If you’ve been anywhere near the internet this weekend you’ve probably heard about Velma, the new HBO Max adult cartoon about the origins of the Scooby-Doo gang, pre-Great Dane mascot. Apparently tons of people watched the first episode (I was not among them) and it currently sits at a dismal 1.5/10 stars on IMDb. Everyone seemingly watched it, and hated it, but if I’m an HBO Max exec I’m saying, “But they watched it.”
The advertising alone told us to hate watch it.
And like moths to the flame, people did. Why? Well, some people like to be angry. On the left people feed their Trump Derangement Syndrome, and on the right they feed their cultural outrage. Nothing is really accomplished by staying at the boiling point all the time, occasionally bubbling over to spew hot rage at someone on the other side. It’s probably taking years off your life if you live that way.
You do you.
There’s also the insatiable desire to be in the know. Why do we slow down to gawk at horrific traffic accidents? Because we want to be the one who saw it. Now we’ve had an experience, a story to share, some “thing” that the person we’re talking to do didn’t. Sure it’s repulsive in the moment. That’s the point! No one wants to gossip about normal stuff.
In the age of social media, we’re all yellow journalists.
HBO Max isn’t the only one reaping the rewards of making something repugnant. The people on the other side are having a heyday dissecting every little detail. “While you’re here, be sure to like this video, subscribe to my channel, buy my product, or throw something in the tip jar so I can fuel your rage.” There’s a lot of money and attention to be gained in a good analysis.
These aren’t reviews: they’re autopsies for an audience.
All these grifters are doing is feeding our own sense of satisfaction. “I knew I was right to dislike that thing, and he articulates it better than I can.” Now, I admit that I’ve watched some of these videos and find some use in them. Guys like The Critical Drinker understand Story and offer insightful cultural analysis. I also respect him for using his knowledge to write novels, creating not just complaining. Most of the people on that side of YouTube just collect their rage check and go to the bank.
Why are the arts so bad?
It’s easier to knock something down than it is to create. Whether that be deconstructing a beloved intellectual property, or making a video deconstructing the deconstruction. It’s easy money. Meanwhile, the indie artists out there who are trying to tell new stories, start new franchises, and make good art, are routinely told they don’t exist. They’re a threat to the grifters on both sides. The battle is uphill on both sides.
But maybe, just maybe, given enough time we can build something in the valley that will tower over the opposition.