Jason Brown

[ice coverage]

I am only a casual fan of Star Wars -- similar to the author's husband being only a casual fan of figure skating -- and for me, the dominant symbolism that I associate with "Darth Vader" (in any context, not only regarding this article) is along the lines of "evil" and "the dark side."

ETA:

And I myself do not find anything about Nathan's style or programs to be "menacing." Just my opinion.​

 

[el henry]

This is the Jason fan fest.

This article was a wonderful article about Jason, it expresses how I feel watching him skate, and the author took poetic license, as often happens with NY Times Sunday Mag articles. I don’t give a rat’s patootie how she referred to Nathan, and here in the Jason fan fest, I don’t talk about Nathan.

And with the Lin Manuel Miranda shout-out, the article may get even more play. I say again, woot Jason

 

[TMC]

I am only a casual fan of Star Wars -- similar to the author's husband being only a casual fan of figure skating -- and for me, the dominant symbolism that I associate with "Darth Vader" (in any context, not only regarding this article) is along the lines of "evil" and "the dark side."

ETA:

And I myself do not find anything about Nathan's style or programs to be "menacing." Just my opinion.​

Oh well, de gustibus and all that. I'm a huge Star Wars nerd and I took it as a positive

 

[Spinning]

I never thought the Darth Vader reference was meant as a negative, and I'm surprised to hear others did! I thought it was cool, because let's face it Darth is pretty freaking cool Nathan skating like the wind into a huge quad / Darth marching purposefully toward the command centre to blow stuff up I thought she meant that kind of determination and coolness under pressure.

I think maybe that sort of almost "menacing"/"sharp" style does not fit neatly into the traditionally soft and flowy figure skating box, and that's why some people - and it seems to me especially casual fans - are confused by it and/or don't like it, like Tricia's husband. I happen to love that style, and I love Nathan's programmes this year, so that's why I took it as a positive comparison.

It is a positive reference, at lease in the pop culture anyway. In advertising, Dart Vader = iconic bad*** who attract the most attention.

I think it's cool!

 

[TMC]

It is a positive reference, at lease in the pop culture anyway. In advertising, Dart Vader = iconic bad*** who attract the most attention.

I think it's cool!

Yes! Ha ha I knew I couldn't be the only one! I want to watch SW now

 

[Mrs. P]

And Lockwood loves her metaphors.

“A nice byproduct of never going to college,” she said, “is that I’m never embarrassed about not knowing something. I’m missing such large areas. If you looked at my brain, it would be like those taxi drivers who have one huge lobe that just contains directions, except for me it would be metaphors. I felt like I had a freak ability.”

When you think about it she somehow wrote an article where she name dropped Darth Vader AND Fantasia. (though it's all Disney now!)

 

[Tavi...]

Yeah I just found Phil’s comments ironic, and not a little sexist. Would he ever characterize the work of a male writer as a gush-a-thon? Based on past tweets I think he’s strongly supportive of women’s rights, so it’s a bit surprising to see such condescension from him.

It’s also pretty ironic that someone who can be so harshly critical in his own work was upset that the author included in her article a critical comment about Nathan made by her husband.

 

[ice coverage]

Oh well, de gustibus and all that. I'm a huge Star Wars nerd and I took it as a positive

Repeating the author's tweet (quoted by Mrs. P on the previous page of this thread) and adding my emphasis:

awww. Nathan Chen is interesting to me in a separate sphere — could have written a whole piece about different aspects of the underdog, Vera Wang’s costuming of him, narrative concepts of the Good and Evil Skater, but didn’t have the space to go into it here.

https://twitter.com/TriciaLockwood/status/958780791902916609​

Lockwood's tweet (a reply to a Hersh tweet) suggests to me that she envisions Nathan at least partially as "Evil Skater."

 

[katmari]

It is a positive reference, at lease in the pop culture anyway. In advertising, Dart Vader = iconic bad*** who attract the most attention.

I think it's cool!

That's why Kobe Bryant chose to use the Imperial March (aka Darth Vader's theme) by John Williams when he returned to the basketball court after an injury:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vez4EFifnso




Returning the subject to Jason, the article has also spurred interest in Jason skating to music from other musicals after The Broadway League tweeted

Olympic Figure Skater @JasonBSkates has created programs to @DearEvanHansen & @HamiltonMusical. What other songs from the Musical Theatre catalog would you suggest for him?

Jason followed that up with a tweet of his own

Musical Theater is my favorite!! I'm definitely open for suggestions?!?!?


I think he should choose the rarely skated to musicals , POTO and Les Miz.

 

[TMC]

Yeah I just found Phil’s comments ironic, and not a little sexist. Would he ever characterize the work of a male writer as a gush-a-thon? Based on past tweets I think he’s strongly supportive of women’s rights, so it’s a bit surprising to see such condescension from him.

It’s also pretty ironic that someone who can be so harshly critical in his own work was upset that the author included in her article a critical comment about Nathan made by her husband.

I don't even think it was about Nathan specifically. He saw someone doing the tricks that he doesn't like, and he said he doesn't like those tricks. Nothing about who was doing those tricks. The comment was about the jumps that he doesn't like, not about the jumper. There's a difference between saying you don't like ponytails and saying you don't like Jason because he wears a ponytail.

 

[Tavi...]

That's why Kobe Bryant chose to use the Imperial March (aka Darth Vader's theme) by John Williams when he returned to the basketball court after an injury:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vez4EFifnso




Returning the subject to Jason, the article has also spurred interest in Jason skating to music from other musicals after The Broadway League tweeted

Olympic Figure Skater @JasonBSkates has created programs to @DearEvanHansen & @HamiltonMusical. What other songs from the Musical Theatre catalog would you suggest for him?

Jason followed that up with a tweet of his own

Musical Theater is my favorite!! I'm definitely open for suggestions?!?!?


I think he should choose the rarely skated to musicals , POTO and Les Miz.

Right - POTO, Le Miz, Moulin Rouge! But seriously, unless they’re into skating, the people responding don’t know how overdone those are.

I actually love that people are giving him so many suggestions, and hope something comes of it, but some of them make me giggle! Old man river? It’s a great song but sloooooowwww! And somehow I can’t see Jason/Rohene doing justice to “My favorite things” from the Sound of Music...

 

[TMC]

Repeating the author's tweet (quoted by Mrs. P on the previous page of this thread) and adding my emphasis:

awww. Nathan Chen is interesting to me in a separate sphere — could have written a whole piece about different aspects of the underdog, Vera Wang’s costuming of him, narrative concepts of the Good and Evil Skater, but didn’t have the space to go into it here.

https://twitter.com/TriciaLockwood/status/958780791902916609​

Lockwood's tweet (a reply to a Hersh tweet) suggests to me that she envisions Nathan at least partially as "Evil Skater."

Put it this way, if somebody wrote an article that compared Jason to Darth Vader I would take it as a compliment. And I don't think I could honestly ever believe that a grown-up journalist would imply that a skater is evil, because that's just taking it a bit too far. It's so easy to read anything into a text, which is why there is such a consternation about this over on Twitter. For instance, people are choosing to read "amnesia-inducing" as some kind of a horrible insult, when it could just as well be interpreted the way Mrs P did.

 

[Mrs. P]

Put it this way, I somebody wrote an article that compared Jason to Darth Vader I would take it as a compliment. And I don't think I could honestly ever believe that a grown-up journalist would imply that a skater is evil, because that's just taking it a bit too far. It's so easy to read anything into a text, which is why there is such a consternation about this over on Twitter. For instance, people are choosing to read "amnesia-inducing" as some kind of a horrible insult, when it could just as well be interpreted the way Mrs P did.

FWIW, "amnesia-inducing drugs" are used as a means to help people erase bad memories or trauma. Maybe it was a bit excessive as far as word choice, but I definitely saw it as that Ross' skate was so amazing, that it erased all the bad in the world.

I think it comes down to if you like Lockwood's writing style. It can be seen as indulgent, excessive and "gushy." But others like it because they see it as funny, whimsical and witty. I for one am wishing I knew about her earlier. When I looked at my Twitter profile it turned out a TON of my writing friends were following her.

I'm going to go get her Priestdaddy memoir. IT sounds like a complete hoot. Living with your married, prog-rock loving priest dad int he rectory.

 

[el henry]

I don't even think it was about Nathan specifically. He saw someone doing the tricks that he doesn't like, and he said he doesn't like those tricks. Nothing about who was doing those tricks. The comment was about the jumps that he doesn't like, not about the jumper. There's a difference between saying you don't like ponytails and saying you don't like Jason because he wears a ponytail.

OK, I will admit I am unhappy that the Jason Fan Fest is becoming a place to argue about Nathan, but I will jump off from this (Not directed at you TMC):

It is clear from a later tweet that PH was unhappy about the article's characterization specifically of Nathan. He has had one well reasoned and on point reply, and one recent reply from some crazy lady nattering on about Toller

I say again, that conversation is not why I am *here* . This is the place to gush about Jason, let's talk Jason

Or if we go OT, let's talk Super Bowl. #FlyEaglesFly

 

[Mrs. P]

OK, I will admit I am unhappy that the Jason Fan Fest is becoming a place to argue about Nathan, but I will jump off from this (Not directed at you TMC):

It is clear from a later tweet that PH was unhappy about the article's characterization specifically of Nathan. He has had one well reasoned and on point reply, and one recent reply from some crazy lady nattering on about Toller

I say again, that conversation is not why I am *here* . This is the place to gush about Jason, let's talk Jason

Or if we go OT, let's talk Super Bowl. #FlyEaglesFly

I hope you don't mind that I'm turning this into the Patricia Lockwood fan fest. I'm seriously obsessed with this lady now. We are the same age! We were even born in the same month (I'm 17 days older. ).

 

[TMC]

OK, I will admit I am unhappy that the Jason Fan Fest is becoming a place to argue about Nathan, but I will jump off from this (Not directed at you TMC):

It is clear from a later tweet that PH was unhappy about the article's characterization specifically of Nathan. He has had one well reasoned and on point reply, and one recent reply from some crazy lady nattering on about Toller

I say again, that conversation is not why I am *here* . This is the place to gush about Jason, let's talk Jason

Or if we go OT, let's talk Super Bowl. #FlyEaglesFly

Yeah I'm sorry about harping on about this. It just really surprised me how upset I was about how nasty people were at the writer on twitter and I felt like I needed to vent, but I shouldn't have subjected y'all to it Anyway, I think it's probably time for me to take another 3-month break from skating twitter and the boards. It's just too sad

 

[Mrs. P]

Yeah I'm sorry about harping on about this. It just really surprised me how upset I was about how nasty people were at the writer on twitter and I felt like I needed to vent, but I shouldn't have subjected y'all to it Anyway, I think it's probably time for me to take another 3-month break from skating twitter and the boards. It's just too sad

She's fine. She's tweeting hilarious things.

Nathan is all over my twitter feed. So he's fine too.

And Jason is having the best week ever.

ETA: https://twitter.com/TriciaLockwood/status/959156098250010624

fascinating thing about the figure skating piece is that use of the word “caucasity” apparently tipped off white nationalist websites and at first they were outraged but by the end of it they were all watching figure skating videos and being like “look at these glorious spins”

 

[el henry]

Yeah I'm sorry about harping on about this. It just really surprised me how upset I was about how nasty people were at the writer on twitter and I felt like I needed to vent, but I shouldn't have subjected y'all to it Anyway, I think it's probably time for me to take another 3-month break from skating twitter and the boards. It's just too sad

Oh I'm sorry, that's why I tried to make it clear it wasn't about *you*; we need you on the boards. We need everyone (well, maybe not Toller fangirls)

And we should have a safe place to complain about PH, when he criticizes a complimentary piece about our boy. If we can't vent here, where can we vent? And the thing is, I agree with PH on just about everything else he's tweeted this week, except his comments about that article.

Besides, where else can we talk about all those Froozer placements Jason has been doing recently. I do need to try those

 

[Tavi...]

Yeah I'm sorry about harping on about this. It just really surprised me how upset I was about how nasty people were at the writer on twitter and I felt like I needed to vent, but I shouldn't have subjected y'all to it Anyway, I think it's probably time for me to take another 3-month break from skating twitter and the boards. It's just too sad

Don’t go, don’t go! :sad21:

 

[Mrs. P]

Some fans are really bothered by the Darth Vader reference. Just someone post on IG basically calling it the "Very bad article on the NY Times website" and that people should ask "real fans" about what happened in men's figure skating not an article that spends four paragraphs on YOI.

Anyway, here's a fun IG post that pays homage to the Shoma-Jason bromance:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BeqsBiZnmey/?taken-by=wtf_skating_doodles