The Shame Game: The Lizzie Bennet Diaries

Firstly, I am alive! Yes, for those lovely regulars who think I might have gone completely MIA - I am very much alive, very much okay but also, very much busy. Don't worry though, I'm saving most of my output for Offspring's return - fingers crossed Ten keep it steady on Wednesday nights, otherwise I'll need to rearrange my entire schedule.

That being said, I do want to bring to your attention something magnificent. The Lizzie Bennet Diaries! Full disclosure, I learn of the LBD from my work and continue to promote the show via my work.

A totally genius modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice in a video diary confessional style, that showcases the genius of Austen and also the fact that her story really is timeless! It's an amazing storytelling experience as characters not only exist on the main Lizzie Bennet channel, but also have their own Twitter accounts, Tumblr's and more. And as a fan, you can be as involved as you want - with predominant force sticking with the main channel level, while smaller numbers are enriched by the intricate plotting of deeper level story.

All that guff aside, we've hit a fascinating section of the storyline with Lydia about to be shamed by a sex tape of herself and Wickham about to hit the Internet (the modern day scandal replacement of a shady marriage). What's so interesting to me is the meta level the most recent video reached with the character Lydia reacting to fan comments on previous videos. She repeats the ranty comments which said directly from the character's mouth sound even more cruel than when first typed by a random commentator.

And the direction of their wrath, not George Wickham, who until we're completely told otherwise, we're lead to believe is behind the sex tape becoming public. No, this angry, abusive and downright cruel comments are geared to Lydia and her 'behaviour'. Stupid, slutty, only got herself to blame, selfish.

This girl shame isn't new, there is column after column about girl on girl hate when the originator of the hurt is a male. If you ever want a trip down the rabbit hole of ugly, look at the comments board on a Chris Brown article - in which Team Breezy (YUCK!), slam Rihanna for her actions, some even declaring the ugliest of phrase 'that it was a shame, he didn't smack more sense it that bitch.' Yes, that was really written!

I find it though, compellingly brave that a show such as the Lizzie Bennet is tackling this topic in such an interesting and subversive manner. Almost leading the fans into such frenzied commentary, only then to say, 'Hey now, check yourself' and all without a lecturing, after school special tone.

So when people say that intelligent free content can't be created, can't attract young peoples attention and can't generate actual discussion - I say, you're just not looking hard enough.