#hptext

My opinions on this matter are based mainly in the literary theory class I took last quarter.  Acknowledging the fact many of you have probably not taken a class in lit theory (I 10/10 recommend it, though), I would like to preface this explanation with some context.  Before Post-Saussurean linguistics erupted in the 20th century, there were three main figures which influenced how readers consumed literature: the author, the text, and the reader themselves.  The relationships between these three elements dictated and differentiated the earliest reading styles which are still used today.  The first was expressive realism, in which the author had some sort of “inward eye” or special trait of artistry that readers did not attain.  The text was the vehicle in which the author’s message could be given to the reader.  New criticism, the next practice, discounted the author all together.  Once the text was written, the text held it’s own meaning, and readers drew conclusions only from the words on the page.  In both of these, the readers were “ideal,” meaning they were passive consumers of text that were basically spoon-fed material and expected to agree with it wholeheartedly.   Reader response, the third reading practice, discounted this entirely.  It stated that readers determine the meaning of the text in social groups, allowing for creativity and originality not only in analysis, but in recreation.  Reader response is therefore the origin of fandom by allowing fanart, fanfiction, and roleplay to exist as legitimate functions of analyzing text.

I mention these not to bore you or prove how much I learned in English 202, but to point out the main issues I see occurring from a literary theorist standpoint when fandoms hate on non-canon ships (or non-canon-discounted ships).  There are two more so foundational issues I see happening: the glorification of canon and the deconstruction of fandom, both of which are extremely detrimental to fandom flourishing the way we want it to.

The glorification of canon is rather self-explanatory.  However, the issue that occurs in this, tying it back to literary theory, is that glorifying what literally exists either promotes expressive realism or new criticism.  Because paper and ink are inanimate objects, I will solely focus on expressive realism’s toxicity in this matter.  Only believing what the author has proven to be true as valid is an extremely new critical approach to reading.  The issue with this is, more often than not, authors are prone to problematic views based on their own historical context.  We all know this holds true with JKR: from her forcing together of non-compatible characters into straight romance and her lack of non-discriminatory or offensive representation, we understand her historical context is extremely cishet and white.  Therefore, only going along with what she gives in canon will inherently lead to ships being the same.  Fandom is the place to explore alternatives, giving people the representation they lack.  Only upholding ships that coincide with the author’s views are therefore dangerous, as every author has biases that should be questioned and challenged as we begin becoming a more open-minded and inclusive world.

But, more jarring than that is what will happen to fandom if such “civil wars” over ships keep occurring.  As I stated previously, fandom exists because readers took meaning from the author and decided what it was by themselves, creating it through different mediums.  The opposite of this is therefore only adhering to canon ships, as it represents expressive theory.  This is the base of the issue: expressive theory and reader response cannot exist at the same time.  Because both have different opinions on who decides the meaning of text, they are fundamentally destructive towards one another.  Therefore, when individuals hate on ships which are non-canon, only believe in canon ships, or do both at the same time, they are destroying the targeted person’s ability to participate in reader response by promoting its opposer.  By saying the fanfic writer/fanartist/roleplayer cannot conceive relationships in fandom because they are unhealthy in canon,  anti-ship fandom groups are not permitting the creative analysis that defines reader response to exist, demolishing reader response as an appropriate way to respond to literature.  Because reader response is the foundation of fandom, it can therefore be concluded that by disproving non-canon ships and taking away reader’s creative response forms, members of fandom are actually deconstructing the fandoms they are in.  Yes, you heard me correctly: by hating on Drarry (or any non-canon ship), you are going against the very foundation of literary theory that allows fandom to exist by saying what happened in canon is the only reliable bases for determining compatible pairings.  It’s not just about creative expression being what fandom is “about,” but what allows fandom to exist, and exist in the way it does.  By hating on a non-canon ship, you are going against the same rights that allow you the freedom to reform any characters or plots that do not belong to you.  The right to write fanfic, to draw fanart, to do role-play, make fan theory videos, you name it.  

This, in my opinion, is the true issue with fandom “civil wars:” they are demolishing fandoms altogether, not only from ruining good-will, but not permitting the foundation of fandom to exist.  Yes, the beautiful part of fandom is it’s creativity, but that’s also the necessary part of it.  It’s more than just difference is what makes fandom unique.  Without allowing fans to ask, “what if?” and stray from the canon, we would essentially be promoting a literary theory that disproves the foundation of fandom itself.  We would be destroying ourselves.  And, from what I’ve read about this “civil war,” we have already been doing so for a long time.

If you’ve held on and have read this analysis to this point, you probably have a question I am anticipating.  Yes, I am a Drarry shipper.  And a Wolfstar shipper.  But also love Jily, Romione, and Remadora.  For a long time, I’ve wondered how I can love Remadora and Wolfstar at once.  My analysis answers this question: I am truly promoting fandom by not allowing what happened in canon discount what can happen in head-canons.  But I don’t mean to toot my own horn; there have been plenty of times in which I have hated on ships on Tumblr (I mean, just look at my “pairings I will not write for” list; it’s pretty blatant) and in conversations with my mutuals.  If we want fandom to survive and thrive, this needs to stop on all levels.  Especially when it gets as toxic as demeaning the actual people behind the computer screens.

I know this fandom means so much to every single member of it, and I am sure we would ache to see it crumble into pieces from our own wrongdoings.  It is never too late to learn from our mistakes and apologize for them; these are the mature actions that were demonstrated by so many of the big blogs who, by choice or force, fought in this “civil war.”  So please continue to be mindful in the way you interact with those who have different opinions than you.  Remember: it is those differences that make fandom possible, regardless of your distaste, so please at least respect them for the role they play in the foundation of fandom itself.

Also, if you do only ship canon ships, I do not mean for the “glorification of canon” section to peg you as someone homophobic or anti-POC.  I just want to remind us all of the imperfections of authors, and, therefore, of the content they create in order to stay mindful that we have the power to bring more representation and non-offensive representation to the table.  And, of course, we have fandom to thank for that.