During the Writer’s Guild of America strike in 2008, when a lot of people were arguing about power and control and rights and money, writer/director Joss Whedon put together this little supervillain internet musical called Dr. Horrible’s Singalong Blog. He wanted to create something great in the middle of all of the haggling–just to show that great things could still be made—not with a huge budget, not with a lot of contracts and restraints, but just out of the sheer desire of a bunch of people who wanted to create something fun. When it later won a Creative Arts Emmy, Joss ended his acceptance speech by saying this: “Remember, the greatest expression of rebellion is joy.”
What a fantastic concept. To respond to frustrating situations and setbacks not with anger or hostility, but with sheer irrepressibility of your own spirit. And Whedon knows a thing or two about having to keep going. His fantastic tv shows keep getting canceled and his movies don’t hit blockbuster status (of course, directing The Avengers coming out this summer could change that), but he’s definitely had his share of setbacks. A lot of us look at each other when they hear he’s making something new for television and say, “Hasn’t he learned that they just keep canceling his stuff?” But still he keeps making stuff he loves, and there are an awful lot of us out here who love it too, even though we know it’ll probably have a short run. We curse the sudden-but-inevitable betrayal. (That’s a Whedon Firefly joke. And if you don’t know that gem of a short-lived series, you really should. Go pick it up.)
So tomorrow is another Monday, and because of Daylight Savings Time, it’s going to be here an hour earlier than normal.
Do something fun with it. Rebel creatively. Suggestions welcome.
The Aardvark's Bizarre 