The Feminist Mushroom Cloud

[cupidsbow]

I've been watching the feminist fallout of the last 48 hours or so with fascination, but also a small measure of shock and awe. I know my essay is only a small part of the current feminist zeitgeist, but the way the ripples are spreading is really beyond anything I had envisioned.

The current state of play

• In response to the recent launch of the for-profit fanfiction archive, FanLib, astolat has suggested we create An Archive Of One's Own. The conversations going on in the comments are mostly pro, and there have been a lot of good suggestions, as well as some cautionary discussions. (ETA: You can find the discussion about FanLib listed by stewardess here: FanLib: Are You There Yet?)
  
  I think this fan-run archive suggested by astolat is a good idea; it seems that commercialization of fanfiction is coming, in one form or another, whether the fanfiction community wants it or not. So making a visible space for fan-works run by and for fans seems a reasonable and timely response. Volunteers are needed, so if this community effort interests you, please head on over and express your interest. Get involved! Feminism is a do-it-yourself project, and this is an opportunity to be part of that, and help mold the resulting archive into something you have a stake in.
  
  
• In collaboration with Kristina Busse, Henry Jenkins has just come to the party in terms of debating the differences between male and female fan/academic culture, with his post When Fan Boys and Fan Girls Meet....
  
  This debate is shaping up to be riveting, and I have high hopes that some really engaged discussion could come out of it. If you want to follow this and haven't already friended the Henry Jenkins feed, you can find the link here. You can find Kristina Busse's blog here (ETA: And there's a feed at kbusse_blog). Both are well worth a look.

I'm going to hold off a little longer before posting my next essay, as there's so much already being discussed on this issue in the blogosphere.