Hi, I’m Lazarus, the writer of this blog. I have always wanted a place to share my analysis of literature. In the past, after I watch a movie, play a game, read a book, etc. it’ll consume my thoughts for a few days after. I’ll think about it, why I like it1, what it succeeds at, what if fails at, how it could be improved, how it relates to other pieces of fiction, how the unresolved mysteries could be solved. I basically think through the whole 9 yards of literary analysis.
I rarely write any of my thoughts on these movies down. The ultimate reason being most of the analysis that goes on in my mind isn’t in language. It’s the free-form thought process that functions much more efficiently than thinking in words. The second biggest reason is that I never had a standardized system for recording any of my thoughts even if I were able to put them down in words. I have folders of files of analysis and reviews of fiction which are sometimes no more than schizophrenic ramblings.2
This blog, Reviews by a pleb, is meant to be a well-formatted and well-indexed place for me to store my thoughts and analysis in a way that is both intelligible and public-facing.
You too analyze and think about the fiction you consume. More often than not you have a couple friends who read and watch the same content. So talking with them about this interesting character or this terrible plot-hole comes naturally. Sometimes your analysis lines up with that of your friends and sometimes you each come away from the conversation with a new perspective on that book or movie you like. Talking about movies with your friends is great!
You know what sucks? Watching Movie X and having a whole host of ideas about it but not being able to converse with someone or reaffirm your understanding because your friends’ taste is shit (i.e. they’ve never seen Movie X and don’t want to). Oh what to do what to do? Do you go out and find new friends? That’s hard. Talk to strangers on street corners hoping they have something to say about Movie X? That’s embarrassing.
The obvious solution is to go on the internet and discuss with random strangers there. The internet is right at your fingertips and using it carries none of the awkward weight of talking to strangers on street corners. The only problem is you can never be sure if those denizens of the internet with which you’re discussing have good taste or bad. Maybe forum-user xXx_420_rApToRbLaZe_xXx hates all movies in the same genre as Movie X so there’s nothing you can do to convince him you’re right. Maybe that anonymous image-board poster flaming your taste whenever you post is actually a 30ft tall reptile from the paleolithic area arguing in bad faith because the main character of Movie X burns fossil fuels.
I present to you a cleaner option: read and comment on Lit Reviews by Weir. You’ll see if our tastes align after reading just one or two essays and even if you disagree with me on some topics you’ll know that I’m not arguing with you in bad faith. If you think I’m wrong or have something to add you can post a comment. A comment which I’ll read and probably respond to!
I also take recommendations and suggestions for films/movies/books/anime to read/watch and review so if I haven’t posted a review for a movie that you so dearly want me to write an essay on let me know at frontier64@gmail.com