The Ultimate Kdrama

Today and yesterday,  lesbiassparrow, calixaand I have been constructing the ultimate kdrama.  Details can be found here:

http://lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com/tag/the+ultimate+kdrama

It will cater to every kink known to drama fans, feature much, much death in the snow, reincarnation, forbidden love, etc.  It will be the purest melodramatic crack known to mankind.  If it is made, no one will ever wish to watch a kdrama again, because there will be no point.  I, personally, am campaigning for an Emotastic Fortress of Snowy Solitude and for one of the heroines to be raised  by pigeons.

The Ultimate Kdrama

Today and yesterday,  lesbiassparrow, calixaand I have been constructing the ultimate kdrama.  Details can be found here:

http://lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com/tag/the+ultimate+kdrama

It will cater to every kink known to drama fans, feature much, much death in the snow, reincarnation, forbidden love, etc.  It will be the purest melodramatic crack known to mankind.  If it is made, no one will ever wish to watch a kdrama again, because there will be no point.  I, personally, am campaigning for an Emotastic Fortress of Snowy Solitude and for one of the heroines to be raised  by pigeons.

The Great Cassie Edwards Scandal

For those not familiar with what I'm referring to: Cassie Edwards is a romance author who writes rather bad Native American romances with titles like Savage Longings, Savage Beloved, Savage Moon and Savage Dream.  I am not ashamed to admit I read a few in high school.  The reason I am not ashamed to admit it is because they're one of the main things that got me to realize that popular and good were not synonymous, and that thinking a book others loved was bad was a problem with the book, not with me.  Because of her, bad native american romances are my limit.*  Well, that and things like rape, alpha male pressuring the doormat into submission, abuse and other squick and annoyance factors.  Oh, and boredom.  You can be great or awful and not hit hot buttons and I'll read, but the second you start to bore, we're done.

Anyway, recently, one of the lovely ladies at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books recently sat down with some of her books with a friend, who reading them, noticed that some of the passages didn't fit with the rest of the prose.  With a few minutes in google, they discovered that they were directly lifted and minimally paraphrased from various sources without credit.  According to crumpeteer, apparently she even plagiarized one of her author's notes.

Here is the introductory post.

Here is a document with comparisons between the original texts and Edwards's books.

Here is a link to an article containing Edwards's response, which includes this gem: [Edwards] acknowledged that she sometimes “takes” her material “from reference books,” but added that she didn’t know she was supposed to credit her sources. 

Here is a letter posted to myspace, allegedly by Edwards.  I'm fond of this part: The sad thing is that I am writing these books now in a way to honor our Native Americans, past, present and in the future. And I am honoring my great grandmother who was a full blood Cheyenne. She would be so proud of me if she could read what I am writing about the Indians who have been so maligned for so long. And do you know? I feel picked on now as our Native American Indians have always been picked on throughout history. I am trying to spread the word about them and what do I get? Spiteful women who have found a way to bring attention to themselves, by getting in the media in this horrible way. 

There are several other articles at the site, and I think they're adding as more come out.

ETA:  I forgot to mention:  the best part of the plagiarism is that the copied texts are used as DIALOGUE.  Yes, academic and research texts are, word for word, used as dialogue.  No wonder the dialogue was awful.  Also, interesting links in comments.  Scroll down to  estara's comments.

*That and vampires who sparkle in the sun and willingly attend highschool over and over.  I'm sorry, I tried to give Twilight a chance and at least read the first chapter in Hastings, but I just couldn't.

The Great Cassie Edwards Scandal

For those not familiar with what I'm referring to: Cassie Edwards is a romance author who writes rather bad Native American romances with titles like Savage Longings, Savage Beloved, Savage Moon and Savage Dream.  I am not ashamed to admit I read a few in high school.  The reason I am not ashamed to admit it is because they're one of the main things that got me to realize that popular and good were not synonymous, and that thinking a book others loved was bad was a problem with the book, not with me.  Because of her, bad native american romances are my limit.*  Well, that and things like rape, alpha male pressuring the doormat into submission, abuse and other squick and annoyance factors.  Oh, and boredom.  You can be great or awful and not hit hot buttons and I'll read, but the second you start to bore, we're done.

Anyway, recently, one of the lovely ladies at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books recently sat down with some of her books with a friend, who reading them, noticed that some of the passages didn't fit with the rest of the prose.  With a few minutes in google, they discovered that they were directly lifted and minimally paraphrased from various sources without credit.  According to crumpeteer, apparently she even plagiarized one of her author's notes.

Here is the introductory post.

Here is a document with comparisons between the original texts and Edwards's books.

Here is a link to an article containing Edwards's response, which includes this gem: [Edwards] acknowledged that she sometimes “takes” her material “from reference books,” but added that she didn’t know she was supposed to credit her sources. 

Here is a letter posted to myspace, allegedly by Edwards.  I'm fond of this part: The sad thing is that I am writing these books now in a way to honor our Native Americans, past, present and in the future. And I am honoring my great grandmother who was a full blood Cheyenne. She would be so proud of me if she could read what I am writing about the Indians who have been so maligned for so long. And do you know? I feel picked on now as our Native American Indians have always been picked on throughout history. I am trying to spread the word about them and what do I get? Spiteful women who have found a way to bring attention to themselves, by getting in the media in this horrible way. 

There are several other articles at the site, and I think they're adding as more come out.

ETA:  I forgot to mention:  the best part of the plagiarism is that the copied texts are used as DIALOGUE.  Yes, academic and research texts are, word for word, used as dialogue.  No wonder the dialogue was awful.  Also, interesting links in comments.  Scroll down to  estara's comments.

*That and vampires who sparkle in the sun and willingly attend highschool over and over.  I'm sorry, I tried to give Twilight a chance and at least read the first chapter in Hastings, but I just couldn't.

Night of the Beasts Vol 5

This volume was mostly about the history between Mikage, the priestess who founded Aria's line, and Kagara, the demon who killed, and was killed by, Mikage 400 years ago.  Now, here's the thing:  I like the "enemies as lovers"  bit, but very conditionally.  As a general rule, you have to convince me that no, nothing about the plot could possibly work without it, such as in Basara, for it to work.  That Romeo and Juliet "oh, woe, our families hate each other and instead of using our brains and dumping them, we will angst a lot and then kill each other" stuff isn't my thing.  At all.  (Side note:  I don't really call the "oh, I've heard so much bad stuff about you that I'll reject you until you prove that you're not so bad, or at least willing to make really dramatic gestures for me that usually involve a trail of dead or unconscious bodies" bit "enemies as lovers" as it's more "bad boy/good girl" most of the time.)

There is, however, one time I'll almost always fall for it:  when you bring in reincarnation and make the "enemies" part against the will of the principles. Siblings/friends/lovers/whatever forced into being enemies due to that pesky past lives things almost always works for me.  And since Night of the Beasts is centered around that, Japanese mythology and a strong heroine, it's no wonder I love it so. 

( more )

Night of the Beasts Vol 5

This volume was mostly about the history between Mikage, the priestess who founded Aria's line, and Kagara, the demon who killed, and was killed by, Mikage 400 years ago.  Now, here's the thing:  I like the "enemies as lovers"  bit, but very conditionally.  As a general rule, you have to convince me that no, nothing about the plot could possibly work without it, such as in Basara, for it to work.  That Romeo and Juliet "oh, woe, our families hate each other and instead of using our brains and dumping them, we will angst a lot and then kill each other" stuff isn't my thing.  At all.  (Side note:  I don't really call the "oh, I've heard so much bad stuff about you that I'll reject you until you prove that you're not so bad, or at least willing to make really dramatic gestures for me that usually involve a trail of dead or unconscious bodies" bit "enemies as lovers" as it's more "bad boy/good girl" most of the time.)

There is, however, one time I'll almost always fall for it:  when you bring in reincarnation and make the "enemies" part against the will of the principles. Siblings/friends/lovers/whatever forced into being enemies due to that pesky past lives things almost always works for me.  And since Night of the Beasts is centered around that, Japanese mythology and a strong heroine, it's no wonder I love it so. 

( more )

What anime should I watch?

Title says it all.

[Poll #1121964]

Oh, and I tried watching the kdrama Lovers In Paris today, but the heroine's "my stupidity and irresponsibility make me cute and charming and it wrong of my boss to fire me for always being late and breaking things" personality completely alienated me and I have learned that if a modern kdrama alieantes me at the start, I should run because it'll only get worse for me.

What anime should I watch?

Title says it all.

[Poll #1121964]

Oh, and I tried watching the kdrama Lovers In Paris today, but the heroine's "my stupidity and irresponsibility make me cute and charming and it wrong of my boss to fire me for always being late and breaking things" personality completely alienated me and I have learned that if a modern kdrama alieantes me at the start, I should run because it'll only get worse for me.