Vova Galchenko Article in NY Times
Alan Thompson
fakoriginal
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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/sports/playmagazine/601juggler.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin
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Interesting article.
fak
ChrisFowler
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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/sports/playmagazine/601juggler.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin
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That was a very well written and informative article, which I really
enjoyed reading. Thanks for posting it.
Michael Karas
First of all, I have to say that as a juggler who is interested in
seeing my friends succeed and do well, I was super stoked to see Vova in a
long detailed article in the Times. However, I'd be curious to see how
many non-jugglers would find it engaging enough to read. I'll get into
that a little more later.
Here's the thing - I really like Vova. And the fact that he has
somewhat of a self-deprecating personality is one of his trademarks. He
is actually very humble whenever I've talked to him. People can be at his
feet gushing over a performance he just did (see TurboFest) and Vova will
politely nod and thank them. He has a way of diverting attention away
from his amazing achievements, possibly because he isn't full of himself
and doesn't always feel comfortable the way some people worship him.
However, I'm not sure if this humble, unsure attitude works to
promote Vova or juggling in general in this New York Times article.
The title alone contains an apology. "As Seen on YouTube (and
pretty much only on YouTube). Again, to jugglers in the know, this phrase
makes sense. We know Vova is not into "gay" [expletive] like comedy
juggling and typical American cruise-ship style hack juggling. But the
road to promoting Vova is not by having the big print say "On YouTube (and
pretty much only on YouTube". Again, we in the know know that he has
performed in Russian circuses, has won multiple awards at international
conventions, and has appeared in commercials and on several national talk
shows. The man deserves a better first impression, especially if
non-jugglers are even to get past the title.
Again, I'm trying not to find any major fault in Vova, so
I'm going to direct most of my frustration with the writer, Jason Fagone.
Like I said, the article's title is bland and unimpressive. The article's
first sentence paints Vova in a bad light by using the term gay, outlined
in apostrophes. So already the gay population is offended and we haven't
even hit the meat of the article yet. Heck, I'm not gay and I'm a bit
perturbed that Vova would use the term "gay" to describe things circusy
and French. The French reference is even funnier because we see Vova
happily appearing in a classic French comedy while eating apples near the
bottom of the article.
Once again, it seems nary a paragraph can go by without painting
Vova in a bad light. In the second, we see Vova getting angry and
throwing clubs at the walls. To reiterate once again, this sentence makes
me and other jugglers relate with understanding. Other people see
jugglers as violent, angry people. Again, not promoting the sport well.
I really enjoy the third and fourth paragraphs. Here the writing
is more engaging and we also get a Penn Jillette name drop which is really
great for Vova. I sense that things are picking up - phew.
Then we hit the fifth paragraph. It reads like a really
interesting novel, not a image-enhancing expose. It's sentence after
sentence of Vova dropping, scowling, and biting his lips. Does anyone
even care about this guy anymore? Well, yeah, I do. I keep reading.
The article again redeems itself with its discussion of Vova's
sport juggling philosophy as well as an explanation of the article's poor
title - the fact that YouTube has helped create a sub-culture of jugglers
who study his moves and then re-create them on their own videos.
Then of course we run into Vova's "problem" as the article
states: "Galchenko isn't well-suited to this world", meaning the world of
juggling showbiz. Then out of nowhere Jay Gilligan enters the picture.
Really? Jay gave them permission to use his name to bash Vova? Jay
apparently says, "Put Vova in Cirque [du Soleil] and he'd die." For
someone as intelligent and articulate as Jay, this seems a little harsh.
The paragraph ends with Vova's concerns about performing - I
knew he got nervous, but not this nervous. Hell, I'm still with him, if
not more. I often get nervous myself before juggling shows so to me, this
article is beginning to make me feel like I'm bonding with Vova. Even the
great Galchenko suffers from stage fright. However, I'm still wondering
whether this is the best way for him to market himself - as a nervous,
shaky handed YouTuber.
History, history, fine, fine...wait!!! WTF? They write in this
article that Vova would sometimes SCREAM at his sister during practices?
God, what a jerk. I don't care if it's true, this article is just not
making sense to me. Did Vova really approve this? I'm so confused. The
paragraph ends with a failing street show.
After some convention talk (in which I was pleased to see
siteswaps treated nicely), Freddy Sheed comes to the rescue with some
compliments (for once) for Vova. Thanks Freddy - we knew you could do
it!! I'm pretty happy with the WJF section but the IJA section again
finds Vova having "prepared nothing". He's lazy too? That's the
impression I'd get. He's once again in "the gayest costume ever" -
whatever, I'm numb to it by now.
There's even some good Peden insults in this article, haha.
Why, God, why? He's a born again Christian with a stylish yet sloppy
performance, heavy on drops. Really? Sure, it wasn't perfect, but I
watched the 2007 video and I don't think Wes really dropped that much, did
he? We're nearing the end of the article now and Vova's routine is
painted pretty much as a disaster.
But wait! Lots of movies and novels are filled with disaster.
But the reason we like them is because our hero triumphs in the end!!
Maybe Vova will triumph on the 6th (online) page.
Here's what we learn about one of the best juggler in the world on
the last page:
1) He wishes he were something other than a juggler.
2) He posesses an "unsentimental temperament."
3) Never surprised by failure.
4) He's trying to "redeem" himself.
5) He feels lame and has self-mortification.
6) He rather enjoyed being a thespian. (Yay, go Vova!!)
What's best, the article's grand finale is a Vova quote:
"I'm a thespian, and I'm very proud of that."
The final impression you want to leave with the nation's most popular
newspaper is that you're proud to be an actor!!??
I pray that if and when I am ever interviewed as a juggler, I don't choose
Mr. Jason Fa[r]gone as my mouthpiece.
Vova, I am truly sorry.
You deserve so much better.
~Michael Karas
Ed Provencher
When Vova Galchenko juggles, he often dresses in a red tank top and
black track pants — no clown suit, no mime makeup, nothing that comes
off as circusy, French or ‘gay,’ as he puts it.
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Circusy, French, and gay are synonymous.
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“Artistic expression through juggling . . . I think is [expletive],”
Galchenko says. “There’s nothing you can express through juggling.
It’s just throwing and catching [expletive].”
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It's too bad Vova doesn't participate here. I'd love to ask him to
talk about his views of artistic expression outside of juggling in
order to get a better idea of the ways he thinks one can express
themselves artistically.
simat
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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/sports/playmagazine/601juggler.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin
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OH MY GOTTTTTTTTT!!!
jimifun
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> I pray that if and when I am ever interviewed as a juggler, I don't choose
> Mr. Jason Fa[r]gone as my mouthpiece.
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maybe Jason should give another fair and concise interview he is famous
for
crazy hippy
First off, Greatest line? "... plus enough clown paraphernalia to give
Jason Garfield an aneurysm."
With that out of the way, I think you might be a bit overly critical
of some points here--to the degree that you are missing what Fagone is
driving at.
I think a lot of those early points you've taken issue with--like the
description of Vova's frustration during practice and his temper--are
included here to give readers a sense of Vova's overall personality
and his "usual self-mortified, isn’t-it-hilarious-how-lame-I-am?
tone," as Fargone calls it.
I don't think the description comes off as violent or angry. Vova
comes off as intolerant of anything short of perfection. I don't think
that an insider's perspective is needed to get that, and saying so is
a bit of an underestimation of the general public. It's also important
to note here that Fargone makes a point of saying Vova starts "getting
angry at himself." Angry as a result of failure, directed at himself--
nothing else.
I realize all of this is quite subjective, but if I had to take a
guess at authorial intent I would say these passages are included to
give a sense of determination. Even the bit about his harsh practices
with Olga. Fargone explains this pretty clearly. "The kids’ green-card
paperwork had stalled, and Vova was worried that if they stopped
juggling, they’d get shipped back [to Russia]."
All in all, in the early part of this article I think Fargone paints a
pretty nice picture of Vova as someone who "approaches juggling like
an athlete." As far as using derogatory epithets for homosexuals ...
if Vova made those comments to a reporter, well, that is his decision.
That being said I do agree with you here.
As a sports writer myself, I have had some experience with athletes--
and coaches--making foolish comments. I never hesitate to put anything
someone tells me--on the record--into an article, but I would never,
never attribute the term "gay" to someone in a lead. Not that
Fargone's lead is that well-constructed to begin with.
Vova, however, did not seem that concerned with the language he used
while speaking on the record, so I don't think it is something we can
be too critical of Fargone for.
As far as the WJF/IJA dichotomy goes, I think Fargone did a nice job
here. This is a point where I think you do need to look at things from
a bit more of an outsider's perspective. Fargone, by playing up Vova's
success at the WJF and then discussing the "debacle" as he calls it,
at the IJA puts the sport-vs-art debate in a tidy package.
His intent seems obvious here. Vova was in his element at the WJF--a
technical competition. The IJA unnerved him because it was more
performance-oriented.
What I like most about the article, though--aside from the nice
portrayal of the two sides of the juggling world--was the end. Fargone
uses the case of Vova's performance on stage to show the bleed-over
between the sport and art of juggling. And I think he does it well.
I suppose from a technical-purist's point of view this end could be
seen as a bit disappointing. Vova abandoning the purity of sport
juggling. But I think that for a general audience the message here is
going to be, "Oh wow. Look, he is starting to overcome his stage
fright and become more comfortable with performance. What a positive
move for his career."
The vast majority of the Times readership probably has no idea about
the sport-vs-art debate among jugglers. I think that, not only does
this article do a good job of articulating it, but it also shows how
thinly divided the camps are.
Like I said, all a matter of perspective. I enjoyed it. But then again
I have never thought technical juggling and artistic (read:
performance-driven) juggling are mutually exclusive--at least not in
theory.
fivecat
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Great article, although the "gay" comment was a little juvenile.
Alan Thompson
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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/sports/playmagazine/601juggler.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sr2IUAaJfX8
I thought he was going to refute the fact that he used the word gay
repetitively, but I guess he is more upset that people may think he is a
slightly less amazing juggler.