Themes and how they are overrated

BogoSort · Post by **BogoSort** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 8:32 pm

What if your theme is to be completely substanceless and have no theme? ;)

dwchang · Post by **dwchang** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 9:46 pm

BogoSort wrote:What if your theme is to be completely substanceless and have no theme?

Well then your video is awesome

mexicanjunior · Post by **mexicanjunior** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 10:20 pm

Effects are soo cool, I wanna learn them! >_< Anyway, themes always impress me more than any precise synching or flashiness but I can easily be wowed by cool 80's rap (It's Tricky! :p ).

iserlohn · Post by **iserlohn** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 10:43 pm

I've said it before, but it's repeating. You'll find a lot more people willing to forgive your editing glitches if you have a sound and interesting concept, whereas no amount of effects can save you if your idea is crap.

Cole · Post by **Cole** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 11:13 pm

What about showcasing? My AMV macross fan is simply a showcase of my favorite series. People have told me that Macross Fan needed a theme. Well, I plan to re-do it in the future to up the quality and re-match the timing, but I do not intend to add a "theme" to it. Even though it was my first AMV and I had no friggin clue what I was doing, all I had intended with it was to showcase the different incarnations of Macross. When I eventually re-do it, that will still be my intention. Is that amatuerish or simple-minded? (Not that it'll change my mind).

EarthCurrent · Post by **EarthCurrent** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 12:05 am

mexicanjunior wrote:Anyway, themes always impress me more than any precise synching or flashiness

Was the crab a theme? I wonder...

OmniStrata · Post by **OmniStrata** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 12:45 am

ah, fx vs. non fx

the war continues...

theme vs. no theme [senseless]

victor is theme...

I guess that sums up the thread...

oh, like Jeet Kune Do, I guess it's ok to say...

"To have no theme, is to have ALL theme..."
8)

Nightowl · Post by **Nightowl** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 4:34 am

I like my effects and I like my themes. They are fun to make. Sometimes I want to put a theme to video that won't work because the footage isn't available because it's found footage. So I use effects to make the footage more worthwhile. I didn't read this thread. I'm drunk. I like effects, and I like a concept. I use both. So there. I've had lots of vodka tonight. Woody Harrelson is cool.

-N

WhereNext · Post by **WhereNext** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 5:14 am

iserlohn wrote:I've said it before, but it's repeating. You'll find a lot more people willing to forgive your editing glitches if you have a sound and interesting concept, whereas no amount of effects can save you if your idea is crap.

yes but a concept is NOT a theme!!! And i can make a video themed very easily its not that hard to do, but to make themed video that is good is harder. But just because the video has a theme although the editing needs major improvement, shouldn't mean that it is better than a video without a theme but with a good concept and good editing.

By the way my definition of a theme is some type of plot, the video actuallt tells some type of story.

Where i see a concept being what the video is about or centered upon.

iserlohn · Post by **iserlohn** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 9:26 am

WhereNext wrote: By the way my definition of a theme is some type of plot, the video actuallt tells some type of story.

Where i see a concept being what the video is about or centered upon.

Ahso. This would usually be the point where I go into English teacher mode and discuss the differences between theme, plot, development, etc. but I don't feel like it, we can discuss the merits of each at Otakon if you want. Hell, it's been so long since I've taken a traditional literature class (over 4 years now) that I can't even remember all the differences myself.

However, I will rephrase. I am willing to forgive a video's small editing mistakes (some off clips, less-than-perfect video quality, etc., not everything being messed up) if the video has 1)a plot, 2)clear and/or well defined character development, 3)a strongly evoked emotion (be it sentimentality, fear, etc.) or 4)something about it that I find damn funny. Of course, more than one of these may be used.