Fandom-Related Q&A Meme

[quaggy_mire]

I was going to post my Harry Potter blatherings, but then I saw this meme over at zinke  and decided that that I so would rather do this instead.

Ask me a fandom-related question in the comments. This can be fandom specific, general, or about fandom, lj stuff, fic writing, etc. Questions can be as wacky as you want. Ask me about tv shows, characters,

Comments

[quaggy_mire]

Like...if you know a character, you have to imagine what he'd want/do/say in a situation. It seems like that would be influenced by what you know to be true IRL, as well as what what you've seen the character want/do/say in the original work.

Yes. That's definitely true. That's what I mean by "a line or observation". I'll take what I know to be true and apply it to fic. If I understand how someone behaves IRL and that's similar to who the character is, I'll use that as motivation. Or, if I'm writing fic that has a boy in his late teens/early twenties (like A:tLA or LWD... or the future fics with Josh & Donna's kids), I'm constantly asking myself if that's how one or both of my brothers would behave.

And I find, here on LJ, that the different comms and discussions I get into have different norms and stuff...so I infer demographics. I think of this one as more young and that one as more female and this other one as more queer etc.

Oh, that's true. But it's partly because certain shows/movies/books/music/etc are deigned to attract a certain audience. And it's partly that "like attracts like" and online just makes it easier. Okay, A:tLA is a good example because it's so huge. Different communities have different vibes to them (and they con sometimes be dedicated to the same sub-interest like a character or ship!). And that's mainly because of the people in charge/participate. If you don't like the vibe of one community, you go find a different one. Or you learn to play by the rules. Another example, every so often you'll see somebody new to the West Wing fandom, try to post a Josh/Donna fic with a mash-up ship name like "Jonna". They soon realize that as a culture, the ship not only is resistant to that label, we tend to dismiss anyone who does, because they're either (a) too young/immature/influenced by other fandoms or (b)not paying attention to the fandom and therefore will likely not be paying to close attention to canon either. The ones for whom (a) or (b) does not apply, generally start using J/D like everyone else.

Because we can't see each other as we interact, we literally grab onto anything we can get (fandom, tone, icons) to create a construct of the person.

Yes, that fascinates me too. Especially since I've meet so many in our little band of merry shippers. It's so interesting to see how our online persona matches up with who we are offline. And I love our icons sort of collectively gives a picture of who we are. Sort of like this whole "portrait without people" technique that a colleague was telling me about.

Holy shit, one drink and I'm so talky. Off to bed and will come back here tomorrow.

Hee! I love it! We should feed you alcohol more often!!

[marymary]

Another example, every so often you'll see somebody new to the West Wing fandom, try to post a Josh/Donna fic with a mash-up ship name like "Jonna". They soon realize that as a culture, the ship not only is resistant to that label, we tend to dismiss anyone who does, because they're either (a) too young/immature/influenced by other fandoms or (b)not paying attention to the fandom and therefore will likely not be paying to close attention to canon either.

Hmm, interesting! I think I know what you mean. I've also seen different senses of humor in different fandoms -- some are deadly serious about their thing, and some sort of celebrate silliness and outrageousness. Of course I'm talking about all kinds of different communities and forums, not just fic, which is a smaller part of my experience. One news comm I belong to is so strict and self-policing about the content and tone of comments. I like it (I always did love those Nazis over at TWoP) but sometimes someone wanders in and comments so inappropriately (though she doesn't realize it), and I have to shield my eyes because I don't want to see her get "corrected."

But it's partly because certain shows/movies/books/music/etc are deigned to attract a certain audience.

I totally agree, that's the basis of it. There's also something else I've seen, and I'm sure you're familiar with this, which is that -- as opposed to a show attracting a particular group of fans, who then discuss/create/etc. -- the works of art (fic, graphics) lead people to other fandoms and then those fans get acquainted with new shows. The most obvious one I've seen is with things that lean a little slashy. The way I think of it is like an underground river of fic that leads people to pop up in other fandoms.

For example, someone will link me to some piece of fiction that lives in a list or an archive somewhere. I look at the usernames of the other writers and I'm always like, "Hey, what's she doing here?" Like, my Canada friends show up in Band of Brothers archives, or some hilarious piece of Adam stuff was written by someone I knew from BSG.

And I love our icons sort of collectively gives a picture of who we are. Sort of like this whole "portrait without people" technique that a colleague was telling me about.

I totally get what you mean. And sometimes it works the other way -- a couple places I go have a bunch of people who either have only one icon or just always post with their default. And when they switch their default, it's SO unsettling! I truly feel like I've lost my handle on their personality a little.

What's fun about the Adam Lambert/AI communities is bumping into men. Over time, you learn or guess who they are, but it's kind of hilarious to watch one person say to another, "Wait, are you a boy?" They're like Easter eggs.

[quaggy_mire]

Of course I'm talking about all kinds of different communities and forums, not just fic, which is a smaller part of my experience.

Yes, I know what you mean. There's a community LJ for the Katara/Zuko ship for A:tLA that I really like, because the vibe is really easy going, which is a nice change since it feels like the rest of the fandom is torn up by shipping wars. But it's peaceful for a reason. The mods have rules. You can't bash anyone, regardless of their ship. And they will step in and remind people when they get too overboard.

For example, someone will link me to some piece of fiction that lives in a list or an archive somewhere. I look at the usernames of the other writers and I'm always like, "Hey, what's she doing here?"

Yeah, I love when that's happens! There's also the reverse that you are more likely to try out a new show or movie just because enough people in a different fandom you're a part of are into it.

And when they switch their default, it's SO unsettling! I truly feel like I've lost my handle on their personality a little.

Oh man, that happened a LOT during the early days of Keytus LJ. It's like the icon would change and I would be "Wait, who are you again?!"

Over time, you learn or guess who they are, but it's kind of hilarious to watch one person say to another, "Wait, are you a boy?" They're like Easter eggs.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Yes, that's fun to watch! There's this one excellent blog about Korean dramas that will occasionally have guest posters. Since the blog mainly deals with rom-coms and female-skewing shows, it's generally assumed that most of the posters are females. So it was really funny when people find out that one of the guest posters is a boy. :-)