it's actually a double-edged sword, because the authors who tend to tag it, in my experience, are also the ones writing it well enough that I don't actually mind. This! And anyway, when you know what it is supposed to be beforehand, you sort of read it different. I noticed also a somewhat related trend - not always, but often enough, fics that are heavily warded with tons of warning tags (a newest invention seems to be 'period typical whatever', most often homophobia or violence) often read like straight from social sciences textbook, while those with little to no warnings in reading often reveal much more psychological sensibility, empathy, insight... the feel more true, they have more literary meat, so to speak.
I like those, actually, and enjoy thinking up my own for my favorite characters, thus me posting all those character memes of the "X and Y share an apartment" variety. Me as well. That is, maybe I don't do these memes myself, but I like that this sort of headcanoning became popular. And I like when you do it. :)
This is a really weird usage for me, although I can see how "headcanon" COULD be something that directly contradicts canon -- after all, it's the canon in your head... Some things technically are AU, in spite not being usually called so, like slash.
Maybe because on Tumblr fandom is not nearly so organized that you can tell what the "fanon" opinion on anything is? It's all a conglomeration of splintered and warring headcanons, some of which have lots of adherents... Maybe... Then again, memes and catchy ideas spread on Tumblr like wildfire, so I think some fanons can still be noted. It's rather that their lifespan is shorter, and the term itself came out of use. It may or may not have something to do with Tumblr fandom population being relatively young. I mean, I keep seeing posts where someone asks what disclaimer is or is convinced that Tumblr invented non-canon shipping, and people in reblogs sigh and bring photos of old printed zines.
of course Dresden has made other fannish references, and lots of them, for things well in copyright still. Yeah, what's a little Hogwarting, if Jim went away with a holy lightsaber. XD
The wall-of-tags on AO3 is so annoying! It's hard for me not to pass over stories like that, unless they are very highly recommended or I'm desparate for the fandom. I understand the logic behind "period typical X" or "canon typical Y" (e.g. violence), because you want to indicate it's not artificially dark or issue-y, but it's not fluff DEVOID of those things, either, because when people go looking for fic they do want the fluff, or to forget about those aspects of canon. But NGL, it's a turn-off to see those things in the tags.
Some things technically are AU, in spite not being usually called so, like slash.
From what little I've seen of Russian fandom, they tend to label slash AU, which seems odd to me, having come up in Western fandom. It certainly CAN be AU, e.g. if a slash ship pretends that a canonical straight relationship did not exist / a het love interest never mattered to a character who has a canonical POV that contradicts that, or if a character shown in het relationships in canon is presented as only interested in same-sex relationships in the fic. But Steve/Bucky before Peggy or alongside Sharon, or Steve/Tony between Avengers 1 and Cap 3 with Pepper's full knowledge and endorsement? That could be missing-moments fic rather than AU. Just like future-fic Molly/Murphy is not any more or less AU than future Molly/Harry (though neither of these are ships I would like to see). One could make arguments about the author's intent -- e.g. if Word of God says that their characters are all straight and you write slash -- but while I find Word of God canon interesting, I don't actually consider it part of canon, more along the lines of headcanon that comes from an especially informed place. E.g. Aaronovitch has reportedly said that Nightingale is straight, and yet for the life of me I can't see him as that :P -- even though I'd actually like to ship him with a female character from the later books, he just doesn't ping me that way.
Then again, memes and catchy ideas spread on Tumblr like wildfire,
You're right, but I think it's mostly silly jokes and variations on a theme, rather than the sort of community discussion that gives rise to fanon. And I do think you're right that they tend to burn out equally quickly, too.
I keep seeing posts where someone asks what disclaimer is or is convinced that Tumblr invented non-canon shipping, and people in reblogs sigh and bring photos of old printed zines.
Heh, just today I saw a post where somebody was asking what a "squick" was, and the replies were lobbying for the return of that over the valuable but way too broadly used "triggers".
if Jim went away with a holy lightsaber. XD
An excellent point! (Man, I can't wait to see all the TFA allusions in Peace Talks...)
For me 'period typical' tags feel just redundant, because it's like saying 'written with care for realism', which is kinda default literary goal to me... It would make more sense to tag the opposite, some ad usum delphini or 'set in fluffy heaven'. Also, I'd rather be warned about 2nd person narration and present tense (though the latter is recently so much prevailing that tagging the past tense would be more useful in practice... XP).
From what little I've seen of Russian fandom... More or less agreed about the whole paragraph. Yes, as I see it, your examples are in the gray area of 'not contradicting the canon', so, fair game. Not canon, but not full AU either.
Before I forgot to add what else I was thinking. I feel headcanon is not the same thing as a disposable, one-time idea for a fic, but in practice most headcanons seems quite ephemeral things, firework ideas that come and go, sparked into life by a meme question or a discussion, and forgotten right after being written down and shared. Whereas personal fanons used to be something coming in less quantity, but more stable (like, in one of my older fandoms a certain writer in her fics always used the same first name for a character who never got one in the canon).
Heh, just today I saw a post where somebody was asking what a "squick" was, and the replies were lobbying for the return of that over the valuable but way too broadly used "triggers". SECONDED SO MUCH!!! Where do I sign the petition? :) I searched it up just to like it, if it's this one. It says exactly what I think, especially the last paragraph.
Man, I can't wait to see all the TFA allusions in Peace Talks... Just before TFA I've seen a comment that Peace Talks are being delayed, because he wants to squeeze in as much TFA winks as possible. If that was true, come on, Jim, nothing holds you anymore! :)
I can sort of see the usefulness of the "period-typical X" tags -- even though I agree with you that this is what one should aim for, but fic is fic, and in real literature you don't get the warnings for character death, either. Because the situations you're writing about could be ones that don't come up in canon, so it might not immediately occur to people that the "period-typical X" will be there. Like if you write a slash relationship into a Victorian canon, or even a het relationship where they aren't married, or if you write about a time period the canon alludes to but doesn't actually describe, or a full-on AU where the Avengers suddenly takes place during Age of Sail. That sort of stuff.
I feel headcanon is not the same thing as a disposable, one-time idea for a fic
Yes, I generally agree -- I also see headcanon as a more fixed sort of idea, like the consistent name for an unnamed character, or a chosen birthday, etc. What often happens with me is that the meme prompts lead me to thinking of these things occasionally, and then a few of them stick around.
Yep, that is the very same post on squicks, which I heartily applaud. Because I do have squicks (mild ones, but, like Harry/Molly is one), and I would like to be able to convey that in shorthand without co-opting the trigger term.
Yes, you'd mentioned the stuffing-TFA-references-into-Peace-Talks theory to me -- I think before the movie was even out. Well, at this point I feel like he's had plenty of time, yes! :P
fic is fic, and in real literature you don't get the warnings for character death, either I've been actually planning to write a comparison of the three - high literature, popculture and fanfiction - what is expected of them and what rules are applied to them in regard to originality, spoilers, warnings and such. But I got the idea at least two years ago, and I'm still not any closer to writing it, so... Anyway, in general it seems like the 'lower' it is, the more strict and numerous are rules, lack of originality becomes less a flaw, and people want more to know the story before they even read it. All of this I see as independent of the literary quality and I don't necessary consider it good or bad as phenomenon; it's just how it is.
a full-on AU where the Avengers suddenly takes place during Age of Sail I would totally read that! :D At least 70k, please. Not as AU, though; I'd rather like it as a time travel, preferably unexpected.
it seems like the 'lower' it is, the more strict and numerous are rules, lack of originality becomes less a flaw, and people want more to know the story before they even read it
I think you are right, yes. I don't have any theories as to why, except that I think the lower you go, as you say, the more of a "commodity" this writing becomes. Kind of like when you go to a fancy restaurant, you let the chef feed you his choices via the tasting menu, if you go to your neighborhood comfort food place, you want to see the same dishes you always do, and if they've suddenly added shrimp to their hot and sour soup or increased the spice level, you'd probably be put out, and when you go to a fast-food place, you want to get exactly the same thing you got three states over and wrapped in exactly the same way.
Heh, I confess the Age of Sail!Avengers are probably inspired by the AoS!Star Trek art that's going around Tumblr -- have you seen that one? It could make for interesting fic, though!
I think the lower you go, as you say, the more of a "commodity" this writing becomes. Yes, you're right, and I like that parallel with restaurations. With everyday food and literature we want to be sure it will be safe and satisfying, while with anything that's a rare event we're like "Surprise me". There's maybe a small difference, though, that in 'lower' literature originality is still valued, but in a very strict way; it's "I want the same, but in a new way (but not too new)". It's a very narrow and slippery path, and that's among else why 'low' culture only seems to be an easy job. I think that contrary to the common conviction we actually judge popcultural authors more harshly than those 'high' and we demand more of them.
AoS!Star Trek art that's going around Tumblr -- have you seen that one? I don't think I have! Are they these? Excellent! :D
in 'lower' literature originality is still valued, but in a very strict way; it's "I want the same, but in a new way (but not too new)".
Yes, I think that's right.
And that's an interesting point about higher demands for the pop culture writers. I think there's more of an expectation that you will LIKE what the pop culture author has written and be entertained by it, and if you're not, then they haven't done their job. But with Literature, people would be more likely to presume that they're the ones missing the point of the literary brilliance, and thus not complain. (Bit of an Emperor's New Clothes situation, too, I think.)
Yes, exactly. Also, meta-narration on pop culture is full of contradictions. "It's pulp and trash" but "we have the right to demand quality". "It's just entertainment" but "it has responsibility toward masses and the young generation" (social representation, role models, education etc.). All these claims often are next to each other in the same text. Thing is, none of them is false, but altogether they make a virtually unfeasible task. Authors who fail in any of the obligatory boxes ("funny but full of factual errors", "clever twist but bad image of minorities X and Y", "educational but dull") are skinned mercilessly, and myself I gleefully add to it in reviews, but actually a true wonder are those who sometimes manage to accomplish even as much as a 70% satisfying job. And yet they are still considered lesser than Emperors, who aren't put through such crossfire of judgement, mostly because hardly anyone really cares for their works.
This! And anyway, when you know what it is supposed to be beforehand, you sort of read it different. I noticed also a somewhat related trend - not always, but often enough, fics that are heavily warded with tons of warning tags (a newest invention seems to be 'period typical whatever', most often homophobia or violence) often read like straight from social sciences textbook, while those with little to no warnings in reading often reveal much more psychological sensibility, empathy, insight... the feel more true, they have more literary meat, so to speak.
I like those, actually, and enjoy thinking up my own for my favorite characters, thus me posting all those character memes of the "X and Y share an apartment" variety.
Me as well. That is, maybe I don't do these memes myself, but I like that this sort of headcanoning became popular. And I like when you do it. :)
This is a really weird usage for me, although I can see how "headcanon" COULD be something that directly contradicts canon -- after all, it's the canon in your head...
Some things technically are AU, in spite not being usually called so, like slash.
Maybe because on Tumblr fandom is not nearly so organized that you can tell what the "fanon" opinion on anything is? It's all a conglomeration of splintered and warring headcanons, some of which have lots of adherents...
Maybe... Then again, memes and catchy ideas spread on Tumblr like wildfire, so I think some fanons can still be noted. It's rather that their lifespan is shorter, and the term itself came out of use. It may or may not have something to do with Tumblr fandom population being relatively young. I mean, I keep seeing posts where someone asks what disclaimer is or is convinced that Tumblr invented non-canon shipping, and people in reblogs sigh and bring photos of old printed zines.
of course Dresden has made other fannish references, and lots of them, for things well in copyright still.
Yeah, what's a little Hogwarting, if Jim went away with a holy lightsaber. XD
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Some things technically are AU, in spite not being usually called so, like slash.
From what little I've seen of Russian fandom, they tend to label slash AU, which seems odd to me, having come up in Western fandom. It certainly CAN be AU, e.g. if a slash ship pretends that a canonical straight relationship did not exist / a het love interest never mattered to a character who has a canonical POV that contradicts that, or if a character shown in het relationships in canon is presented as only interested in same-sex relationships in the fic. But Steve/Bucky before Peggy or alongside Sharon, or Steve/Tony between Avengers 1 and Cap 3 with Pepper's full knowledge and endorsement? That could be missing-moments fic rather than AU. Just like future-fic Molly/Murphy is not any more or less AU than future Molly/Harry (though neither of these are ships I would like to see). One could make arguments about the author's intent -- e.g. if Word of God says that their characters are all straight and you write slash -- but while I find Word of God canon interesting, I don't actually consider it part of canon, more along the lines of headcanon that comes from an especially informed place. E.g. Aaronovitch has reportedly said that Nightingale is straight, and yet for the life of me I can't see him as that :P -- even though I'd actually like to ship him with a female character from the later books, he just doesn't ping me that way.
Then again, memes and catchy ideas spread on Tumblr like wildfire,
You're right, but I think it's mostly silly jokes and variations on a theme, rather than the sort of community discussion that gives rise to fanon. And I do think you're right that they tend to burn out equally quickly, too.
I keep seeing posts where someone asks what disclaimer is or is convinced that Tumblr invented non-canon shipping, and people in reblogs sigh and bring photos of old printed zines.
Heh, just today I saw a post where somebody was asking what a "squick" was, and the replies were lobbying for the return of that over the valuable but way too broadly used "triggers".
if Jim went away with a holy lightsaber. XD
An excellent point! (Man, I can't wait to see all the TFA allusions in Peace Talks...)
Reply
From what little I've seen of Russian fandom...
More or less agreed about the whole paragraph. Yes, as I see it, your examples are in the gray area of 'not contradicting the canon', so, fair game. Not canon, but not full AU either.
Before I forgot to add what else I was thinking. I feel headcanon is not the same thing as a disposable, one-time idea for a fic, but in practice most headcanons seems quite ephemeral things, firework ideas that come and go, sparked into life by a meme question or a discussion, and forgotten right after being written down and shared. Whereas personal fanons used to be something coming in less quantity, but more stable (like, in one of my older fandoms a certain writer in her fics always used the same first name for a character who never got one in the canon).
Heh, just today I saw a post where somebody was asking what a "squick" was, and the replies were lobbying for the return of that over the valuable but way too broadly used "triggers".
SECONDED SO MUCH!!! Where do I sign the petition? :) I searched it up just to like it, if it's this one. It says exactly what I think, especially the last paragraph.
Man, I can't wait to see all the TFA allusions in Peace Talks...
Just before TFA I've seen a comment that Peace Talks are being delayed, because he wants to squeeze in as much TFA winks as possible. If that was true, come on, Jim, nothing holds you anymore! :)
Reply
I feel headcanon is not the same thing as a disposable, one-time idea for a fic
Yes, I generally agree -- I also see headcanon as a more fixed sort of idea, like the consistent name for an unnamed character, or a chosen birthday, etc. What often happens with me is that the meme prompts lead me to thinking of these things occasionally, and then a few of them stick around.
Yep, that is the very same post on squicks, which I heartily applaud. Because I do have squicks (mild ones, but, like Harry/Molly is one), and I would like to be able to convey that in shorthand without co-opting the trigger term.
Yes, you'd mentioned the stuffing-TFA-references-into-Peace-Talks theory to me -- I think before the movie was even out. Well, at this point I feel like he's had plenty of time, yes! :P
Reply
I've been actually planning to write a comparison of the three - high literature, popculture and fanfiction - what is expected of them and what rules are applied to them in regard to originality, spoilers, warnings and such. But I got the idea at least two years ago, and I'm still not any closer to writing it, so... Anyway, in general it seems like the 'lower' it is, the more strict and numerous are rules, lack of originality becomes less a flaw, and people want more to know the story before they even read it. All of this I see as independent of the literary quality and I don't necessary consider it good or bad as phenomenon; it's just how it is.
a full-on AU where the Avengers suddenly takes place during Age of Sail
I would totally read that! :D At least 70k, please. Not as AU, though; I'd rather like it as a time travel, preferably unexpected.
Reply
I think you are right, yes. I don't have any theories as to why, except that I think the lower you go, as you say, the more of a "commodity" this writing becomes. Kind of like when you go to a fancy restaurant, you let the chef feed you his choices via the tasting menu, if you go to your neighborhood comfort food place, you want to see the same dishes you always do, and if they've suddenly added shrimp to their hot and sour soup or increased the spice level, you'd probably be put out, and when you go to a fast-food place, you want to get exactly the same thing you got three states over and wrapped in exactly the same way.
Heh, I confess the Age of Sail!Avengers are probably inspired by the AoS!Star Trek art that's going around Tumblr -- have you seen that one? It could make for interesting fic, though!
Reply
Yes, you're right, and I like that parallel with restaurations. With everyday food and literature we want to be sure it will be safe and satisfying, while with anything that's a rare event we're like "Surprise me". There's maybe a small difference, though, that in 'lower' literature originality is still valued, but in a very strict way; it's "I want the same, but in a new way (but not too new)". It's a very narrow and slippery path, and that's among else why 'low' culture only seems to be an easy job. I think that contrary to the common conviction we actually judge popcultural authors more harshly than those 'high' and we demand more of them.
AoS!Star Trek art that's going around Tumblr -- have you seen that one?
I don't think I have! Are they these? Excellent! :D
Reply
in 'lower' literature originality is still valued, but in a very strict way; it's "I want the same, but in a new way (but not too new)".
Yes, I think that's right.
And that's an interesting point about higher demands for the pop culture writers. I think there's more of an expectation that you will LIKE what the pop culture author has written and be entertained by it, and if you're not, then they haven't done their job. But with Literature, people would be more likely to presume that they're the ones missing the point of the literary brilliance, and thus not complain. (Bit of an Emperor's New Clothes situation, too, I think.)
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