See all this talk of manifestos reminds me of what USED to be my credo, vis-a-vis music (this is high school through the first few years of college) and, less consciously, movies:

If you don't like what I like, you're stupid; if you like what I don't like you're an asshole.

Then, through friends who loved stuff I initially REALLY seriously hated, I began to change to a more "I should figure out what people I respect love about this music, and, if I can't go there, just agree to disagree".

I also had a few recommendations of movies I loved backfire in a big way - specifically BLUE VELVET for which friends who hated it (well, and friends who also liked it, cause how could you resist?) tormented me with the immortal line "Why are there people like FRANK??!??!?".

So basically, I got SERIOUSLY zen about other people's likes and dislikes.

That said, there are movies and music and books that people like that I am going to rain complete and utter contempt all over, no matter how much I respect the likee.

I also had a few recommendations of movies I loved backfire in a big way

You should've seen what happened when I took people to see "Tank Girl".

And now, back to The Theoretical Basis for the Natural Approach.

Hmm. I gotta add Tank Girl to my Netflix queue, and high.

Okay, back to book talk.

God, I love that movie. Er, and the comic book. Does that help make it literary?

Do other people consider Pullman steampunk?

Edited to remove the appeal to presumed authority.

Does that help make it literary?

Who cares. I'm all for blurring the bright lines. pointed comment

while this is probably a mostly books thread - what brought me to Buffy was story telling. So I figure that's where the line tends to blur. and since none of us live in a vacuum of one media, I think the lines have to blur. Especially when it comes to certain topics like those that are trying to explain an experience , for example.

I sort of have a vague idea about steampunk, but I don't know if I've read any of it. Uhmm, is the original "Time Machine" an example, both the book and the film? "The Prestige"? How'bout the movie "Dark City"? Does it have to be sci-fi? *scratches head*

My understanding of steampunk is sort of an alternative history. as in computers became a reality back when fire / coal and were a the power sources

I was just going to ask if The Prestige could/should be considered steampunk. Or possibly Steampunk Lite.

I'd had to turn both those twelve-gauge shells from brass stock, on the lathe, and then load then myself; I'd had to dig up an old microfiche with instructions for hand-loading cartridges; I'd had to build a lever-action press to seat the primers--all very tricky. But I knew they'd work.

Please forgive me, but when I read that paragraph I flashed onto Anita Blake going on and on about her guns and her shoes.

I know I'm a Philistine. But someone has to be.