Beginning Turn On, Tune In, Get Out: Rethinking Escapism and Domestic Spectatorship
articulates the need for a theory of escapism, specifically as respite
has never felt the need to get out more than the past few years but where is there to go?
Theory: escapism as a spectatorial mode, one way viewers interpolate cultural objects
"Escapism is a desire that viewers bring to media irrespective of its genre, spectacle, exhibition context, or reception culture"
Viewers bring escapism, not vice versa.
Critics call things "escapist" when they think media's artistic merit doesn't align with its popularity
Escapism is frequently deployed in reference to media that has large fan communities
Historicizing the term "escapist," which was coined in the 1930s. (Benson-Allott is including a lot of detail so look out for her book on this topic later.)
"Escapism" is used both to argue that art should uphold morals AND that art doesn't need to engage with contemporary issues.
"Escapist" is used by critics to indicate a disconnect between a piece of art and themselves.
Previous work (by only 2 scholars) looks at escapism and whose pleasure is marginalized.
Others have focused on genre but not looked at how or why viewers engage in escapism.
As a viewer's sensibility changes, the viewer needs different escape.
If different types of movies can provide escape in a shared geocultural moment, then escapism can't be located in a particular piece of media or genre.
Escape from what? Not necessarily about a change of locale. "If it were, all fantasy films would supply escape to all viewers."
"Escape may be hard to achieve, but it is not site-specific."
Lots of talk here about how what we're escaping is being ourselves, which makes me think about the Daniel Tiger song: "You can change your hair or what you wear but no matter what you do, you're still you."
"Because pleasure is a process, it represents an escap-ing, rather than an escape."
"It cannot be an end, because it ends."
We can find escapism in media that acknowledges inequity and injustice.
"Desiring escape is not the same as desiring oblivion or obliviousness..."
Seriously this work is super rich and I can't possibly capture it all in a Twitter thread.
Escape as ex-cendance: getting out so you can go back
Super headachey, so probably gonna lie down, may or may not do more #FSNNA22 today.
Me to friend who is also a mom: Want me to drop the water bottle you left at M’s birthday party off at your house?
Her: Yes.
Me: I’ll let you know if I forget to.
Her: Fair enough.
Parents’brains are full, y’all.
W just reminded me we have a Parent-Teacher conference this morning so I actually will miss the first 2 #FSNNA22 sessions today but should be back in time for the keynote.
Up too early and going to sleep a little more. I’m going to miss the first #FSNNA22 session of the day because it’s right during kid-day-prep time, should be around for everything except the last session (kid pickup time) & the vid show (kid dinner time).
📚 Tom Bombadil (😍) sings SO. MUCH.
💬📚 “Always after a defeat and a respite, the Shadow takes another shape and grows again.” J. R. R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
Now is the part of #FSNNA22 where I retreat to my hotel room, order room service, and watch TV except because it’s a virtual conference I retreat to the kitchen, heat up a flatbread from Daily Harvest, and hang out with my kid.
The Daily Mail: Don’t use these emojis! They make Gen Z people perceive you as old!
Me: I mean they’re going to perceive me like that either way, so I’ll use whatever emojis I like.
Time for a liedown, hope to be back up in time for the #FSNNA22 publishing session.