Student paper award, Mythcon 2013. Abrahamson makes a particularly convincing case for the validity of fanfiction by applying Tolkien’s own statements about the “dominion of the author,” the “Cauldron of Story,” and subcreation to the issue. Discusses Tolkien’s experiences with early fanwork and his own use of sources as an author.
This is an excellent paper on Tolkien and fanfiction!Â
Abrahamson starts by considering the many (and various, and seemingly conflicting) accounts from Tolkien’s letters in which he describes dealing with fans, especially those who wrote sequels or continuations of his work. Examining these passages, Abrahamson concludes that Tolkien’s main issue was “less with fan interpretation and more with fan interpretation in ignorance of the canon he provided” (p. 62).Â
Is this to say that he would have been totally down for all of the things we get up to as a fandom? . . .Probably not, but that isn’t Abrahamson’s point, and her paper is all the stronger for avoiding it! Instead, by distinguishing between “disregard” and “derivativeness” as two points upon which Tolkien might have considered fanfiction (p. 72), she avoids falling into the value judgments common among scholars from outside fan studies (yay Megan!), and leaves plenty of room for further conversation.
And maybe this is just me, but it’s also exciting to see the Silm fandom get some screen time alongside the LotR and Hobbit folks? Also, if you were around for Noldor Independence Day in 2013, you may have gotten a shout-out from page 62 on!
Definitely worth a read.
- mod RC
