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Old 16th May 2008, 20:00
edwest edwest is offline
Alter Hase
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,612
edwest is an unknown quantity at this point
Re: What's the future of WW2 historical writing?

As a professional writer with some exposure to Hollywood, all I can say is: it's a business. The movies are tailored to the biggest audience and/or target demographic. Further, what passes for news in the United States has declined to the reading of various press releases and celebrity nonsense. When the primary goal is to get the greatest number of people to watch the greatest number of commercials and cutting costs, well, it's almost self-explanatory. Why pay for accuracy when it is perceived it won't matter? And then there is the ego of the Producer who may simply want something put in regardless of its accuracy.

I rely primarily on well written books and select other publications. The internet is a minefield with some usefulness but only for those who fully understand the pitfalls. And intelligent internet forums are rare. Too many, in my view, teach people how to be rude, stupid and lazy. "Dude, I'd look it up for ya but I'm too busy now." Apparently, a google search that takes under 0.5 seconds would be too taxing.

On the positive side, birds of a feather do sometimes find each other on the electronic Wild Wild West.


Regards,
Ed
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