Overanalyzed Shows

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Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/17/09 at 10:59pm

So I was reading the thread about Into The Woods having themes of aids. What other shows have 'overanalyzed' and have people coming up with strange ideas of what the show represents.

"There's nothing good on. The media hates Christmas. The media loves vampires, though. Maybe they will show a Twilight Christmas."
-Danmeg's 10 year old son.

re: Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/17/09 at 11:01pm

I don't think there's such a thing as overanalyzing.

"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

re: Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/17/09 at 11:10pm

Definitely CATS.

It doesn't represent anything! It's about cats who sing and dance and go to heaven! I used to love CATS when I was little, and I still have a soft spot for it, but I've seen some WEIRD interpretations-- and the whole APPEAL of CATS is that it's a spectacle.

In my pants, she has burst like the music of angels, the light of the sun! --Marius Pantsmercy

re: Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/17/09 at 11:36pm

schmerg:

describe those interpratations

"There's nothing good on. The media hates Christmas. The media loves vampires, though. Maybe they will show a Twilight Christmas."
-Danmeg's 10 year old son.

re: Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/17/09 at 11:42pm

The T.S. Eliot poems were a commentary on British society of the time, that's where the personalities of the cats came from. It was not that random.

Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE

re: Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/17/09 at 11:47pm

I think 95% of Sondheims stuff is WAYYYYYYYY overanalyzed

re: Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/18/09 at 12:04am

I think most of the shows that are analyzed PERIOD are overanalyzed. So that pretty much means every single show.

Completely OT, but Wanna Be, is that Hunter Parrish in your avatar?

re: Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/18/09 at 11:14am

I'm kind of confused about the use of the term "over analyzed." i think i just don't believe in the concept...there's no reason to stop digging into a work

re: Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/18/09 at 11:15am

broadwayboy101, yes, that's Hunter Parrish.

#10

re: Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/18/09 at 11:17am

I see cats representing the rich and poor.

#11

re: Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/18/09 at 11:19am

I think that every show is, to an extent, over-analysed.

People have gotten so accustomed to everything needing to have some deeper meaning. With some shows, things just are what they are. It's okay if they're two-dimensional.
And I love that avatar Wanna Be A Foster!

#12

re: Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/18/09 at 12:25pm

I overanalyze everything

Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!

#13

re: Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/18/09 at 12:44pm

But that's why we love you, SporkGoddess. I always find your posts very thought provoking.

#14

re: Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/18/09 at 1:09pm

Aww, why thank you!

Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!

#15

re: Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/18/09 at 1:29pm

I figured it was, but he looks a little different for some reason, so I wasn't entirely sure.

#16

re: Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/18/09 at 8:41pm

I'm with Tevye on this one. One's overanalysis is another's enjoyment of the show. If analysis brings audience members and scholars pleasure, what's the harm? Into the Woods may not be intentionally about AIDS, but if that symbolism gives an audience member a special meaning, what's wrong? Yes, some representations are absurd but I'm all for anybody enjoying any show in any way they can.

#17

re: Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/18/09 at 8:46pm

What a ridiculous thread. No one overanalyzes Cats--I always hear people going on about how you can'--it's just Cats or whatever but certainly have never read a critic who's trid to see deep meaning in it

#18

re: Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/18/09 at 8:48pm

"I don't think there's such a thing as overanalyzing."

have you seen the thread about Into the Woods being about AIDS?

-Benjamin
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/

#19

re: Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/18/09 at 8:53pm

Never heard a critic go deeper into Cats, but I have heard quite the stories coming from dancers who have done the show.

The one I have heard from a couple of them is that Grizabella represents an AIDS victim and the fear and hatred that was projected towards them during the early 80s. What those people who have told me that tend to forget is that Cats opened in London in May of 1981, and the first reports of AIDS as we know it was not until June of 1981 in Los Angeles. So clearly, just based on the historical timeline, in the original production at least, nobody, including Trevor Nunn or Lloyd Webber could possibly have written or conceived the show with this in mind.

#20

re: Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/18/09 at 11:07pm

When I think of overanalyzing, it tends to be more along the lines of thinking way too much about it, like... okay, so if every fork/spoon/etc in the Beast's castle is a servant, how many servants does he have? Like a hundred? How is that possible?? And how can the citizens have a prince who turned into a beast and NEVER find out about it?

Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!

Updated On: 1/18/09 at 11:07 PM

#21

re: Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/19/09 at 11:22am

audience members alway look at shows in different views.

#22

re: Overanalyzed Shows

Posted: 1/19/09 at 1:59pm

SporkGoddess- I would say that the Beast has 30-35 servants at his castle from my recollection of "Be Our Guest" and ensuing scenes. If you want me to list them all, PM me and I would gladly do so. I love discussing/analyzing Beauty and the Beast! SO glad that I am not completely crazy in that regard.

I think that the citizens never really saw the Prince to begin with, he was always rude and stayed in his castle most of the time, so they never had the chance to see him as a human, and they certainly never saw him as a Beast, so there was no reason for them to find out about it when the Beast/Prince was so secretive to begin with

Dean: Can I tell you something? Lorraine: That depends on what it is. Dean: I think you're really really pretty. Lorraine: (after a pause) Ok, you can tell me that.

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