[title of show] as "self-congratulating artistic masturbation"
[title of show] as "self-congratulating artistic masturbation"
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#1[title of show] as "self-congratulating artistic masturbation"
Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:44pmGlad somebody finally had the nerve to say it.
#2re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:45pmWell, I liked it.
#2re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:49pmWho said it?
#3re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:50pmGave me a good chuckle.
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#4re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:51pmSee my signature.
#5re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:53pm
Couldn't agree more.
ashley0139
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/3/05
#6re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/15/09 at 10:55pmCouldn't disagree more, but whatever.
#7re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/15/09 at 11:12pmAs much as I like [title of show], I very much agree with David Rooney on this one.
#8re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/15/09 at 11:12pm
I disagree with it, but I can sort of see how someone would think that, what with all the self reference and discussion about what a Broadway show should aspire to and all that. I think the show rises above it and is much more about the questions and challenges you face when being creative and what you aspire to be rather than providing an example of what they think Broadway should look like and high-fiving themselves for it.
But the quote's pretty funny, especially with all the masturbation jokes in the show.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#9re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/15/09 at 11:20pmI liked [tos] well enough, but the comment has hit the nail on the head.
ghostlight2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/04
#10re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/15/09 at 11:21pmLink, please?
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#11re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/15/09 at 11:27pm
When did Artistic masturbation become a bad thing.
No one get's hurt, pregnant or a disease.
Updated On: 4/15/09 at 11:27 PM
heo1128
Broadway Star Joined: 7/9/08
#12re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/15/09 at 11:28pmIm a tos fan myself, but its completely true.
ZONEACE
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/10/05
#13re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/15/09 at 11:36pm
I enjoyed tos and think that assessment of it is completely fair and accurate.
I laughed hysterically when I read that line in the review.
#14re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/15/09 at 11:41pmI agree with lull89. I kinda see [tos] being in the same vein as Sunday in the Park with George, but more direct, not using painting as a metaphor for writing musicals, and people hail that show as the masterpiece of the master of the modern musical.
"If artists were machines, then I'm just a different kind of machine...I'd probably be a toaster. Actually, I'd be a toaster oven because they're more versatile. And I like making grilled cheese" -Regina Spektor
"That's, like, twelve shows! ...Or seven." -Crazy SA Fangirl
"They say that just being relaxed is the most important thing [in acting]. I take that to another level, I think kinda like yawning and...like being partially asleep onstage is also good, but whatever." - Sherie Rene Scott
#15re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/15/09 at 11:41pmAnd to an extent... why shouldn't they be self-congratulating? The show found a lot of success and even ended up on Broadway, and now is finding life in regional productions.
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#16re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/16/09 at 12:06amI think I might put on my TOS Cd and enjoy myself as I listen.
Eleah
Understudy Joined: 12/16/07
#17re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/16/09 at 12:18amI think thats not true at all and only pertains to people who want(ed) it to fail because it wasnt the same run-of-the-mill musical
#18re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/16/09 at 12:31am
I would hardly think that anyone would want a "not your average musical" show to not succeed.
What annoys me slightly about [title of show] is this: on one end, it is incredibly pleased with itself (as well it should be), and proud of what it is; and then, on the other end, it is more than desperate for the audience to accept it and like it (even the very last note trails off in a "So what do you think... please like us...?" way). The two ends don't, in this case, mix, and I agree with Linda Winer when she called it a "Like this musical, or we'll shoot this dog"-type of show.
-Nellie McKay on the 2006 Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera, in which she played Polly Peachum
#19re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/16/09 at 12:31am
I kinda see [tos] being in the same vein as Sunday in the Park with George, but more direct, not using painting as a metaphor for writing musicals, and people hail that show as the masterpiece of the master of the modern musical.
but Sunday in the Park with George is far superior and every level. and it wasn't filled with jokes meant to show how "in the know" its creators were.
harper4
Understudy Joined: 6/9/08
#20re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/16/09 at 12:40am
well, duh.
Most musical theatre is "self-congratulatory artistic masturbation".
#21re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/16/09 at 1:27amI agree. I only listened to the CD once and was totally turned off my its narcissism.
#22re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/16/09 at 1:45amYou say that like it's a bad thing...
Craww
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/06
#23re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/16/09 at 1:58am
That is a good critique and they should feel good about it. ![re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'](https://cloudimages.broadwayworld.com/board/icon_smile_big.gif){kind=icon}
logan0215
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/05
#24re: [title of show] as 'self-congratulating artistic masturbation'
Posted: 4/16/09 at 2:09am
I love people who are claiming to be fans of [tos] while in the same breath accepting something that is clearly meant as an insult as "accurate."
To the comment at hand: the dig is unwarranted. I don't feel as though [tos] was self-congratulatory at all. The show wasn't "Hey, we're on Broadway, this is us making the show and now flaunting it! Love us! Love us!" It simply told the story of its creation in an entertaining way that I personally feel was extremely relatable. I don't feel as though they were flaunting some kind of achievement by telling their story.
Perhaps "vanity project" would seem more accurate because they all worked so single-mindedly toward their objective, but again that would be something applicable if they were in a position where they could have easily done something "better" and settled on just being able to tell this story for gratification's sake.
They had an interesting journey which they were able to weave into an engaging narrative. I don't call that "self-congratulatory;" I call that talent.
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