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Moff's Law: Difference between revisions

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Until one comment poster Moff on Annalee Newitz's io9 article [http://io9.com/5422666/when-will-white-people-stop-making-movies-like-avatar When Will White People Stop Making Movies Like "Avatar"?] had enough. Moff (known in [[Real Life]] as fellow io9 contributor Josh Wimmer) posted this legendary comment, which was dubbed [http://www.racialicious.com/2009/12/21/and-we-shall-call-this-moffs-law/ "Moff's Law"] by race-meets-pop-culture blog Racialicious. The abridged, vitriol-less version is posted here:
 
{{quote| First of all, when we analyze art, when we look for deeper meaning in it, ''we are enjoying it for what it is.'' Because that is one of the things about art, be it highbrow, lowbrow, mainstream, or avant-garde: Some sort of thought went into its making -- even if the thought was, "I'm going to do this as thoughtlessly as possible!" -- and as a result, some sort of thought can be gotten from its reception. That is why, among other things, artists (including, for instance, [[James Cameron]]) really like to talk about their work.}}
 
{{quote| Now, that doesn't mean you have to think about a work of art. I don't know anyone who thinks every work they encounter ought to only be enjoyed through conscious, active analysis -- or if I do, they're pretty annoying themselves. And I know many people who prefer not to think about much of what they consume, and with them I have no argument. I also have no argument with people who disagree with another person's thoughts about a work of art. That should go without saying. Finally, this should also go without saying, but since it apparently doesn't: Believe me, the person who is annoying you so much by thinking about the art? They have already considered your revolutionary "just enjoy it" strategy, because it is not actually revolutionary at all. It is the default state for most of humanity.}}
 
This "law" has spread to other blogs, and in some cases, actually enforced by bans. It was certainly a welcome voice to many a poster. [[Roger Ebert]] actually mentioned this on his [[Twitter]] account.
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