tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1546665963755719151.post4698632041438455639..comments2023-07-15T07:17:49.535-04:00Comments on Professional Wrestling in U.S. Popular Culture: Don’t Forget about OleSam Fordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17233749268141980625noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1546665963755719151.post-68957021595238931412014-09-24T13:11:58.740-04:002014-09-24T13:11:58.740-04:00Well put. If the rule is always broken, then it ce...Well put. If the rule is always broken, then it ceases to no longer be a "frame," to borrow Erving Goffman's language.Sam Fordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17233749268141980625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1546665963755719151.post-16646546308623485062014-09-24T11:24:31.358-04:002014-09-24T11:24:31.358-04:00Another way to think about booking logic is that i...Another way to think about booking logic is that it creates parameters for a story that when broken motivates an emotional response from the audience. Even simple parameters (making it a "rule" to shake hands before and after) makes the deviation later all the more important.Timothy S. Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05759704121030358820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1546665963755719151.post-34666644253663192572014-09-22T07:49:08.381-04:002014-09-22T07:49:08.381-04:00Agreed. I appreciate this "logic of booking&q...Agreed. I appreciate this "logic of booking" perspective and understand the reasons by which people might find it tedious, on the one hand, but also very helpful for helping fans to get in, and stay in, a "kayfabe" mentality themselves...I still particularly love his description of Johnny Valentine's way of working the crowd...Sam Fordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17233749268141980625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1546665963755719151.post-83961068501248019642014-09-20T16:30:20.230-04:002014-09-20T16:30:20.230-04:00Ole seems like a good example not only of the terr...Ole seems like a good example not only of the territory mentality but the logic behind weaving a storyline together. Although I don't remember Ole saying this directly, his book reminds me about working within the expected confines of accepted suspended reality. <br /><br />Audiences are conditioned to a certain extent, expecting a modicum of logic to a match or storyline. For Ole and others of his time, a logic in even move sequence is part of this suspension (e.g. working an "injured" body part). Similarly no-selling chair shots not only breaks this suspension but sets an increasingly high bar for future matches. After all, when as the last time that just *one* chair shot resulted in a wrestler losing? <br /><br />I agree with Ole's sentiment that something unexpected does not equate to a good idea, especially if the unexpected becomes a common motive in the performance. That said, breaking from the constraints on occasion may enhance the suspension of reality. For example, the build up of Summerslam's main event conditioned fans to expect, as usual, a strong competitive main event. However, the one-sided match broke with the convention and could be seen by some to reinvigorate an audience to believe that anything could happen. In other words, breaking from expectation should only be done with a clear goal in mind (which I assume the WWE had with Summerslam).Timothy S. Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05759704121030358820noreply@blogger.com