Pr0n vs Fanart: Some Thoughts

[plumapen]

Yesterday I woke up to lj_biz’s first clearer response (when compared to all the ‘clarification’ posts which have come before) and, I’ll admit, I was hopeful. I read it and thought, fantastic! They’re finally making a distinction between actual porn and fanart. I was hopeful that this was a good first step and that fandoms (because really, this is a

Comments

[mauvaise_etoile]

This is a really wonderful post and certainly you bring up a very valid point. My only other experience with fanworks before jumping into the HP fandom had been one of mocking a co-worker because she spent hours writing a (Star Trek) fanfic everyday and she was *really* into the fandom. I just didn't understand it. Then when I found HP fandom, I avoided the fanworks off the bat because it just didn't appeal to me. Then I divulged in some gen art. Then into fic. Etc, etc. It was a tentative process because I still didn't really want to be equated with it. How many fandomers don't tell people in RL they are involved in fandom/fanworks? A lot. Why? Because people not involved in a fandom really don't understand.

[plumapen]

That was me as well, stepping into fanworks rather slowly and with much prodding from people I respected (like wickedevra), this despite being in the middle of writing a fic myself (I had planned on just keeping it to myself). And I had no idea what slash was let alone that it existed. I remember when fandom terms went straight over my head, but remembering that I was once in that place takes a bit of a concerted effort now. I can only imagine what must be going through LJ/6A staffer's heads as they try to sort this all out. At least it seems like rachel is making an effort, actually speaking with people via phone and emails. I do hope it will make a difference.

[boeluen]

Thank you.Finally a complete and coherent post on the recent LJ polemic. I've followed my Flist's reactions to haphazard censoring without truly comprehending the arguments. Your post has cleared the fog and your proposed solution appears logical. However, there will surely be those who remain unsatisfied both on the mod side and the fandommers. At least from an outsider-looking-in point of view, your deductions are well thought out.

Hope all is well with Jane.

[plumapen]

Thanks; this whole ordeal has made my head spin at times--it's been interesting to watch and frustrating to deal with even from my decidedly on the fringes of fandom position.

Jane and I get along famously; I really need to post about my trip to Stoneleigh!

[snegurochka_lee]

Users and perhaps artists themselves who call their work ‘porn.’ Which definition of the word can we expect they’ll use then: the fandom definition or the mainstream one?

That is a very good point. Hm. :)

[plumapen]

:)

[auctasinistra]

This is an excellent point. We'd do well to remember that we are an island in a world that already thinks we're weird, and we need to speak their language if we want to win any battles on their ground - and this battle is very much on their ground.

[plumapen]

Their ground indeed.

And to be completely o/t, your icon pwns!

[bitterfig]

You're really right about this. Terminology and the words we use to define ourselves are very important. I think of my time working for pro-choice causes in college-- early on I was told to always use the term "anti-choice" rather than "pro-life" for the opposition. This almost felt manipulative to me but it really is necessary to use words that create in peoples minds the image you want to place there. When writing about this controversy on LJ, I've found myself applying carefully selective terminology, deliberately avoid the word "pornography" in favor of "homo-erotic artwork" and "child" in favor of "under-aged character". Again, it's difficult to do this because it does feel manipulative to me but I think it's what we're going to have to do to distance what we do from peoples preconceived images of kiddie porn because that's simply not what most fan art is.

[plumapen]

That's a really excellent analogy. It feels a bit manipulative to me too, but if we're going to get them to even begin to understand, I would hope it would help us.