Wherefore Fan Fic?

[przed]

So, I'm taking in the local SF convention, Ad Astra, with sooguy, my partner's cousin and my sometime con-going buddy. I'm venting about the fact that the blurb for the panel on Fan Fiction ends with the line: "Is this phenomenon sad or enterprising?" Said con-going buddy admits that he finds the endeavour of fan fiction on the "sad" end of the spectrum, and further that he doesn't understand a) why anyone would write stories using characters that one does not own, and thus that you can't seek to publish professionally b) why people bother writing if they are not in fact seeking to publish professionally. And this from a person who knows that I have for years been involved in writing rather a lot of fan fiction.

Leaving aside the notion that, whether intentionally or accidentally, I had just been insulted, it has left me thinking, yet again, about just who gets to decide what constitutes valid writing.

It goes beyond what is "good writing," if one can even begin to define what that is. Some of the finest prose I've encountered has been in fandom, while I've run into atrocious writing between the covers of professionally published books. (The reverse is, of course also true; we've all run into our fair share of truly dire fanfic.) I can't help but think that at least part of it comes down to a matter of gender. The overwhelming number of fanfic writers are female, therefore it must be a trivial pursuit.

Interestingly, the friend whose comments sparked this also admitted that he found, for example, Holmes pastiches in professional books a perfectly acceptable form of expression and not at all sad. Interestingly, Holmes fandom (and it is a fandom) has always had a high percentage of men.

I think when it comes right down to it, I'm just depressed and irritated that I've had to defend a pursuit that I consider a rather important part of my life to someone who I consider a friend.

Comments

[st-crispins.livejournal.com]

However, comma, this doesn't mean that I'm in favor of violating copyrights, author's rights, or taking money out of the pockets of hard-working artists.

I do have sympathy with this and I think the question of negotiation of meaning and ownership between print fiction writers and fan fiction writers who wish to play in the same ball park (or one located close by) is a complex and difficult one. Certainly, fan fiction writers must negotiate boundaries and respect each other as well.

However, in terms of television and film I have no sympathy because the ball parks are located so far away in public space and are so different in terms of money, status, and cultural reach. Good and successful fan fiction does not threaten either the earning power or the cultural value of a film or television property. In fact, fan fiction supports, promotes and potentially increases the value of that property.

But then, the Hollywood folks ---at least the smart ones --have figured this out already.

In MFU, for example, Norman Felton who still owns half the property, has never objected to any fan activities and was even a guest at our conventions. He knows there are zines out there and he's never had a problem with that.

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

Bingo, and I think you've nailed it on the head.