The PotC Effect

[dwgm]

Jo of Black Pearl Sails, best known around here for keeping us informed of PotC2 updates at various websites, has started a spin-off Yahoo Group, POTCFreedom, which is devoted to meta discussion. There are some marvelously chatty and intelligent members, and Jo herself is not only a PotC devotee but is well-versed in mythology and folklore and how these effect individuals and the community. As she said in one of her first posts, A story can be "just a story" and it can also be much more and it can be something very different to different people and it can have a universal theme.

So it is with Pirates of the Caribbean. This movie has effected the lives of nearly everyone on my flist to varying degrees. I, myself, saw it the night it came into theaters in July '03, and it captured my attention to such an extent that it was no less than a saving grace, helping me get through one of the darkest periods of my life with my sanity (such as it is) intact. When things settled down a little, in October or November of that year, I was inspired to look on the internet for links and, possibly, stories, and, well, the rest is history. I've read countless stories, communicated with authors and other fandom members all over the world that seem to be true soulmates, and taken up writing again, after a thirty year hiatus, in an effort to give shape to my own piratical thoughts, dreams, and fantasies. It's been an amazing experience, and it seems to just get better and better.

In a post this morning, a new member of PotCFreedom who is recently come to the fandom, said she doesn't understand how a movie like PotC has had such an impact on so many people. She proceeded to delineate experiences somewhat similar to mine, and mentioned that she was about my age, and that she sometimes wondered if she was quite sane, having such an obsession. Jo replied, I think that in many ways, POTC is a very mythic movie that touches people at a level they don't really see but they feel...It has allowed you to meet great people and much more...[You] speak of things that I would categorize as mythic living, community, and reality issues.

You asked why is Jack so hypnotizing? Why would you and other older women (and others) be so fascinated with Jack? I think it has to do with mythic living. Our culture, as I mentioned in another post, is craving for myth. Mythic living is looking at your life, seeing behind and seeing ahead, not just you but all of the others around you (people, animals, environment), and really asking what your role is - what myth are you living and what myth are you supposed to live. I'm not saying to go find a myth and say, "Ah-ha. That one." LOL But myths have so many facets to them that we can look at them and see how they connect to our lives and guide our lives. In the old days, living mythically was easy because living was hard. But at the same time, it was fulfilling, it was accomplishing real and important things or at least being prepared to. But today, we don't have that. We do in certain areas and in certain people's lives, but not for the most part. So many things have become so hollow. People want to "go into" movies and video games and simulation games on the Internet to find some meaning, some purpose, some fulfillment. They want to live mythically, to feel it. I have read so many things about people being empowered by Jack. Looking at their lives anew. Trying things they always wanted to, but were to afraid to try. That is a part of mythic living.

The meeting-people aspect I think speaks to another thing we're missing - community. And some of the communities that come together out of movies such as POTC - the ones I think people get the most out of - are those where people are banding together around that mythic calling. They are supporting each other in those journeys, which include everything from "yes, go back to school," to "I'm here if you need me," to "please do something to make me laugh today because I really need it," and everywhere in between and outside and up and down.

And the third thing you spoke of is about realilty. You know, Western culture is so tied up in what is "real" and "not real" and "crazy" and "sane." I have a psychology degree, and I look at these issues much differently now than I did back when I got that degree. In other cultures, in many Indigenous cultures, for example, people who Western people would call crazy were held to be holy people. They walked a path that didn't include just this world. They had visions and knew things and heard things and those things could help the community (once again, a focus that we lack, generally speaking, today). Within that and other similar worldviews, the question wouldn't be "Is Jack (or any other character) real?" It would be, "What are you learning from him? What is he teaching you?"

Now, all this got me to thinking that, besides my own, I've heard (or heard rumor of) quite a few incredible stories of the positive effects of the movie and the fandom. So, I'm conducting a little poll, and inviting anyone involved in the fandom to take it, and perhaps comment on their experiences. I'd appreciate it if any and all would pimp this in their journals, so we get as wide a sampling as possible.


[Poll #497921]

Comments

[celandineb.livejournal.com]

I put "other" for favorite character because it's varied over time; I suppose overall maybe Jack Sparrow, but if it were a vote he'd only get a plurality win, so "other" seemed most accurate. :-)

[layah.livejournal.com]

Why is Jack Sparrow my favorite character? That's a bit hard to say. The first time I saw PotC was in a theater the summer I was in New York, and I went and saw it alone. When Jack Sparrow first came on the screen I had fairly vague idea of who Johnny Depp was, and I wasn't sure if I liked Jack Sparrow. he seemed so girly. The reaction seems strange to me now because that is something I really liked about him by the time I got to the end of the movie. I'm not really sure why I like him so much, but that character is the main reason I fell in love with the movie. Every time I watch it I am torn between a desire to be Jack Sparrow and a desire to marry Jack Sparrow. The first few times I saw the movie those two desires were suprisingly stong, I would say I had an almost painful desire to be Jack Sparrow. I had a bit of a pirate fixation before that movie, so if I was going to pick someone to fall in love with, the pirate is the logical choice. Other than that I don't really understand why he affected me so much. And now I have managed to write a large paragraph about how I don't know why I like Jack Sparrow. I'm feeling very verbose tonight.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Verbosity can be a good thing! It's certainly helped me clarify my thoughts from time to time.

Every time I watch it I am torn between a desire to be Jack Sparrow and a desire to marry Jack Sparrow.

Exactly! I swear, he's just the coolest character ever.

Thanks for the quick response. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

That's another great thing about this movie: so many of the characters are fascinating. As enthralled as I was with Jack, from the moment he appeared, I found the other characters to be really wonderful, too, which added so much more interest to the movie, and more inspiration to write my own PotC stories.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I'd been stymied in my attempts to write fiction before this (original or fanfic) and something about PotC opened up the floodgates.

Wow! That's amazing, 'cause you've done such impressive (and such an impressive amount of) work.

Re: beta reading -- oooh, yes!!!! Send it ASAP! If not sooner!

[copper-rose.livejournal.com]

I agree entirely with what you posted...PotC came out in a very dark time in my life and I went to it all summer (kept telling myself it was cheaper than therapy) and I must say it was the only thing keeping me going at that time and for some time after. Or, should I say, Jack was...

I have read many accounts on LJ and in magazine articles even about how Capt Jack and Pirates has effected people's lives in a big way. How it has made them more aware of themselves and how they want to be more free--as in free to be themselves. I do think that is part of why the movie became so big; it touched on something vital and important and missing in many of our lives and it sparked that into awareness in us.

We are all on the cusp of new things right now, a new world, and I believe that what Jack makes us feel and long for is part of that.

They had visions and knew things and heard things and those things could help the community (once again, a focus that we lack, generally speaking, today). Within that and other similar worldviews, the question wouldn't be "Is Jack (or any other character) real?" It would be, "What are you learning from him? What is he teaching you?"

Oh YES!!!! I very much get that!!! Cool!!!! Where did you say this community is again?

Open-mouthed...CopperRose

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

What a nice treat for a Friday night!

*toddles off to read*

[thedarkmaterial]

Jack got favourite - easily - because I understand him - or, at least, I like to think I do.

But what a ship is - what the Black Pearl really is - is freedom.

And it's funny, because I'm severely agoraphobic. I rarely leave my bedroom, let alone my house - and when I do, I'm dying to get back to my computer, because that's where my 'Go' is. My myth. My fantasy. My escape. One of the few things I really care about is RP. I don't give a damn about myself - only my characters. I've broken up with boyfriends because they didn't feed my fantasies often enough, because they wanted to love me and not my characters and didn't understand why I needed it to be otherwise. Why I was never really happy with the one who wanted to settle down and give me a good, steady life. (How I regret now giving up so easily on the one who would have run away with me.) Even as a sub who craves structure and guidance, I can't stand the idea of being tied to one place - mentally if not physically. It just makes me a mate, not a Captain. ^.~

As for the 'Other' in fandom involvement - this is not, strictly speaking, a fandom thing, but my leash-holder role-plays a character who was based in part on Jack. It's actually why he owns me now, and not my previous boyfriendom - I came home from seeing PotC, pleaded for pirate RP, and the latter left without so much as a hello (even though I'm quite sure he knew the comment was directed at him). That was pretty much the real beginning of the end. There was foreplay to the end quite some time before that. But I digress. ~_~

[copper-rose.livejournal.com]

Oh, forgot to add...besides helping to keep me from going seriously over the edge that summer/fall, I got this feeling after seeing the movie. This longing sensation deep inside me, sometimes so strong that it actually hurt. This wanting...something...not sure what, but I think it had to do with freedom and wanting more, wanting something wonderful in my life, wanting whatever Jack means when he says "now, bring me that horizon."

I feel inspired by Jack to try and be who I am and damn what anyone else thinks. Am still working on that...and the whole idea of being self-sufficient the way he is. How he came into Port Royal at the beginning of the movie, with just the clothes on his back and his effects, and yet landed on his feet...because he knows exactly who he is and nothing can take that way from him, even if he lost everything else, I think.

CR

[marinarusalka.livejournal.com]

No surprise to anyone, I'm sure, that I ticked off Norrington as my favorite character. :-) He fits one of the character types I'm particularly drawn to: the Competent Professional. I love characters who are very good at what they do and go about doing it without making a big drama out of it or expecting everyone to stop and go "oooh, aaaah!"

At the same time, he's so endearingly vulnerable when taken out of his professional milieu. I think what really made me fall for him was the contrast between the serene, confident figure he presented at the promotion ceremony and stuttery nervousness of his proposal to Elizabeth. Jack Davenport's performance adds a whole lot there -- the way his chin trembles before he can start speaking, the way he delivers the proposal as if he'd rehearsed it in front of a mirror for a week... by the time he muttered, "Yes, I'm a bit nervous myself," I was totally in love. :-)

[ceria-taliesin.livejournal.com]

I picked Will as my favorite, and it was a hard choice between him, Elizabeth and Jack. In the end, I think it's because of his journey. I like how Will changes, to me he changes the most.

I like the hot, impulsive attitude and the fact that he's proven wrong by Jack. I like the decisiveness of helping Jack at the end, even after leaving him and berating him throughout the movie. I like that he stands up for his beliefs. I guess I like that he's proven wrong, and fixes it.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Will is a great character, and makes such a wonderful contrast to Jack and Norrington.

I guess I like that he's proven wrong, and fixes it.

I've never heard it put quite that perfectly before.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Norrington is a fantastic character, and makes such a great contrast to the impetuous Will and the "dishonest" Jack. You're right about Jack Davenport's performance. The character could have been a one dimentional spoilsport, but instead he was whole person, intelligent and honorable, but certainly no saint.

[lj_stowaway]

Favorite character is a hard call. Even though I first heard of PoTC because Orlando was in it (LoTR refugee, here), it was Jack in a photo or a promotional clip that *really* piqued my interest. And even though Norrington is the character I write most, know best and love most - it's ever and always Jack. Without Jack the rest would not exist and I *still* grin like an idiot when he's onscreen.

And yes, it's changed my life. Like you, I took up writing again (after a gap of over 35 years, in my case) and it's now the central fact of my existence. Everything else gives way before the need to write. So, um, yeah. Big change. *grin*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Everything else gives way before the need to write.

For me too, and that's the obsession that has impacted me the most. Creates little problems like lack of sleep, lack of exercise...

On the other hand, it's endlessly fascinating, and I figure it'll keep me mentally young, even if my bod is the worse for it. ;)

Without Jack the rest would not exist and I *still* grin like an idiot when he's onscreen.

As great as the others are, there's just no comparison: I think Jack's one of the best characters ever created, in any medium.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I think the writers said at some appearance a few months ago, according to someone who posted about it at their LJ, that the next couple of movies are going to be about Will's journey - whereas the first movie was supposed to be centered on Elizabeth, they'd changed their mind, that she was no longer the central focus. (Personally, I think it was WILL who changed their minds - characters have the damnedest habit of going their own way sometimes.)

My favorite probably has to be Jack, followed by a VERY slim margin, Will. Then again, them together makes me happy too.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

...he came into Port Royal at the beginning of the movie, with just the clothes on his back and his effects, and yet landed on his feet...because he knows exactly who he is and nothing can take that way from him, even if he lost everything else, I think.

Precisely. A valuable lesson for anyone. And by the end of the movie we know more about his history, and his attitude and self-sufficiency seem even more impressive.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

kept telling myself it was cheaper than therapy

Isn't that the truth! More fun, too.

Here's the link for POTCFreedom.

[linaelyn.livejournal.com]

Favorite Character: Joshamee Gibbs, followed closely by John Cotton, Bo'sun, Anamaria, and Lt. Groves.

Yes, I ADORE JACK AND WILL AND JAMES AND ELIZABETH. But it's the minor characters that truly and deeply have eaten my heart and mind.

Before POTC, I was merely a fanfic reader, not a writer. Before POTC, I was in LOTR fandom, but not to anything like the extent that POTC owns me. I honestly don't have the words to describe what this film, no... this fable means to me. It's my deepest mythology, my Fairy Tale with a Happy Ending, my inner world that sheds light on the outer one.

Through POTC I have found myself again, after having sublimated myself to the needs of my young children for nearly a decade.

Bring me that Horizon.

[azziria.livejournal.com]

Jack Sparrow for me epitomises the part of my life that had been suppressed due to being a mother of small children. I'd let the dutiful Mom bury the side of me that craves adventure, and Jack has helped me release that side once again.

My other favourite is Norrington, because I know him (my DH is a Norrington) and I have great respect for those who do their duty against all the odds).

The best things about this fandom for me? (POTC is my main but not only fandom.) The online friendship and camaraderie. And the pretteh men.

The most obvious effect POTC has had on me is leading me to discover my love of sailing and the sea. Without POTC I wouldn't have gone to sail the tall ship last year, and so wouldn't have found what being at sea really means to me. So yes, I suppose I have to say that POTC changed my life :-)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I'm dying to get back to my computer, because that's where my 'Go' is. My myth. My fantasy. My escape.

If computers had been around when I was young I would've been the same way, no doubt. Wishing you happiness, and a soulmate who understands.

[elessil.livejournal.com]

I chose Norrington as favourite character, which I am sure comes as surprise to no one who ever read my journal. I've done meta on the reasons in varying levels of coherency, so I go for the really short version: stoic, respects people, is smart and can keep his calm even under duress, but has emotions.

I've learnt writing through PotC. I might not be really good, but I know I am a whole lot better than when I began. This is particularly due to hippediva, with whom I regularly RP PotC. It does wonders for the muses.

Then, art. I'm having a lot of fun making POTC manips and paintings, and guess what, I learn something, too. Coolest thing ever.

[mint-chan.livejournal.com]

I put jack sparrow as my fav char cuz he is really hot

[galadhir.livejournal.com]

My favourite character is Norrington, because he's honest, loyal, honourable, endearingly shy, something of a romantic, amusingly sarcastic, sharp, competant, a leader of men, a man of action; a dashing young man, Royal Navy to the core. Without the Navy presence in the film I wouldn't have bothered with it, as pirates do nothing for me. I owe as much to Master and Commander as to PotC for the fact that I can write in this fandom.

[erinya.livejournal.com]

Jack is my favorite character for a number of reasons, besides the obvious (i. e. he's bloody sexy.) The complexity of his character fascinates me, especially as a writer: the layers of honesty and dishonesty, his ambiguous morality, the Jack he "performs" vs. what's really going on inside his head, his eccentricity and his intelligence. There's mystery there that I can't resist exploring and trying to unravel. (In real life, I have a weakness for complicated, unpredictable men as well...it's a preference that works out a lot better in fiction than in fact.) If you're familiar with the Jungian anima/animus idea, Jack is definitely an animus figure.

Writing in the PotC fandom has done a lot for me. It has (a) kept me sane and provided adventure (if only imaginary) that counterbalances the mundanity of RL (b) helped me improve my writing skills and cemented my ambition to write for a living and (c) awakened a love of tall ships and a lively interest in the history of the period. I wouldn't say it has changed my life in a major way, but it has definitely enriched my life.

That's as articulate as I can be right now, as I just got back from a bachelorette pub crawl and even the teeniest bit of alcohol makes me all slow and fuzzy. :P