First of all, fanfiction is lame. And while I can understand writing it for something that is continuous, like a book series or a television show, because there's a chance that the plotlines explored in fics could actually happen, to take the characters from a Broadway musical...something that is essentially frozen, ie, that's it--nothing else is going to happen to them, it's been written, the end--makes absolutely no sense. He wrote it the way he wrote it for a reason; it's not the business of random people on the internet to fuck with it.
Anyway. My point was that the vast majority of the people who write Rent fanfiction (and while I've only read a few stories, just for the hell of it, I've seen enough to get the jist) do it horribly. They're just terrible writers. So basically what they're doing is taking these characters--these inherently flawed but well-written characters--and turning them into a bastardization of their former selves. It's ridiculous. And please don't bring the fact that Jonathan Larson adapted La Boheme into this. I think adaptations are great; I write plays myself, and some of my best work has been adaptations of pre-existing plays. But how can you have the audacity to compare Larson's adaptation of Puccini to what fanfiction writers do to Rent? Taking characters and having them randomly fuck each other? Setting their lives to current wannabe punk rock songs? Please. It's not the same thing.
Of course Jonathan Larson believed in expression; I'm not saying that expression is bad. Whatever. Roll your eyes as much as you want, but that's my opinion.
As I mentioned in the comment - that little bit? Was snark. It wasn't supposed to be serious, nor was I honestly comparing fanfiction to adaption and inspiration. I'm personally interested in novels which rework fairy tales (being a bit of a folk tale buff) and in no universe would I call them fanfiction. Nor is RENT fanfiction. Some things, like Wicked, tread an interesting line - if it had *only* been posted to the internet, people would consider it fanfiction. Amazingly well written fanfiction (can you tell that it's a favourite novel of mine?) but still... fanfiction. Yet as a novel, or a musical, it isn't. (End of tangent, sorry.)
I completely respect your opinion on fanfiction - hell, it's your world, I don't really care whether or not you like it or not! I even agree with you (a lot, dear god) about the quality of work out there. A lot, maybe even a majority of it, is absolutely horrible. However, I do care, and am offended by, your belief that Jonathan Larson would have a problem with the entire concept of people writing fanfiction about RENT. Personal beliefs and dislikes are one thing, but putting words in the mouth of Jonathan Larson himself is something entirely different. Your 'secret' didn't make any comments on the quality of the work; all it did was paint all fanfiction with the same brush. What if, 100 years from now, somebody wrote the RENT equivilent of Wicked and it was published? (Unlikely for an obvious variety of reasons, but let's just play with it). Would that be fanfiction? Would that make Jonathan Larson roll in his grave?
Good or bad, fanfiction is expression. If a future Jonathan Larson gets his or her start in writing by playing with characters they know, I'm all for it. Even if their writing is horrible. Even if Roger and Mimi somehow magically get cured and have 10 babies together. They're learning. Maybe slowly, and maybe they never will get better, or write anything original. Maybe Jonathan Larson would hate fanfiction if he knew of it. But we don't know that. We agree to disagree on the topic of fanfiction, but please don't put words into the mouth of a man who can't refute or agree with them.
As an aside, you mention that a broadway musical is completely static and has no leeway. I don't know about you, but I don't find the ending of RENT to be cut-and-dry, with no room for imagination. Nor do I think that the events prior to the play are similarily fixed in stone. In fact, that's something I like about RENT - that it's just one year, and that you get the feeling that the characters don't just cease to exist after the end. I don't know quite how to articulate this particular point, as I haven't slept in far too long, but I'll just say I vehemently disagree with you that RENT is a static piece.
My point was more that musicals or plays in general are more static than the other mediums I mentioned. Yes, what happens after Rent is open for interpretation, but the whole concept of taking theater and writing fanfic about it is what feels strange to me. I'm sorry if I didn't articulate that clearly.
However, I do care, and am offended by, your belief that Jonathan Larson would have a problem with the entire concept of people writing fanfiction about RENT. I'm not trying to put words in Jonathan Larson's mouth. I am simply saying that since most of what's out there is horrible (and we agree on that point), he would most likely have a problem with it, as ANY artist or writer would if they were to read a story that took their characters and fucked them up If you notice, my secret was worded "If he knew you were writing fanfiction about his characters, he'd be rolling in his grave". Not, "If he knew there was fanfiction" or "If he knew fanfiction existed". I don't know if Jonathan Larson would hate the concept fanfiction or love it, nor will I ever know, nor do I really care; my point was simply that if he read what you ["you" being the majority of Rent fanfic writers] were writing, he probably wouldn't be happy. Again, not trying to put words in the mouth of a dead man. I'm just saying that, as the creator of Rent, it is highly likely that if Jonathan Larson were to read a story where "Roger and Mimi somehow magically get cured and have 10 babies together", he'd feel as though someone has desecrated his characters. If you disagree, that's completely fine, but again, it's my opinion.
Okay, I think I understand where your 'secret' was coming from. I still disagree, to an extent, but mostly on principle and how I, personally, think I would react (being an aspiring writer). And since none of that can be proved, it isn't worth having an argument over. :)
Agree to disagree, then. Thanks for the conversation; as I mentioned, the whole concept of fandom fascinates me and I love talking to people who think differently about it than I do. Hurray.
Anyway. My point was that the vast majority of the people who write Rent fanfiction (and while I've only read a few stories, just for the hell of it, I've seen enough to get the jist) do it horribly. They're just terrible writers. So basically what they're doing is taking these characters--these inherently flawed but well-written characters--and turning them into a bastardization of their former selves. It's ridiculous. And please don't bring the fact that Jonathan Larson adapted La Boheme into this. I think adaptations are great; I write plays myself, and some of my best work has been adaptations of pre-existing plays. But how can you have the audacity to compare Larson's adaptation of Puccini to what fanfiction writers do to Rent? Taking characters and having them randomly fuck each other? Setting their lives to current wannabe punk rock songs? Please. It's not the same thing.
Of course Jonathan Larson believed in expression; I'm not saying that expression is bad. Whatever. Roll your eyes as much as you want, but that's my opinion.
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I completely respect your opinion on fanfiction - hell, it's your world, I don't really care whether or not you like it or not! I even agree with you (a lot, dear god) about the quality of work out there. A lot, maybe even a majority of it, is absolutely horrible. However, I do care, and am offended by, your belief that Jonathan Larson would have a problem with the entire concept of people writing fanfiction about RENT. Personal beliefs and dislikes are one thing, but putting words in the mouth of Jonathan Larson himself is something entirely different. Your 'secret' didn't make any comments on the quality of the work; all it did was paint all fanfiction with the same brush. What if, 100 years from now, somebody wrote the RENT equivilent of Wicked and it was published? (Unlikely for an obvious variety of reasons, but let's just play with it). Would that be fanfiction? Would that make Jonathan Larson roll in his grave?
Good or bad, fanfiction is expression. If a future Jonathan Larson gets his or her start in writing by playing with characters they know, I'm all for it. Even if their writing is horrible. Even if Roger and Mimi somehow magically get cured and have 10 babies together. They're learning. Maybe slowly, and maybe they never will get better, or write anything original. Maybe Jonathan Larson would hate fanfiction if he knew of it. But we don't know that. We agree to disagree on the topic of fanfiction, but please don't put words into the mouth of a man who can't refute or agree with them.
As an aside, you mention that a broadway musical is completely static and has no leeway. I don't know about you, but I don't find the ending of RENT to be cut-and-dry, with no room for imagination. Nor do I think that the events prior to the play are similarily fixed in stone. In fact, that's something I like about RENT - that it's just one year, and that you get the feeling that the characters don't just cease to exist after the end. I don't know quite how to articulate this particular point, as I haven't slept in far too long, but I'll just say I vehemently disagree with you that RENT is a static piece.
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However, I do care, and am offended by, your belief that Jonathan Larson would have a problem with the entire concept of people writing fanfiction about RENT.
I'm not trying to put words in Jonathan Larson's mouth. I am simply saying that since most of what's out there is horrible (and we agree on that point), he would most likely have a problem with it, as ANY artist or writer would if they were to read a story that took their characters and fucked them up If you notice, my secret was worded "If he knew you were writing fanfiction about his characters, he'd be rolling in his grave". Not, "If he knew there was fanfiction" or "If he knew fanfiction existed". I don't know if Jonathan Larson would hate the concept fanfiction or love it, nor will I ever know, nor do I really care; my point was simply that if he read what you ["you" being the majority of Rent fanfic writers] were writing, he probably wouldn't be happy. Again, not trying to put words in the mouth of a dead man. I'm just saying that, as the creator of Rent, it is highly likely that if Jonathan Larson were to read a story where "Roger and Mimi somehow magically get cured and have 10 babies together", he'd feel as though someone has desecrated his characters. If you disagree, that's completely fine, but again, it's my opinion.
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Agree to disagree, then. Thanks for the conversation; as I mentioned, the whole concept of fandom fascinates me and I love talking to people who think differently about it than I do. Hurray.
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