"There is no such thing as "hype", it's something that bloggers and people like us make up."
I don't know what you think "hype" means but I consider it to be a build of excitement. Concerning the "hype" of Best Musical:
In 2004, voters had to choose between BOY FROM OZ, CAROLINE OR CHANGE, WICKED, and AVENUE Q. None campaigned except for AVENUE Q. One could argue that the majority of votes were going to WICKED and AVENUE Q. Q was a show that was originally dismissed by many, just like XANADU was. When Q campaigned, it let everyone know that a) they wanted to win, b) to vote your HEART (vote for who you really think should win, not just the most commercial or the most universally POPULAR), and thus it became "OK" to vote for Q. They argued their case. Did it sway a huge amount of votes? Probably not - but enough to win? Yes. I argue that if they didn't have a campaign, they wouldn't have won.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
Updated On: 5/16/08 at 11:07 AM
