argument.
Successfully wearing a beard of bees in fun. Publicly demoralizing the unpopular dancers, while hoisting the the popular ones to an unreal level is anything but fun for us dancers.
I ask you, Are you not entertained? Are you not content with 20+ fur clad entertainers nervously hyperventilating, on the verge of vomiting, dancing for all for our shared enjoyment? Have we not crowd participation already?
Obvious disadvantages are also prevalent when "playing to the crowd". Dancing prowess is tossed by the wayside when picking the popular song, and pandering to wayward youth. This creating a pop culture feedback loop of regurgitated bleeps and bloops, recycled, resampled, re-mixed, and remaining in our cyclical music lexicon for a generation.
Remove the incentive to be adventurous, and showcase the idea of uniformity in playback, and all the crowd involvement in the world will not stop the stagnation of this color in motion. A constant gray stain on the dance-floor.
Good judging, is the difference between legitimacy, or glorified talent shows.
We have to trust our judges. They, like the DJs before "play-listing". A judge who sees something that others may have missed, may bring a attention to other forms of dancing, other types of music, and other faces to the top. Anything less than a panel of respected judges, who know the types of dance going on, and it becomes a glorified talent show.
Want a viewers choice award.. fine, knock yourself out. But to take away the chance of a truly remarkable dancer, all to satisfy a need to vote, that is anything but needed.. It's where we all should draw the line.
Recognition is not something you see enough. We dancers know this all to well. We are a supportive, and fun loving bunch who know that anybody brave enough to step out in front of a crowd, and give it your all is worthy of our respect, and admiration. When can we have a dancers choice award? The reason we can't have one is because we would have a 20 way tie. All of us back there being unable to truly chose who deserves any more respect, or praise than the other. The true reward for your efforts is the pat on the back, and the loving praise you get regardless of how bad you did. The human contact, and tribe of peers creates an energy indescribable by any of the 171,476 English words in current use. It is for this reason that I submit this journal. It is a feeble attempt to insure that our ability to sustain the very reason we dance for you is held the highest integrity. Dancing is often synonyms with respect. I think keeping it in the capable judges hands represents just that.
Also, where do you find astronaut ice cream these days? I am in the mood for that stuff.
Orlando Science Center, Kennedy Space Center or Mission Space at EPCOT.
Though nowhere near me sells it! Boo!
Get out of here with that popularity contest stuff, let the judges decide.
I could go on this rant for days as well, but as a dancer myself, I know I'd be pretty over it. I'm not popufur enough for those games!
What a joke. Putting the same damn people on a pedestal while ignoring (And maybe even discouraging) young, upcoming talent is shitting on something that should be fun and lighthearted.
Yeah, I know it's just furry drama, but it doesn't make it okay.
TL:DR- Thanks for going out of your way and putting this shit out there, dude. *Bill Clinton thumbs up*
This rant of yours actually makes me feel much more inclined to actually dance now. I've always feared that lack of public support for the dancing I choose to pursue. I don't shuffle, or do jump step, or break dance, or any of the super flashy pop-culture stuff that everyone goes crazy for. I never even really dance at the convention dances, because I'm always afraid someone will be unkind because I'm not a pop dancer. I keep to myself, and just kind shuffle around in place, looking on in envy at the pop dancers everyone loves. That's why I never bother to put together dance routines, or ever compete, because I never have faith that anything I could ever do would be successful, because I wouldn't be preforming the "popular stuff". No one wins when it's a popularity vote. It demoralizes those of us who aren't mainstream enough to get that popular vote, and gives the "winner" the false impression that they're the best.
Don't get me wrong here, I know there are some bigger issues at work here than just me not wanting to waste my time to lose to a popularity vote. I know I struggle with self confidence, and people's opinions, but this doesn't change the fact that popularity votes damage all those involved, not just people with confidence issues.
This journal has so much raw truth in it, and it's really meant something to me. You've made at least one difference. Thanks for writing it, Media.
Where is this happening?
What convention out there could possibly be ridiculous enough to actually be considering a public vote??
I understand that crowds have a desire to feel involved... But, at the same time, I absolutely agree with where you're coming from.
Currently, I'm a newcomer to the IRL furry-scene. I am about to attend my first con, Furry Fiesta-- and, while I likely will not be entering the dance competition there, it is dancing alone that gave me that last bit of inspiration I needed to finally start creating my fursuit.
The idea of getting up there and bringing a song I love to life; getting to have fun and challenge myself; perhaps even making people feel the same goose-bibbles I get when I see a passionate fursuit dancer doing their thing... It's truly a thing of awe, and something I so hope to experienc, one day.
But the idea of the entire crowd looking on me with scrutiny? Knowing that, if I don't do things how they like it, I don't stand a chance? I'm not even in it to win it, and yet I can already imagine how much that would change the entire atmosphere. It's like when you're in an art class doing a group critique, where everyone offers their likes and dislikes, and by the end of it everyone's just talking and praising one-another-- VS a contest, where the it almost always results in dispute because a certain clique may dominate the rulings.
Just-... No, man. It's scary. I don't dance to be judged. I don't dance to do it "right". I dance to have fun. And if I ever got on stage to dance, it'd be to make other people smile, to make them be entertained and have fun, and to feel the same kind of love I do.
How much fun and love is everyone going to feel if they have a "job" to do? How entertained will they be if they are viewing the entire performance in comparison to another; watching it with a scrutinizing eye?
I feel like... Appreciation may still be there, but all of that emotion and life would be so sorely lost, and that's a loss I'd be completely devastated to see...
The love and passion I saw in you dancers (P.S. The first fursuit dancing video I ever saw was actually of you in Spook. OLDSCHOOL MEMORIES. <3) made me want to become a fursuiter, and I NEVER would've attended a convention, if not for that.
Now I what I dislike about dance comps is new dancers being ignored by judges and old dancers put on a higher platform like you said. I went to a few dance comps where I thought new comers were fantastic and totally expected them to place but to no avail it was the same 5 people.... Who I admit are good dancers and have done great in the past but now even the old dancers just do the same darn thing and have stopped working hard to make a more creative dance because guess what? THEY DONT NEED TO. Everyone already loves their dance whether its new or awesome or not and the judges will give them higher priority just cuz they've done it so many times...
this does send a bad message to new dancers! :< I heard about a lot of old dancers also thinking the same thing about discouraging the dancers that they are going to drop AC 13? I do not know how true it is but I am interested to see who will win if they do generously step out in protest of this favoritism nonsense.
Though I will point out I still don't agree with the competitions having a popular vote as part of the judging. May I suggest having a fake voting system where people -think- they are important but they're not?
And yeah, viewers choice and even selection of some judges can be kind of lackluster, but I think that the group support is pretty chill. Just like good bands going undiscovered, its the passion that makes the music/dance/etc, not the recognition from the general populace.
Also thanks for pointing out the atrocity that is crowd sourcing. It's a great marketing tool but holy fuck does it make everything taste like mud
But if it were crowd-voted it would still be a popularity contest, maybe even worse IMO. People come to cheer on their friends!
Also, I'd love to see my name with zero votes next to it, that would be great.
(Also also, I always love your music choices. Like dancing to the perfect strangers theme, that was genius.)
A lot of furs, new to the dance competition scene or seasoned vet, really bust their balls to perform, some to even have the courage to get up there and perform in front of so many people, to be immortalized on a grainy youtube video years onwards. It takes huuuge guts. I applaud all the dancers, and I've always enjoyed religiously watching the dance comp. after or during each con.
Let's say there's a dancer named Skippy the Seal. Skippy the seal is a great dancer, has a good looking face/fursuit, and can put on a good show each time. But Skippy the seal is popular, and people hold Skippy high above the others, even before he comes out onto stage. Even if Skippy did not vary his music or dance style in this new dance, people will love it because it's Skippy dancing. And dancers like Monty the Monkey or Rod the Rhino get overlooked for some decent footwork and moves because Skippy's inadvertent popularity, which followed him to this performance and caused biased judgement to the crowd, has won the crowd over at music queue.
But the problem isn't Skippy. Skippy's just doing what he loves; performing and dancing, etc. And Skippy has a found a niche, so he should not be demonized for that. It's the system, as pointed out in this journal, which should be corrected. The judge panel should hold the right to vote over the crowed, always. So that both Skippy AND Rod the Rhino and Monty the monkey and co. get noticed and recognized for their dancing when either has put on the more entertaining and skillful performance
--
I'm not even part of the Dancerfur community(Though I wish I could dance! Soo bad.), nor do I really know any of those folk personally, but the Dancer fur community, as far as I have observed, are a strong -community- and these guys aren't in it for the title of "best dancer" in comps. or the like, they do it because dancing is their thing and it's pure, fun adrenaline. So perhaps who wins a dance competition, no matter how many times is to be overlooked for the fun that is had?
Though,..There are SO many dancers and I agree that everyone should get at least some spotlight when they DO put on that performance that wows, and not for their face/name.
+1 agree.
I could see an "audience's choice" in addition to the judge's decisions, maybe, to allow the audience participation aspect without completely derailing the competition. But going to American Idol style vote-by-majority? Please no.
As for the dance competitions we live in a society where EVERYTHING is a competition, only one person can be on top and all the rest are shoveled away without any recognition of their talent, progression, improvements, passions, individuality or ability. When everyone is fighting for that one spot in the limelight it turns away from the friendly, fun dancing atmosphere I like to see at FWA. It makes people aggressively competitive, and when they dont win that one spot, they become discouraged, shot down and forget that they are just as worthy as the next dancer. I believe it generates a lot of negative emotion from something that should be fun and communal. Playing the crowd also kills variety when everyone is using the same stuff. I like to see individuality and when you genuinely enjoy the music you're using the soul of your dance comes out and is infectious to the crowd. To me at least I find music and dance as a great way to convey emotion. It's amazing when a performance can influence the way other people feel just by watching what you do, it's a surreal and elating connection between you and everyone in the room, almost spiritual to me at least. When you try to put that in the context of a competition it ruins that experience for both the dancer and the audience.
I never knew about this until I started tribal bellydance. I used to have a paralyzing phobia of anything that put me on the spot in front of people, it was so bad that I pissed my pants once in class for having to talk in front of everyone (sorry if TMI lol), but I believe it goes back to the fact that EVERYTHING IS A COMPETITION and EVERYONE IS JUDGING YOU ALL THE TIME. So I decided to conquer that fear with dance and it worked. Our halflas, our shows, expos, festivals...they all have one thing in common that I love- they aren't competitions, they are showcases. Everyone in my troupe is so supportive of each other, it's like a family, and our instructor is just the best to work with. We work hard and help each other on our choreos and recognize individual achievements as well as our group efforts. Being a part of that community is so good for the soul. I believe dance is so personal that it cannot be judged by popular vote for a single winner, only appreciated for what it is. The courage it takes to get up and move with confidence in front of people is phenomenal especially when our society is so critical and judgmental of each other. For a newbie dancer one of the best ways to improve your performance is to do it on a stage, in front of people. If we hinder that with our baseless judgements how are they going to feel comfortable and improve and realize their potential? Another factor I like to think about is how dance belongs to everyone. It's a part of human nature and is seen all over the world. Everyone should be encouraged to dance wether you think their good or not, you have to start somewhere. It was never meant to be a competition with one winner, it belongs to us all.
As for the judging concept of these competitions you're right about the legitimacy vs a glorified talent show. The people placing their votes usually aren't going to be able to evaluate the show based on skill and execution of moves, but more based on what they liked, the music that was chosen or even the way the fursuit looked, so you have a lot of subjective factors in there. It takes away from the whole core of dance. If I ever "won" a competition I couldn't feel completely comfortable being the only one getting recognition, I'd want to share it with everyone who had the courage to go up there and perform, to expose themselves to the vulnerability of being judged and torn apart by the eyes and perceptions of a voting audience. No dancer deserves to feel like their not good enough, they should be encouraged to grow so we can all share the successes of each other. When it's a competition there's no room for appreciation and that doesn't belong in the world of dance.
Sorry for the rant, I get carried away with passion sometimes.
I really hope this doesn't become a thing. :T Lost a dancer before he even got to dance.
If I was to make a point outside of my rant at face value, I would have pointed out the specific technical layers of democratic process in the argument. That, and I would definitely have much more to say about the judging. I felt this a tad pedantic for something more of a lighthearted excuse to use fun analogies, and poke fun at animated beer bottles.
I don't have much to add other than the fact that I miss FWA.
Maybe it's because I judge student performances on a daily basis (or the fact that I only make 2 or less cons a year), but I don't really have much of a problem separating out biases as a judge when I am judging people I know. Sometimes I'm sad when a seasoned dancer has a poorly prepared routine, but really, I know all too well that the point of any performance is to 1) get into the show, 2) have your stuff memorized or planned out, 3) keep it moving when the pressure's on. The best technical dancer can choke and the most unexpected person may have a special kind of stage presence.
That being said, the audience vote, if present, is just another part of the show. Not everyone is going to enjoy Shakespeare or dissect that language, but the most interesting troupe at the Shakespeare festival will have the highest ticket sales, even if their iambic isn't poppin fresh. You gotta rep the whole show, even to the cheap seat groundlings, and that show is embedded in a time (now), with taste being what it is.
Meh, you know me. I always was most interested in having a showcase, instead of a competition. Either way, I hope dancers continue to have fun with it. After all, it's just an hour of entertainment (for a bunch of furries and YouTubers, who are also mostly furries).