mark_asphodel (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mark_asphodel) wrote2010-12-08 01:46 pm
mark_asphodel) wrote2010-12-08 01:46 pm
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Subverting the Dominant Paradigm
Now that I've landed on everyone's B.S. radar for the title...
When I was in Gundam Wing fandom, there were some clear-eyed and rational fans who took a moment to reflect upon how the fandom, or at least the writing end of it, got so damn screwed up. The most eloquent of these was probably tzigane, a Chang Wufei fan whose 'fics weren't my thing but whose characterization essays (warning for language and discussion of yaoi) are essential for understanding how and why a fandom goes to hell. Or, rather, how something blatantly out-of-character becomes the dominant take on a character, to the point where canon-faithful portrayals are shouted down, met with tar and pitchforks, etc. Her essay on Heero Yuy contained an "a-ha!" moment for me when she talked about how successive waves of fans essentially distort the stereotypes crafted by the prior wave.
Circa 2008 I wrote something similar for SSB fandom concentrating on themutilation desecration popular depiction of Roy and Marth. FE11 wasn't out yet to confuse people further, but as far as I can tell FE11 hasn't mattered a jot to 98% of SSB 'ficcers, so as far as I'm concerned my take on things from then still stands. I called the essay "Martian Canals" (x-ref), and my key assertion was that the 'ficcers were so far off base, even given fragmented and contradictory canon, that the "Marth" and "Roy" they were writing about essentially didn't exist anywhere outside of fandom itself.
I wisely did not post that essay. Anywhere. I still thought FE fans were jerks and already figured the SSB crowd didn't care about self-reflection.
I could probably postulate for hours about how and why SSB fandom got so screwy, and why fans latched onto specific OOC takes on Marth and Roy-- which 'fics set the pace, and who borrowed from what, and so forth. But I'm sure none of you in FE-land care; the end result is simply that we can collectively spot at once when an SSB-writer blunders into Fire Emblem fandom and slaps up a 'fic. The traits are so clear you can practically write a field guide for it.
But Fire Emblem fandom has its own evolutions and subversions, though on a smaller scale. I dunno about Tellius, but in the sub-fandoms I follow it usually consists of a couple of people who are really into one concept or one pairing, and suddenly the front page of ffnet's archive has three or four Marisa/Joshua stories on it. And I think the rise of Kent/Lyn as the dominant Lyn pairing has been discussed many times in multiple places, but the essence of that one is that someone started writing something they liked and it turned out other people liked it too.
I don't think most writers have a mind to hijack a fandom. I'm certain the early Gundam Wing writers had no idea that "their" Heero and Duo and whatnot-- characterizations based on a handful of fansubbed videos-- would mutate and devour fandom. But it's an interesting thing to contemplate, particularly when I come across 'fics involving characters I am personally invested in and think, "Is this writer deriving their take on character X from canon, or did they get this from reading other writers' fanfics?" Because coming across someone else whose take on Character X meshes with yours doesn't necessarily validate your beliefs re: Character X with regard to canon. It could just mean you were both reading the same 'fics or the same commentary. It could even mean they read your own story and liked it, and you're essentially agreeing with a reflection of yourself.
Seriously, I once found something in the Fire Emblem TV Tropes section whose wording was identical to wording in a discussion I was having with someone in the comments of my DA journal. Now, did that other person then turn around and edit TV Tropes, or did some third party come across that conversation and lift a phrase, or did multiple fans in the same small fandom reach the same conclusion independently? (Said wording is now gone, TV Tropes being what it is-- it had to do with FE3!Marth versus FE11!Marth, and the current text is pared down considerably.) I've had the same experience at least once with the FE Wiki. And some discussions in![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
emblanon have made the whole echo-chamber effect very disconcerting-- I've seen things that sound damn-near identical to my own beliefs, but it wasn't me. But it's an anon meme, so I don't know if that writer was being sincere, or sockpuppeting, or what.
So, dear f-list-- what fandom paradigms do you plan to subvert in the new year?
When I was in Gundam Wing fandom, there were some clear-eyed and rational fans who took a moment to reflect upon how the fandom, or at least the writing end of it, got so damn screwed up. The most eloquent of these was probably tzigane, a Chang Wufei fan whose 'fics weren't my thing but whose characterization essays (warning for language and discussion of yaoi) are essential for understanding how and why a fandom goes to hell. Or, rather, how something blatantly out-of-character becomes the dominant take on a character, to the point where canon-faithful portrayals are shouted down, met with tar and pitchforks, etc. Her essay on Heero Yuy contained an "a-ha!" moment for me when she talked about how successive waves of fans essentially distort the stereotypes crafted by the prior wave.
Circa 2008 I wrote something similar for SSB fandom concentrating on the
I wisely did not post that essay. Anywhere. I still thought FE fans were jerks and already figured the SSB crowd didn't care about self-reflection.
I could probably postulate for hours about how and why SSB fandom got so screwy, and why fans latched onto specific OOC takes on Marth and Roy-- which 'fics set the pace, and who borrowed from what, and so forth. But I'm sure none of you in FE-land care; the end result is simply that we can collectively spot at once when an SSB-writer blunders into Fire Emblem fandom and slaps up a 'fic. The traits are so clear you can practically write a field guide for it.
But Fire Emblem fandom has its own evolutions and subversions, though on a smaller scale. I dunno about Tellius, but in the sub-fandoms I follow it usually consists of a couple of people who are really into one concept or one pairing, and suddenly the front page of ffnet's archive has three or four Marisa/Joshua stories on it. And I think the rise of Kent/Lyn as the dominant Lyn pairing has been discussed many times in multiple places, but the essence of that one is that someone started writing something they liked and it turned out other people liked it too.
I don't think most writers have a mind to hijack a fandom. I'm certain the early Gundam Wing writers had no idea that "their" Heero and Duo and whatnot-- characterizations based on a handful of fansubbed videos-- would mutate and devour fandom. But it's an interesting thing to contemplate, particularly when I come across 'fics involving characters I am personally invested in and think, "Is this writer deriving their take on character X from canon, or did they get this from reading other writers' fanfics?" Because coming across someone else whose take on Character X meshes with yours doesn't necessarily validate your beliefs re: Character X with regard to canon. It could just mean you were both reading the same 'fics or the same commentary. It could even mean they read your own story and liked it, and you're essentially agreeing with a reflection of yourself.
Seriously, I once found something in the Fire Emblem TV Tropes section whose wording was identical to wording in a discussion I was having with someone in the comments of my DA journal. Now, did that other person then turn around and edit TV Tropes, or did some third party come across that conversation and lift a phrase, or did multiple fans in the same small fandom reach the same conclusion independently? (Said wording is now gone, TV Tropes being what it is-- it had to do with FE3!Marth versus FE11!Marth, and the current text is pared down considerably.) I've had the same experience at least once with the FE Wiki. And some discussions in
emblanon have made the whole echo-chamber effect very disconcerting-- I've seen things that sound damn-near identical to my own beliefs, but it wasn't me. But it's an anon meme, so I don't know if that writer was being sincere, or sockpuppeting, or what. So, dear f-list-- what fandom paradigms do you plan to subvert in the new year?
Re: I got a little long-winded [Part 1/2]
As I mentioned before, no one knew who these characters were--so they just made things up to make life easier. Maybe they read the trophy descriptions and then went from there filling in all the blanks. I honestly have no idea. I read a lot of fanfic in the fandom before I wrote in it, and I remember my initial characterisations for them being influenced by two fics in particular--"Momentum" (which is really well-written and I still love it, lol) and "When the Raven Calls" (which is no longer around, but I still remember it clearly). I'm sure if you went far back enough in the fandom, you'd get your answers. That's what I did for my current fandom, and it's surprising, to say the least.
I think the rise of Kent/Lyn as the dominant Lyn pairing has been discussed many times in multiple places, but the essence of that one is that someone started writing something they liked and it turned out other people liked it too.
I think that is an example of "if you like something but you can't find fic for it, write it yourself". I will use Smash Brothers for this, but I wrote a series, and the third (chronologically) part has a lot of focus on the kid Smashers (Young Link, Ness, Popo, and Lucas). Next thing I see a lot of people telling me how they've been waiting for a fic where the kid Smashers are main characters, and next thing after that I see an increase in kid Smashers fic. If you like something, but can't find fic for it, sometimes you have to be the first. Whether that's a good thing or not is open to debate, lol.
Kent/Lyn is the same thing. I don't know who started it(probably Manna, lol), but they really liked Kent/Lyn, couldn't find it anywhere, and decided to take matters into their own hands.
I'm certain the early Gundam Wing writers had no idea that "their" Heero and Duo and whatnot-- characterizations based on a handful of fansubbed videos-- would mutate and devour fandom.
I feel that if I were personally responsible for burning down half of fandom, I would never admit it. And I would feel really bad, hahaha.
Re: I got a little long-winded [Part 1/2]
Admittedly, though, when I saw Kender's 'fic (and it had last been written quite some time before I found it, was possibly unfinished, annnnnnnd there were only one or two others in the entire fandom at all (and all were old), I did decide to take matters into my own hands.
I do realize for some people it can seem daunting to step into a fandom and start writing writing what nobody else is writing currently (in my case: KentLyn), but when you think about it, right now it'd be hard to step in and write...say, HectorLyn. It looks like nobody likes it, but the following actually A.) disappeared, 2.) disbursed among other fandoms/sections of FE fandom, or 3.) are wondering when someone's gonna bother writing their favorite pairing.
I kind of get a ":/" face when someone says something like, "OH SO AND SO IS MY OTP", but then they don't really...write them or draw them or anything. That'd be like me claiming HeathPriscilla was my OTP-- I'm not actively writing it or reading it, so...how does that even make sense?
/tangents
I'm sure if you went far back enough in the fandom
This is kinda what I was saying above, I think... It's pretty funny to see how fandom has evolved, and what has become "popular" versus what has become "unpopular". For FE, RathLyn and HectorLyn *always* trumped KentLyn in every battle. In fact, I'd say that KentLyn wasn't even mentioned half the time, had very few fans, and those that did ship it didn't really get much support. In 2010, you can see KentLyn is everywhere, and RathLyn and HectorLyn are nowhere to be seen.
Thank GodBut of course the reason this is is because nobody's writing Rath or Hector with Lyn. <--Getting kind of tired of people QQing about that.A little "Man I wish there was more of X" is one thing, but "wahhh why doesn't anyone write X!?!?!?!?" is stupid.
Re: I got a little long-winded [Part 1/2]
Because whenever someone mentions Kent/Lyn, you always come to mind :P
I do realize for some people it can seem daunting to step into a fandom and start writing writing what nobody else is writing currently
Oh absolutely. Fandom can seem kind of daunting anyway given the fact that some of the people have been around for a long time and followings tend to crop up and 'cliques' form and so forth. It's the same as staring at a pool with a bunch of people who, for the most part, know each other. You want to take the plunge, but you're afraid to. Because they might not like what you have to say--or want to hear it. But if you want something done, you need to jump and take the plunge.
I kind of get a ":/" face when someone says something like, "OH SO AND SO IS MY OTP", but then they don't really...write them or draw them or anything.
Well I feel that some people might just like to read their OTP and fawn over them. They don't necessarily have to be 'active' in the fandom. I just happen to be the type who writes all of their favourite pairings to share my love, but not everyone in fandom is like that. But I get what you're saying, especially if they complain about there not being a lot of fic or any at all and going, "SO AND SO IS MY OTP WHERE IS THE FIC?"
It's pretty funny to see how fandom has evolved, and what has become "popular" versus what has become "unpopular".
In my main fandom, pretty much everything that was written years ago at the start of the fandom is still being written today, by the way of pairings and plots. Characterisation depends on whether there's a Mary Sue and/or the team they're writing for (Weiss fic tends to lean more towards sues and gratuitous 'yaoi' where the characters are mangled so one becomes the uke and the other becomes the seme and they start spouting "I love yous" and ugh get me a bucket; Schwarz fic tends to be more in character, less wangsty, and well-written on the whole; there is no Schreient fic which makes me sad D:). But more or less the fandom hasn't changed much, just produces work that's more or less well-written.
Other fandoms may vary, of course. I know Gundam Wing does and Fire Emblem does. Matthew/Guy used to be all the rage back when I joined FE fandom. Now no one writes it. Same thing with Hector/Lyn (which I never liked) and Rath/Lyn (that I liked but fell out of love for) and Eliwood/Lyn and Heath/Legault and all those other pairings.
There needs to be more Wallace/Vaida fic!
A little "Man I wish there was more of X" is one thing, but "wahhh why doesn't anyone write X!?!?!?!?" is stupid.
The first one gets my sympathy and will make me go, "Oh, I know how you feel, man, I wish there was more too!" The latter one just makes me go, "So why don't you do something about it?!"
Re: I got a little long-winded [Part 1/2]
Some people are afraid to write or draw... or at least to publish the results. Doesn't make them less of a fan, IMO-- especially in hostile fandoms. I didn't publish anything in most fandoms... I knew better than to enter the fray.
Even in Fire Emblem... I dunno, if you liked something, and you saw somebody you perceived as a BNF with a fan club saying it was garbage, and you were used to hostile fandoms where the BNF would rape you... yeah, I'd think twice about posting said unpopular thing.