Fandom Eye-wear
I do have an actual substantial post for today. Because I have a lot of thoughts churning in my head, and I want to kinda put them in words and see if they make any sense.
As you know, I've been attempting to explore other pairings in fanfic. In the past, I've stuck pretty damn close to Spuffy, which is my OTP. However, as you can probably tell by my bookmarks, I still haven't come across many other ships that appeal to me.
Of course, part of this is that I'm just not much of a shipper by nature. My spark for Spuffy is an exception to my general disinterest in romantic pairings.
I think some of it, though, may have to deal with my fandom eye-wear.
I'll explain that, just...bear with me.
I recall having conversations before about what counts as gen and what counts as shippy in terms of fanfic. Especially for a fandom like BtVS. How much plot does a fic need before it becomes gen? How much romance does a fic need before it becomes shippy? Okay, this may feel like I'm coming way out of left field, but I think I've actually come to something of a conclusion on this and it relates to my earlier ponderings about pairings and such.
Because we don't all watch the same show. Well, we do. But we don't.
Everybody has their own focus for the show. A particular character. A particular ship. A particular theme. Whatever. It's the lens through which they interpret canon events, and it's also the lens through which they produce fanworks.
People aren't restricted to one lens, of course. I have my Spuffy lens. I also have my feminist lens. And I have a few others tucked away that I like to explore at various times.
It's here we are able to find these distinctions between gen fics and shipper fics, though. Also, the distinction between "being a shipper" and "liking a particular pairing but not being fannish about it".
A shipper has in their arsenal of fandom eyewear the lens for their particular pairing. They'll be able to list out all the glances, the touches, the important scenes and dialogues. They'll tell you how one throwaway line in Episode X is the linchpin for the beautifully woven thematic arc of Pairing Y.
I always joke about my "inner Spuffy fangirl". That's the lens. That's when I'm just purely looking at the series as a shipper. I don't always do so. But it happens.
For people who don't have that particular lens, the interpretations and conclusions of various shippers can seem downright puzzling. It's not that the shippers are just "making stuff up". They're just using a different prescription.
Okay, so that's all about interpretation the show. Input. Now let's turn to output, because those same lenses are in place when we respond to the show, whether through meta or vids or fanfic or general squee.
Let me give you an example of how this can affect a piece of fanfic.
We'll take a fairly common scene: Buffy visiting Angel and Spike after the NFA battle. In this example, she brings Willow along for support.
Don't take these as examples of stellar writing. They're very rough and somewhat-sucky. I'm in meta-mode, not fanfic-mode here.
Let's first take a look at what a fic with this premise might look like through a Spuffy lens:
"Angel." Buffy's eyes were first drawn to the larger vampire who lay bandaged on the hospital bed. Then her gaze wandered over to Spike, who was reclining in the second bed, similarly bandaged. Spike was alive. Injured, but alive. Nobody had told her this. He hadn't told her this. "When did Spike come back?"
Willow gripped Buffy's elbow, perhaps sensing that Buffy was going through something of a shock. It was a good thing she'd come along for support.
"Listen, about that," Angel spoke up before Spike could. "Could we discuss it later? Kinda injured and in pain right now."
Right. He was right
If Spike were going to say anything, he apparently decided not to. Instead, he lay still with a guilty look on his face. Buffy couldn't believe it. After all they'd been through, she'd find out that he was back like this. Incidental. He hadn't called her. Hadn't written her. Hadn't done anything.
Well, fine. If that's the way Spike wanted to play it.
Buffy glanced at Willow before moving forward to sit at Angel's side. Her back turned to Spike, and she held Angel's hand. She could feel Spike's eyes burning the back of her neck.
"You know I'll always come when you call," Buffy said to Angel. Well...not entirely to Angel...
Oh hey look! A typical post-NFA Spuffy reunion fic! *loves those*
Let's shift a bit. Take the exact same scene. Same dialogue. Same action. And, instead, let's use a Bangel lens to write the story:
"Angel." Buffy's eyes were first drawn to her former lover. Of course. Where else would she want to look? Whenever he was around, she could feel him. She had to see him. It was only after a few lingering moments that she noticed Spike in the other hospital bed with injuries similar to Angel's. The words were out of her mouth on reflex: "When did Spike come back?"
Willow gripped Buffy's elbow, perhaps sensing that Buffy was going through something of a shock. It was a good thing she'd come along for support.
"Listen, about that," Angel spoke up before Spike could. "Could we discuss it later? Kinda injured and in pain right now."
He was right. Spike didn't matter. What they had was a tangled mess of badness and trauma and some comfort at the end. Angel was the one she still longed for. Always.
Buffy glanced at Willow before moving forward to sit at Angel's side. She hated turning her back on Spike after everything, but she had to focus on what was important. And that would always be Angel. She held his hand.
"You know I'll always come when you call," Buffy said to Angel.
Oh hey look! A...Bangel fic...let's move on.
As you can probably tell, there's a substantial difference between the two.
Ironically, I use this contrast between two ships to make a point about gen fics.
A gen fic is a fic that isn't using a shippy lens to tell the story. It may have the same dialogue, same action as a shippy fic (because romantic pairings are common so they're gonna pop up even in gen fics). But without that shippy lens, the prose will be different.
This isn't to say that gen fics are devoid of lenses. That would be weird. Instead, the lens focuses on a particular character. A particular story element. A particular view of the show. Anything other than the pairing lens.
Okay, so that tangent's in place, but I'm still not quite finished because I've yet to figure out why these other pairings aren't quite gripping me as I'd like them to.
Well, the fact is that sometimes, if the lens ain't there, it just ain't there. This especially applies to canon pairings. I'm already familiar with them, but I never developed any particular lens for them while watching the show. Doing so while reading fanfic is a long-shot (though I'm still trying, dammit!).
But, no, I'm thinking of the unconventional pairings. You guys know I like to stick close to canon. So with unconventional pairings, I have to be "sold" on them. They have to convince me so I can tilt my head and go, "Huh. I could see that."
Now, I can only talk about one-shot fics here. Longfics have different dynamics and would require more thinkiness on my part to meta on. But I think where I'm getting a bit discouraged with the non-canon pairing one-shots is that they're written with the assumption that I already have the Andrew/Clem lens (or whatever pairing it is). And since I don't, I'm reading the fic without the proper eye-wear, and I'm just coming out puzzled.
Let's go back to that horribly wonderfully written example one more time. Except now it's written from the perspective of Willow/Buffy:
"Angel." Buffy's eyes were first drawn to Angel, then to Spike who occupied the second hospital bed. Both were injured. And Spike? Shouldn't Spike be dead? "When did Spike come back?"
Willow gripped Buffy's elbow. Buffy resisted the urge to grab her hand. This was so awkward. With the two vampires and the two girls and things were so different now and she just wanted to grab Willow's arm and walk out.
"Listen, about that," Angel spoke up before Spike could. "Could we discuss it later? Kinda injured and in pain right now."
Good. Discussing it later was good. Buffy was always happy to discuss stuff...later.
Buffy looked at Willow, trying to communicate with her eyes. Which sounded lame but actually worked out pretty well when you've known someone for over seven years. I have to be with them now. I'm sorry, sweetie.
Willow understood.
With reluctance, Buffy broke away from Willow to sit by Angel's side and hold his hand.
"You know I'll always come when you call," Buffy said. It was her duty.
Does it work with all the dialogue and everything? Sure. And it can surely be well-written (my example isn't, but I've been reading tons of fantastically written stuff). But for the person who doesn't have a Willow/Buffy lens...it just seems odd.
So I think I've found the root of my problem in finding new pairings to enjoy:
1) For canon pairings, I'm largely apathetic to shipping in the first place, so if I didn't develop a lens while watching the show, it's gonna be tough going to acquire one while reading fanfic.
1a) It's not impossible, though, and since I am finding well-written fanfic, I'll continue to explore, even if I don't particular care to reread any of it.
2) For noncanon pairings, I need to read more longfics for these pairings, as these will (presumably) take the time to build up the ship and convince me that it would work.
And on my path to this realization, I inadvertently cleared up my thoughts on the gen vs ship fic distinction.
Go me! :)
Also, what this person said. (Thanks, elisi, for the link!)
As you know, I've been attempting to explore other pairings in fanfic. In the past, I've stuck pretty damn close to Spuffy, which is my OTP. However, as you can probably tell by my bookmarks, I still haven't come across many other ships that appeal to me.
Of course, part of this is that I'm just not much of a shipper by nature. My spark for Spuffy is an exception to my general disinterest in romantic pairings.
I think some of it, though, may have to deal with my fandom eye-wear.
I'll explain that, just...bear with me.
I recall having conversations before about what counts as gen and what counts as shippy in terms of fanfic. Especially for a fandom like BtVS. How much plot does a fic need before it becomes gen? How much romance does a fic need before it becomes shippy? Okay, this may feel like I'm coming way out of left field, but I think I've actually come to something of a conclusion on this and it relates to my earlier ponderings about pairings and such.
Because we don't all watch the same show. Well, we do. But we don't.
Everybody has their own focus for the show. A particular character. A particular ship. A particular theme. Whatever. It's the lens through which they interpret canon events, and it's also the lens through which they produce fanworks.
People aren't restricted to one lens, of course. I have my Spuffy lens. I also have my feminist lens. And I have a few others tucked away that I like to explore at various times.
It's here we are able to find these distinctions between gen fics and shipper fics, though. Also, the distinction between "being a shipper" and "liking a particular pairing but not being fannish about it".
A shipper has in their arsenal of fandom eyewear the lens for their particular pairing. They'll be able to list out all the glances, the touches, the important scenes and dialogues. They'll tell you how one throwaway line in Episode X is the linchpin for the beautifully woven thematic arc of Pairing Y.
I always joke about my "inner Spuffy fangirl". That's the lens. That's when I'm just purely looking at the series as a shipper. I don't always do so. But it happens.
For people who don't have that particular lens, the interpretations and conclusions of various shippers can seem downright puzzling. It's not that the shippers are just "making stuff up". They're just using a different prescription.
Okay, so that's all about interpretation the show. Input. Now let's turn to output, because those same lenses are in place when we respond to the show, whether through meta or vids or fanfic or general squee.
Let me give you an example of how this can affect a piece of fanfic.
We'll take a fairly common scene: Buffy visiting Angel and Spike after the NFA battle. In this example, she brings Willow along for support.
Don't take these as examples of stellar writing. They're very rough and somewhat-sucky. I'm in meta-mode, not fanfic-mode here.
Let's first take a look at what a fic with this premise might look like through a Spuffy lens:
"Angel." Buffy's eyes were first drawn to the larger vampire who lay bandaged on the hospital bed. Then her gaze wandered over to Spike, who was reclining in the second bed, similarly bandaged. Spike was alive. Injured, but alive. Nobody had told her this. He hadn't told her this. "When did Spike come back?"
Willow gripped Buffy's elbow, perhaps sensing that Buffy was going through something of a shock. It was a good thing she'd come along for support.
"Listen, about that," Angel spoke up before Spike could. "Could we discuss it later? Kinda injured and in pain right now."
Right. He was right
If Spike were going to say anything, he apparently decided not to. Instead, he lay still with a guilty look on his face. Buffy couldn't believe it. After all they'd been through, she'd find out that he was back like this. Incidental. He hadn't called her. Hadn't written her. Hadn't done anything.
Well, fine. If that's the way Spike wanted to play it.
Buffy glanced at Willow before moving forward to sit at Angel's side. Her back turned to Spike, and she held Angel's hand. She could feel Spike's eyes burning the back of her neck.
"You know I'll always come when you call," Buffy said to Angel. Well...not entirely to Angel...
Oh hey look! A typical post-NFA Spuffy reunion fic! *loves those*
Let's shift a bit. Take the exact same scene. Same dialogue. Same action. And, instead, let's use a Bangel lens to write the story:
"Angel." Buffy's eyes were first drawn to her former lover. Of course. Where else would she want to look? Whenever he was around, she could feel him. She had to see him. It was only after a few lingering moments that she noticed Spike in the other hospital bed with injuries similar to Angel's. The words were out of her mouth on reflex: "When did Spike come back?"
Willow gripped Buffy's elbow, perhaps sensing that Buffy was going through something of a shock. It was a good thing she'd come along for support.
"Listen, about that," Angel spoke up before Spike could. "Could we discuss it later? Kinda injured and in pain right now."
He was right. Spike didn't matter. What they had was a tangled mess of badness and trauma and some comfort at the end. Angel was the one she still longed for. Always.
Buffy glanced at Willow before moving forward to sit at Angel's side. She hated turning her back on Spike after everything, but she had to focus on what was important. And that would always be Angel. She held his hand.
"You know I'll always come when you call," Buffy said to Angel.
Oh hey look! A...Bangel fic...let's move on.
As you can probably tell, there's a substantial difference between the two.
Ironically, I use this contrast between two ships to make a point about gen fics.
A gen fic is a fic that isn't using a shippy lens to tell the story. It may have the same dialogue, same action as a shippy fic (because romantic pairings are common so they're gonna pop up even in gen fics). But without that shippy lens, the prose will be different.
This isn't to say that gen fics are devoid of lenses. That would be weird. Instead, the lens focuses on a particular character. A particular story element. A particular view of the show. Anything other than the pairing lens.
Okay, so that tangent's in place, but I'm still not quite finished because I've yet to figure out why these other pairings aren't quite gripping me as I'd like them to.
Well, the fact is that sometimes, if the lens ain't there, it just ain't there. This especially applies to canon pairings. I'm already familiar with them, but I never developed any particular lens for them while watching the show. Doing so while reading fanfic is a long-shot (though I'm still trying, dammit!).
But, no, I'm thinking of the unconventional pairings. You guys know I like to stick close to canon. So with unconventional pairings, I have to be "sold" on them. They have to convince me so I can tilt my head and go, "Huh. I could see that."
Now, I can only talk about one-shot fics here. Longfics have different dynamics and would require more thinkiness on my part to meta on. But I think where I'm getting a bit discouraged with the non-canon pairing one-shots is that they're written with the assumption that I already have the Andrew/Clem lens (or whatever pairing it is). And since I don't, I'm reading the fic without the proper eye-wear, and I'm just coming out puzzled.
Let's go back to that horribly wonderfully written example one more time. Except now it's written from the perspective of Willow/Buffy:
"Angel." Buffy's eyes were first drawn to Angel, then to Spike who occupied the second hospital bed. Both were injured. And Spike? Shouldn't Spike be dead? "When did Spike come back?"
Willow gripped Buffy's elbow. Buffy resisted the urge to grab her hand. This was so awkward. With the two vampires and the two girls and things were so different now and she just wanted to grab Willow's arm and walk out.
"Listen, about that," Angel spoke up before Spike could. "Could we discuss it later? Kinda injured and in pain right now."
Good. Discussing it later was good. Buffy was always happy to discuss stuff...later.
Buffy looked at Willow, trying to communicate with her eyes. Which sounded lame but actually worked out pretty well when you've known someone for over seven years. I have to be with them now. I'm sorry, sweetie.
Willow understood.
With reluctance, Buffy broke away from Willow to sit by Angel's side and hold his hand.
"You know I'll always come when you call," Buffy said. It was her duty.
Does it work with all the dialogue and everything? Sure. And it can surely be well-written (my example isn't, but I've been reading tons of fantastically written stuff). But for the person who doesn't have a Willow/Buffy lens...it just seems odd.
So I think I've found the root of my problem in finding new pairings to enjoy:
1) For canon pairings, I'm largely apathetic to shipping in the first place, so if I didn't develop a lens while watching the show, it's gonna be tough going to acquire one while reading fanfic.
1a) It's not impossible, though, and since I am finding well-written fanfic, I'll continue to explore, even if I don't particular care to reread any of it.
2) For noncanon pairings, I need to read more longfics for these pairings, as these will (presumably) take the time to build up the ship and convince me that it would work.
And on my path to this realization, I inadvertently cleared up my thoughts on the gen vs ship fic distinction.
Go me! :)
Also, what this person said. (Thanks, elisi, for the link!)