What's so great about idents? Posted Thu Nov 16 15:50:47 GMT 2000 by Bean Is A Carrot

All you ident freaks, please tell me why you are obsessed with them. I want to understand.


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'Jeremy Paxman (oh alright, Bean Is A Carrot)' on Thu Nov 16 16:33:21 GMT 2000:

Come on, come on!


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'Richard' on Thu Nov 16 16:39:19 GMT 2000:

>Come on, come on!

I don't really know. But to be honest I'm not nearly as intersted as I used to be. I think maybe there is something asthetically pleasing, nay artistic about some of them.


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By subbes on Thu Nov 16 16:44:03 GMT 2000:

If you didn't show an ident, there'd be more time for those annoying commercials with Thora Hird in them.


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'sq' on Thu Nov 16 16:44:56 GMT 2000:

I'm not a big fan of idents but at least they look nice, which can't be said of some of today's programmes.

Oddly enough, I have exactly the same view on Doctor Who.


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Bean Is A Carrot on Thu Nov 16 16:47:02 GMT 2000:

>I'm not a big fan of idents but at least they look nice, which can't be said of some of today's programmes.
>
>Oddly enough, I have exactly the same view on Doctor Who.

At the risk of offending a lot of people...Doctor Who looks like the set was made from foil, cardboard and old hairdryers. Actually it was made from foil, cardboard and old hairdryers, so how can you say it looks nice?


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'Al' on Thu Nov 16 19:25:11 GMT 2000:

>>I'm not a big fan of idents but at least they look nice, which can't be said of some of today's programmes.
>>
>>Oddly enough, I have exactly the same view on Doctor Who.
>
>At the risk of offending a lot of people...Doctor Who looks like the set was made from foil, cardboard and old hairdryers. Actually it was made from foil, cardboard and old hairdryers, so how can you say it looks nice?

It varies. Obviously, on the BBC's shoestring budget some Doctor Who looks the way you describe, but it has moments of real aesthetic greatness, in terms of design, costume, direction etc.


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By TJ on Fri Nov 17 15:28:08 GMT 2000:

BIAC - while technically you are correct about SOME (not all) episodes of Doctor Who, you are failing to understand the reasons why people (including a younger me) like it. It is about triumph over low budgets, with scripts and performances (and sometimes even special effects - don't laugh, it's true) shining through the limitations imposed by lack of funds and television boardroom apathy.

It is now you who is missing the point. Sorry.


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Bean Is A Carrot on Fri Nov 17 15:37:53 GMT 2000:

>BIAC - while technically you are correct about SOME (not all) episodes of Doctor Who, you are failing to understand the reasons why people (including a younger me) like it. It is about triumph over low budgets, with scripts and performances (and sometimes even special effects - don't laugh, it's true) shining through the limitations imposed by lack of funds and television boardroom apathy.
>
>It is now you who is missing the point. Sorry.

No it isn't. I was talking about the look of the show, ie. the sets and costumes which are poxy in many cases. I made no comment on the scripts and performances, which I agree are very good.


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By TJ on Fri Nov 17 16:42:51 GMT 2000:

>No it isn't. I was talking about the look of the show, ie. the sets and costumes which are poxy in many cases. I made no comment on the scripts and performances, which I agree are very good.

No you didn't, and that's the whole point. You expressed nothing but the same tired, hackneyed, untrue and ultimately futile arguments that people have been using against Doctor Who for years, so why the surprise that I read the same meanings into your statements that are usually underpinning theirs?


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Bean Is A Carrot on Fri Nov 17 16:49:00 GMT 2000:

>>No it isn't. I was talking about the look of the show, ie. the sets and costumes which are poxy in many cases. I made no comment on the scripts and performances, which I agree are very good.
>
>No you didn't, and that's the whole point. You expressed nothing but the same tired, hackneyed, untrue and ultimately futile arguments that people have been using against Doctor Who for years, so why the surprise that I read the same meanings into your statements that are usually underpinning theirs?

THIS IS WHAT I WROTE ABOVE:

--------
At the risk of offending a lot of people...Doctor Who looks like the set was made from foil, cardboard and old hairdryers. Actually it was made from foil, cardboard and old hairdryers, so how can you say it looks nice?
-------

Where EXACTLY in those words did I say that I thought Doctor who scripts and performances were rubbish?

Perhaps I have offended you with my views regarding the look of the show, but you cannot say that I have offended you with my views re scripts and performances because I have not said anything negative about them.

I agree that a lot of people slag off Doctor Who with the same boring old arguments, which my argument about sets and costumes probably is, but you have misinterpreted what I have said and are reading into it things which simply are not there.


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Bean Is A Carrot on Fri Nov 17 16:50:42 GMT 2000:

To return to my original point, can EVIL GAS BOTTLE or one of the indent mob please inform me as to why idents are so great.

Thank you.


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By TJ on Fri Nov 17 17:00:23 GMT 2000:

You very clearly didn't read what I said properly, and I have nothing to add to it, because it is a perfectly valid argument as it stands. Thank you, drive through...


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'EVOKD CLOWN FROM FOYRYNMS LOGO! LOGO!' on Fri Nov 17 17:02:07 GMT 2000:

>To return to my original point, can EVIL GAS BOTTLE or one of the indent mob please inform me as to why idents are so great.
>
>Thank you.


you are ribbiusuh face
gas boylle would never say that idenats aregood

they are the lowertys of the low

beanmd os a carriot you are a foolish and are porbe.lanmbely in leage with nele morrisseyy


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'EVIL GAS BOTTLE' on Sun Nov 19 12:05:35 GMT 2000:

IDENTS ASRE NOT GERAT.

THEY ARWE THE SURGE OF ALL EVEL

ENOOUIGH SAID


/---------\

O O

0


\....../

EGB MM

THE ONLY IDENT


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'RB' on Sun Nov 19 16:31:01 GMT 2000:

Which has made the most impact in modern art:
Damien Hurst or Lambie-Nairn?

Discuss.


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Jase on Sun Nov 19 19:23:13 GMT 2000:

What's so great about discussing what's so great (or otherwise) about idents?

That's a question I demand an answer to.


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'Dan F' on Mon Nov 20 11:02:56 GMT 2000:

>Which has made the most impact in modern art:
>Damien Hurst or Lambie-Nairn?
>
Lambie-Narin created that rather chilling 80's title sequence to BBC Nine O'Clock News (RIP). The one with the lightening emitting from the stylised tower...very Third Reich.

They also created the current flag logo on Anglia.


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'Richard' on Mon Nov 20 15:39:51 GMT 2000:


>They also created the current flag logo on Anglia.

Current Flag? Have the ditched the generic look and got another flag? Or are you thinking of the 1989-1999 ident?


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'Damian' on Mon Nov 20 15:49:25 GMT 2000:

Well they also designed the A logo that appeared on the flag and is still used on the generic ident.


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'Dan F' on Mon Nov 20 16:54:51 GMT 2000:

>Well they also designed the A logo that appeared on the flag and is still used on the generic ident.

That's what I meant. The flag is still around, but plonked on those silly revolving hearts. The ident at the end of local programmes still has the 'A' symbol on the swirly grey background. It has been is use for 12 years!


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'c@t' on Tue Nov 21 21:05:53 GMT 2000:

You have to really feel for the Welsh - stuck with old HTV News - that programme needs to carry a public health warning
"WARNING THE FOLLOWING IDENT MAY CAUSE BLINDNESS - DISINESS (sp) - NAUSEA - DEATH
its not even amusing, Gran...not even going to start on that programme, it would mean a whole new thread.
Anyone find any "tasty Lancashire cheese" ill give you a quid, no reason, just so I can say ive tasted it


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'RB' on Wed Nov 22 14:41:51 GMT 2000:

Didn't Lambie-Nairn create just about everything?
From C4's 1982 ident, to the BBC 1991- idents, to the BBC balloon, to the present Carlton?

Not the hearts on ITV, I hasten to add. You see what happens when you don't go to the best?

My point is that television graphics (including idents) are actually a form of art. As such some people (including me) take an interest in them.

It sounds a bit namby-pamby, but it's basically art appreciation.

Lambie-Nairn are the most prolific in this country (and seem far better than most from abroad).

One day there will be degree courses in it.

L-N seem to have more long-lasting creativity than Damien Hurst (post-formaldahyde what's he done?) and Chris Ofili etc.

Graphics and idents ARE a narrow interest, but there are devotees, as for all art forms.


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'c@t' on Wed Nov 22 20:19:26 GMT 2000:

English and Pocket did the horrible hearts, there website however, has not been unpdated for "ages".
Im not sure about Nairn doing the Carlton ones, they did the BBC News ones though, as well as the flags music, and the current music was composed by some failed DJ.
Tv logos, with the hearts as an exception are "works of art" although they have soundtracks to go with them.
For example South Today (pre generic) would have looked shit had no sound been used. but the sound made it more "BBC like".
Meridian only actually got their logos delivered about 2 days before they were going to air so It would have been tough if they were crap ones, designed by someone called the Sanctuary I think..
BBC 2 idents are the most boring ones in possibly the world, as nothing interesting ever happens in them, just some bloody huge 2 comes from no-where.

best ident anyone...
I liked IT\* 1989 and also LWT 97 perhaps Meridian and final TVS - Granada 96 wasnt bad either...
anyone else like to add / change that list?


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'Mich' on Wed Nov 22 21:47:36 GMT 2000:

I quite like teh BBC 2 ones, i is there a specific company behind them?, I also like the current LWT there may only be the two but there have been worse idents. I think that most of Lambie Nairns work, the BBC balloons arn't that bad and the Carlton ones are good apart from being made for carlton. I'm going on a bit but I liked 4 during the circle days and the 96? Sky - the generic ones that had the tower with the oval (not the later ones that just had the oval). I really am going on a bit now, but I just want to say that I think Central has had the best idents in the last ten years on ITV.


Subject: Re: What's so great about idents? [ Previous Message ]
Posted By 'RB' on Mon Nov 27 12:06:17 GMT 2000:


>BBC 2 idents are the most boring ones in possibly the world, as nothing interesting ever happens in them, just some bloody huge 2 comes from no-where.
>
You're wrong. Lots of things happen. Flies die. Lightbulbs explode. They drive around. They get soapy. They land in cocaine. They are the best in the whole wide world.


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