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[rallalon]

A friend just linked me an article on fanfiction. Or, as the author spells it, fan fiction or fan-fiction.

I do like how we're described as both dark matter and "a band of brilliant pop-culture junkies trapped in a sealed bunker".

Thoughts?

Comments

[jer832]

Questions on the idioms first. Isn't it believed that there is more dark matter in the universe than anything else? Are we integral to the function and existence of the universe, or just ubiquitous? Are we trapped in a sealed bunker trying to bring back civilization while the effects of world destruction play out, or are we hiding from those who would rebuild?

I think the copyright infringement issue should be left to the paid attorneys to fight out. This is a culture where people can hold up release of a movie because of the claim of prior ownership of another's face tattoo; Hamlet can be put on everywhere; the actors of Star Trek TOS got bubkus while the show spent its first 20 or so years in syndication and Paramount got lawsuits; and DW fanfic in many instances is better written and better plotted, the characters more logically and consistently depicted, the continuity is maintained while continuity, plot, and science mistakes made by the PAID professionals is fixed. (Hamlet was fanfic by the way, as is much of our great old literature (a lot of it is "liberated" more than mere fanfic))

The author of the article reminds me of someone who just walked into a free hookah parlor, said isn't this illegal? No? Well, I'll check it out but I don't expect much. Then he/she goes a bit apeshit over the product. But when leaving the room, looks around. No one to see me leave? Good. But oh, I've so gotta do this again, it's damn good. Maybe they'll get the nerve, or the guts to tell others. It's legal, it's damn fine in many instances, absolutely genius in a few-- but it's free so there has to be something wrong with it. [I'll tell you right now that one thing wrong is that paid writer does not equal talented writer.]

Sit them down and tell them about the early stories about prince Hamlet and how some later writer improved on the plot and characterization. Then give them DVDs of new DW and point them to us.