On openings

I spent some time yesterday taking notes from the post with an editor's critiques of fantasy novel openings that I linked in yesterday's post.

Looking at my notes, it seems to me that the starting of a fantasy novel (at least in today's fashion, and according to this editor) should focus on a character and an immediate, clear problem, mystery or tension with stakes high enough for the character to get the reader interested or intrigued, then pull the 'camera' out and give a quick overview of the situation and surroundings for context, flavored with the character's emotions. We should learn something unique about the character, world or concept.

Which, honestly, is the opposite of what so many self-pubbed books do. I think they're taking inspiration from movies and comics, which, at least in my memory, tend to start with overall establishing shots, then narrow into the character.
( I analyze the opening minute of Mad Max: Fury Road. Skip if you don't care. Thematic spoilers for the movie and character change. )

Amusingly enough, the famous Mad Max car gets captured quickly and Max never sees it again, IIRC, but its purpose there is dual: the glimpses of how its modified let us know what sort of world this is, and it provides continuity from the previous movies, so we know that this is Max, and to separate him from his prior self/worldview. Triple purposes, which is why it's so big and prominent in the opening.

Pitch, and the hearing thereof

I came across this Adam Neely video wherein he pitch-corrected several classic songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxX2u8iggYI

It turns out that I cannot tell the difference. I first thought it was my speakers, so pulled it up on my phone and used my airpods, and still no difference. He mentioned a bonus video he put on the Nebula streaming service, which I ahve a subscription to. I called it up on my phone, and there was definitely a better sound quality, but still no difference.

I would occasionally hear something that was more or a warble which I think was the program doing the actual shifting, but not the pitch itself, I think, and I'd not have noticed that if I weren't trying to listen for it.

The video's divided into chapters, with the chapters linked in the description, if you want to skip to a specific song. He also interview his mom, who is a vocal coach, about the difference between singers today who grew up listening to pitch-corrected songs and singers of yester-year who grew up without that. (Spoiler: there's a difference. It's not bad, it's just a thing.)

Anyway, do any of you notice a difference? (yhlee, I'd be very interested in your experience! It's easy enough to skip around if you don't want to listen to the whole thing.)