The Condescension of FanFiction and its Pathetic Hypocrisy
Literary works are a dime a dozen.
Like most interests which cannot escape the plague of opinion, they’re silently sorted by society into piles of “good” and “bad” … or more realistically, “this is respectfully acceptable” and “yikes, keep that to yourself”.
Examples of literature belonging in the former pile - gently placed with gloved hands - are classics, epics, religious fiction and apparently, self help. Oppositely, compositions that are haphazardly trashed into the latter pile from a drop-kickable distance are the likes of most contemporary fiction, Colleen Hoover’s bibliography, the Twilight saga, anything with an oiled up Fabio-type glistening in candlelight on the cover, and magazines containing quizzes promising to enhance the sex life of the middle aged woman flicking through it by the pool on holiday in sunny Ibiza.
Now, as much as I have my own views on the various names listed above, they’re not important enough to warrant elaborating on. What is, however, is the pile “fanficion” is unfairly placed within.
Stereotyped as a worthless pastime for chronically single women with mediocre literary skills, fanfiction is guaranteed to inspire the unoriginal response of, “oh those stories of badly written sex scenes riddled with grammatical errors?” when mentioned.
Admittedly, there are many an example to be found on the internet of bizarre intercourse written poorly by someone who has clearly never attended anatomy class or been picked for a spelling bee panel.
However, to minimise fanfiction to only such inadequacy is to call Beyonce a human loudspeaker, or Dave Grohl a sound whack-a-mole teammate. It is entirely reductionist in its dismissal - leaving no room for acknowledgment of discipline, talent or success.
In this sweeping rejection of ignorance, it is evident that most remain unaware of what fanfiction truly is.
In essence, it is merely the cultivation of new circumstances in which famously established characters begin a new journey. It is storytelling without having to exert much, if any, word-count into foundational world-building.
Bigots love to mock this concept, yet they’ve likely never exerted critical thinking enough to notice their own indulgence in fanfiction.
It is an amusing thought to picture one’s face dropping in aghast realisation when they’re informed that their binge-watching of Netflix’s Wednesday is conceptually fanfiction. Scoffing at readers for eagerly awaiting the next chapter of a new ao3 fic seems hollow when understanding that impatiently waiting for Wicked part 2 to come to the big screen… is the same thing.
“Crying at the ending of Maleficent is so not the same as crying through a Supernatural fanfic where Dean and Cas finally get their happy ending!” They scream repeatedly as the tattoo artist adds the final touches of the inked “HUMBUG” onto their forehead.
As we have already addressed the stupidity of the general population, I feel the need to highlight the difference between what is fanfiction and what is an adaptation.
The Claire Danes and Leo DiCaprio version of Romeo and Juliet is an adaptation - due to its symmetry to the original story by the Bard. The choice to set it visually in modernity but to have dialogue spoken in Shakespearean iambic pentameter, is a stylistic idea executed by directorial decision.
Having been recently made aware that Margaret Atwood’s Penelope is essentially fanfiction of Homer’s Odyssey, my patience has worn thin. Both (rightfully) are highly revered.
So why the reluctance to accept fanfiction as something to admire?
Novice authors that write purely for passion in such a tightly monetised space are so generous with their time and efforts; the chauvinists that are hell-bent on derision are missing out on some of the greatest works of art coming into fruition.
@senlinyu’s Manacled is one of the best bodies of work I have read as an adult - it was nothing short of a privilege to be able to experience it in its lifetime. The fact that I am currently making my way through the original retelling, titled “Alchemised” is a testament to what heights fanfare can truly ascend to.
Below is an article that summarises my bitchy rambling in a much more dignified manner. If sensible diplomacy resonates more significantly over sarcastic contempt, read this instead:
https://www.seriouslyforserious.com/home/2018/5/30/the-under-acknowledged-case-of-mainstream-fan-fiction
