School report - help please

[waruji]

Hello, I’m Waruji (Serpentine Wisdom on ffnet) I’m a university student currently writing a 25-40 page essay about fandom on the web for my sociology class and I would be really grateful if you would answer a few questions for me. I'm not sure if this post is allowed, if it isn't I apologise. Just tell me and I’ll remove it.

There are no right or

Comments

[catc10]

12) Is there any fandom that is valued more or less than others? For what reasons? I feel that this is probably better phrased elsehow. People are going to value fandoms at different levels based upon what they, personally, like. I like mostly anime and book fandoms, with a few TV and movie fandoms thrown in. My sister's are mainly the same. But from TV I prefer 'iCarly' to 'Torchwood', which isn't the same as her. I think that certain PARTS of fandom are less valued than others in certain contexts, too. In TV fandoms, you won't see so many fanARTs as fanGRAPHICs (photomanipulation and the like), but in anime, it's going to be different. Some fandoms lend themselves to fanMIXs (fan CDs), over fanMUSICVIDs. However, no matter the fandom, FANFICTION is ALWAYS dominant over all.

13) On a similar note, fanfiction.net is a huge fanfiction site but there are many people that refer to it as “the Pit”. Does it deserve that reputation? Do you feel that there are some fan sites that have a higher status than others? For what reasons? I think that fanfiction.net is a place where new writers can learn their craft, because in general, that's the kind of fic you find there. Not that good things CAN'T be found there, but somehow, it's a ground for immature writing, and thus, isn't a shining example of fanfic works. I prefer Livejournal and DreamWidth for fics, and Livejournal for communities, mainly because I've found a greater number of talented authors on these types of blogging sites. I've also found 'worse' authors there, but they've always been receptive to help, and get plenty of encouragements.

14) Shipping seems to be a central part of most fandoms; what are the most positive and negative parts about it? Why do/don’t you ship characters? Oh, SHIPPING. Positive: An added level of comraderee? Negative: SHIPWARS. Epic battles over who should be who (TeamEdward vs TeamJacob [I'm for Jacob, even though I'm not even IN that fandom. I read the first one. It's a WHOLE OTHER can of worms.]) I don't do "OTP"s (One True Pairing) or "OT3"s (One True Threesome) or any of that. I get bored of it. There are only SO many stories to tell! I focus on a character and pair them with whomever I desire at the moment. Mikey from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dean from Supernatural, Smithy from Jane and the Dragon, Kavanaugh from Stargate:Atlantis, Ron from Harry Potter. Etc. I like people to live MANY stories and MANY ends. Limiting it to one other person seems silly, and I enjoy it when something I write or draw makes someone question their own hardcore pairing beliefs, just as I delight in reading something that makes me question new posibilties about characters that I love.

15) Have you noticed anything else that is interesting about fandom? I have made just as many close friends over the internet through fandom as I have in real life without others as a go-between. Also, It allows me to be childish and imaginitive, when I otherwise might not be. Fandom is like family that you get to pick for me.
ME
PS: OMG. I ramble. So sorry!