Reflections on My New Hobby

Feb 24, 2008 - 21:26 PM PST

I can't decide whether the concept of Quarterlife (the social network) is an empowering artistic and intellectual platform or a vaguely pathetic way for us all to fictionalize ourselves, to be a little closer to the characters we live through.

Yes, I can post my work, share my ideas, and draw inspiration from other members of a generation that too often feels idle and impotent: empowering.
However, I am sitting here in sweatpants, blogging on a site built around an internet soap, eating dry frosted flakes out of a coffee mug: pathetic.

Don't get me wrong. I love the show. In fact, my life is a frightening parallell to Dylan's, which I'm sure was the intention of the creators. Dylan is the stock "quirky struggling artist" character, despite the fact that we rarely hear a word about her writing (what is that?). She is the protagonist because she is completely relatable for any well-educated liberal 20-something with big dreams and serious neurosis, and obviously, that draws us in. I like watching a character whose problems and aspirations I share. I am a fan; this is a fan site. I am blogging on this fan site. Is that pathetic? I don't know.


On a slightly related note, I find myself wondering whether serious writers (and by serious I mean aspiring career writers) would ever post their work on here. On the internet, one must always be wary of theft of intellectual property, and I'm sure having a short story posted on a site like this would be a problem if it was accepted for publication in a lit mag. Yes, posting one's work here is empowering because a click of a button gives you hundreds of readers, but isn't it also cheapening because anyone can do it, there is no payment, no quality control, etc.? This obviously is no longer a problem if the piece has already been published, and it is also a different ball game for musicians and actors.

I suppose I'm really just thinking aloud (or with my fingers) but I'd be interested in what other Quarterlife writers had to say on the subject, should anyone happen to stumble upon this entry.