Fandom-Related Q&A Meme

[quaggy]

I was going to post my Harry Potter blatherings, but then I saw this meme over at zinke  and decided that that I so would rather do this instead.

Ask me a fandom-related question in the comments. This can be fandom specific, general, or about fandom, lj stuff, fic writing, etc. Questions can be as wacky as you want. Ask me about tv shows, characters, fanfic in general, fandom issues/meta, anything about any of my stories specifically. Whatever you want.

Comments

[marymary.livejournal.com]

Another example, every so often you'll see somebody new to the West Wing fandom, try to post a Josh/Donna fic with a mash-up ship name like "Jonna". They soon realize that as a culture, the ship not only is resistant to that label, we tend to dismiss anyone who does, because they're either (a) too young/immature/influenced by other fandoms or (b)not paying attention to the fandom and therefore will likely not be paying to close attention to canon either.

Hmm, interesting! I think I know what you mean. I've also seen different senses of humor in different fandoms -- some are deadly serious about their thing, and some sort of celebrate silliness and outrageousness. Of course I'm talking about all kinds of different communities and forums, not just fic, which is a smaller part of my experience. One news comm I belong to is so strict and self-policing about the content and tone of comments. I like it (I always did love those Nazis over at TWoP) but sometimes someone wanders in and comments so inappropriately (though she doesn't realize it), and I have to shield my eyes because I don't want to see her get "corrected."

But it's partly because certain shows/movies/books/music/etc are deigned to attract a certain audience.

I totally agree, that's the basis of it. There's also something else I've seen, and I'm sure you're familiar with this, which is that -- as opposed to a show attracting a particular group of fans, who then discuss/create/etc. -- the works of art (fic, graphics) lead people to other fandoms and then those fans get acquainted with new shows. The most obvious one I've seen is with things that lean a little slashy. The way I think of it is like an underground river of fic that leads people to pop up in other fandoms.

For example, someone will link me to some piece of fiction that lives in a list or an archive somewhere. I look at the usernames of the other writers and I'm always like, "Hey, what's she doing here?" Like, my Canada friends show up in Band of Brothers archives, or some hilarious piece of Adam stuff was written by someone I knew from BSG.

And I love our icons sort of collectively gives a picture of who we are. Sort of like this whole "portrait without people" technique that a colleague was telling me about.

I totally get what you mean. And sometimes it works the other way -- a couple places I go have a bunch of people who either have only one icon or just always post with their default. And when they switch their default, it's SO unsettling! I truly feel like I've lost my handle on their personality a little.

What's fun about the Adam Lambert/AI communities is bumping into men. Over time, you learn or guess who they are, but it's kind of hilarious to watch one person say to another, "Wait, are you a boy?" They're like Easter eggs.

[quaggy]

Of course I'm talking about all kinds of different communities and forums, not just fic, which is a smaller part of my experience.

Yes, I know what you mean. There's a community LJ for the Katara/Zuko ship for A:tLA that I really like, because the vibe is really easy going, which is a nice change since it feels like the rest of the fandom is torn up by shipping wars. But it's peaceful for a reason. The mods have rules. You can't bash anyone, regardless of their ship. And they will step in and remind people when they get too overboard.

For example, someone will link me to some piece of fiction that lives in a list or an archive somewhere. I look at the usernames of the other writers and I'm always like, "Hey, what's she doing here?"

Yeah, I love when that's happens! There's also the reverse that you are more likely to try out a new show or movie just because enough people in a different fandom you're a part of are into it.

And when they switch their default, it's SO unsettling! I truly feel like I've lost my handle on their personality a little.

Oh man, that happened a LOT during the early days of Keytus LJ. It's like the icon would change and I would be "Wait, who are you again?!"

Over time, you learn or guess who they are, but it's kind of hilarious to watch one person say to another, "Wait, are you a boy?" They're like Easter eggs.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Yes, that's fun to watch! There's this one excellent blog about Korean dramas that will occasionally have guest posters. Since the blog mainly deals with rom-coms and female-skewing shows, it's generally assumed that most of the posters are females. So it was really funny when people find out that one of the guest posters is a boy. :-)