'So bad it's good' is not real. Just call it good.
I have a real bone to pick with this 'so bad it's good' way of thinking about art things like movies etc.
To me it sounds like a weak cowardly way of justifying enjoying an experience that the council of letterboxd people and Roger ebert people have decided is not supposed to be enjoyed fully, just stand on that shit for gods sake. No, War of the Worlds 2025 and Return of The Living Dead, and The Room are not 'so bad it's good'. They are either 'good' or 'bad' or 'meh'.
In my opinion, they are firmly and squarely bad, but I respect someone so much more who argues honestly that they are 'good' than someone who says some bullshit like 'so bad it's good' please, have a real goddamn opinon.
How can a thing be so bad, and provide so much negative value or provide very little pisitive value, that it turns around into a firmly positive value? I might need someone to anologise this for me or use metaphor to explain because no matter which way I think on it I cannot wrap my brain around it.
When we engage in art critique, we are making value judgements, always. What value is art supposed to provide? I have my own ideas on this, but I suppose maybe they are not 'correct' and maybe there is no way to be 'correct' in that matter. But I implore all you 'so bad it's good' people to think hard on this and come up with your own framework for answering this question.
If it provided positive value for you, or for whatever you care about, then just call it good for Christ's sake, and die on that hill. Stop hedging. It makes for much more interesting discussion of art, and also, I truly believe that degrading the art like for the sake of hedging, no matter how ironic you're being, actually degrades your soul also. Okay that's my take.
I've always felt vaguely strongly about this in some way or another but I've never tried to actually organise my thoughts on the matter until right now thanks for bearing w me
edit: You guys hate this take and yet I'm being down voted, very interesting...