About Writing Fanfic and Slash

[nezumiko]

My friend owldolatrous is writing a paper about fanfic and slash, and asked me about it. I thought my answers to him were interesting enough that I'd share.

Comments

[ditaykan]

This is a silly thing to be focusing on, but you're so right about the post-apocalyptic thing.

It'd explain why many of the characters have Caucasian as well as Asian or Hispanic/Islander features (Naruto's stunningly blue eyes, Tsunade's blond hair, Iruka's brown skin, Sakura's red/strawberry/whatever the hell colored hair) and the presence of some technology but not very advanced for many everyday things. No computers, for example, but refrigerators.

No cars, which could make sense if cars were part of the catastrophe, but electricity, radios for ninja work, and evidently mass-produced vests, paper, books, clothing... I even recall phones. Post-apocalyptica also explains the presence of the word 'donuts' in the dub. Radiation could account for random mutation, which after a sufficiently advanced period of time, could have settled into the presence of manipulable chakra such as is demonstrated... pretty much every episode.

Dangit, I think you've converted me to this way of thinking.

[telosphilos]

She converted me a long time ago. I actually wonder every now and again if Kishimoto intended for her hypothesis to be right or if he just doesn't care? I think there is a lot of potential for all kinds of things with a post apcalyptic setting. ;)

[nezumiko]

One of the first things that really got me thinking this way was an illustration I saw that Kishimoto did, of Team 7 hiking under a broken and overgrown with vegetation highway overpass. Suddenly it all clicked. There are no cars NOW, but there once were. It explains the strange, patched together cables and conduits running all over Konoha. I don't know WHAT happened, in particular. But yes, exactly as you say, SOMETHING happened, There were mutations. And humans survived, regrouped and carried on as best they could.

[muphinmadness]

I never thought about the TV spin off shows as a form of fanfic, but your so right. They totally are. A form of homage to the orrigional.

A wonderfully thought provoking post. Thank you.

[nezumiko]

Thanks! *BEAMS* The friend for whom I originally wrote this pointed out that the whole Marvel Comics world is that way, too. Taking the worlds and settings of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby etc, they have gone on to create reams of stories about those characters, without input from the original authors. Of course they are paid for it, and the work is sanctioned by the "owner", marvel Entertainment. But still, it's fanfic.