“What if everybody was completely totally different in a completely totally different world?”

[anaphalis]

I saw Quirky’s frustration at fanficrants and decided to poke my nose up since this is also something that drives me nuts. Before I start, I feel it only fair to warn the many excellent writers of AUs on my friendslist that this is a very personal rant. And should not be taken as condemnation, because I have nothing but respect for writers who can

Comments

[anaphalis]

-Sigh- I so very completely agreed with you when I read your rant, but I just thought that everyone was getting so badly side-tracked by definitions that they were missing the point and it was easier to post my rather lengthy response in my own journal :) Incidentally, I completely agree with your and DarthSnuggles definitions.

I very much agree that a number of people use the fandom either as a crutch or a way to reach a larger fanbase for their original stories. I'm fine with that, but it just makes me avoid AUs like the plague in certain fandoms. Because while I love original fiction, I generally want to read fanfiction in the fanfiction section. Strangely, the Jane Austen section has amazingly good extreme AUs- I haven't seen that phenomenon anywhere else though.

-Hee- I was carefully avoiding bringing up my own obvious bias in my rant. You caught me good, honey ;) But yeah, in the spirit of hypocrisy, I like to believe that Butterfly is still a fanfic and follows canon.

And you know me- opinions on everything. Especially stuff like this. You *definitely* know how to push my buttons, sweetie ;)

[paynesgrey]

I think the problem with some of the people at ficrants, and even with me as well, is the broard range of fandoms it covers. If it was an anime, or even Inuyasha specific, rant, then the disaggreements may have not been so widespread. But I have to realize that when I post a rant there, it applies to EVERYTHING, and not just my problem with anime AUs.
As for Inuyasha, the AU thing is huge because of the whole Western Vs. Eastern thing (and if I'm going totally out in left field, slap me) but since most of the fandom we knew is written by Western people who love IY, they want to write their stories LIKE a HS experience they are having. But then IY isn't anything Western at all, and when you make it that way, then it's getting shoved into that whole Alternate Universe section.
Although I have seen an AU, but Eastern historical fiction based, IY called "Blood Upon Snow" which is AU, only because it IS so different from the canon story line, even if it takes place in Fuedal Japan.
However, your "Butterfly" stems from canon, but you picked a point in the canon storyline to divert the reality. You're still "canon" persay, but the ending is different than what the author [will] have. The time line stems off into another reality.

Damn this conversation is getting deep. I almost need a nap...
I don't mean to push your buttons. Honest! :P

[anaphalis]

I think a lot of people were simply misunderstanding you- I have a broad range of fandoms, to say the least, and it's something I've consistently encountered, particularly the thinly disguised origfic. It may not bother other people as much though. -Shrugs-

I really like that comment about the Western versus Eastern culture- it may explain why Buffy highschool AUs just make me roll my eyes but Inuyasha ones make me curl up into a little ball and whimper. I've actually liked a few historical Japanese Inuyasha AUs I've encountered- mainly because I felt that they kept a lot truer to the feel of the characters and the series than some of the other types. I'll have to check out the one you mentioned though....

I'm glad that you think that Butterfly is canon- it's something that I agonize over. A lot. And then Polly slaps me and asks me why my chapter is now a week late... -Whimper- But yes- you actually have a lot of lee-way with the timeline reality splits. I'm just surprised that the anime fandoms don't have more of them- they're very common in most of my other fandoms.

I love deep conversation- sorry for pushing you into it :) I also love having my buttons pushed- it makes me all talky and stuff ;)

[paynesgrey]

NO problem. I too enjoy deep conversations. I need to keep my brain active and all. Hehehe...
And you weren't pushing me into anything.
The reason why I put the rant up was to talk about it, although I thought I'd get more people like you to understand me.

Oh well...
:)