Sixth Post!

[hoisinsauce]

"The thing about illegally breeding fire-breathing possums is that you gotta keep a bucket of water handy."

*Those fools! Fire-breathing possums are greasy; water will only feed the flames! Oh, if only I could tell them of my empire...*

(Context: https://secretfanspace.dreamwidth.org/1839.html?thread=2678831#cmt2678831)

Talk fandom! Making things! Reading, writing, drawing, whatever! Miscellaneous life chatter! Meme's happy to see you again!

(start a comment thread by replying to this post)

Comments

Re: Fandom Things

[(Anonymous)]

I struggle to have empathy for fandom discourse about seeing yourself represented in fandom/fiction because coming from a developing country, this has never, ever been the case. Every once in a while some guy in the American diaspora thinks he gets us and then writes something super cringe only the Ams give a shit about.

I don't care to say who is right. I just wonder sometimes about what sort of demographic one must come from that one can expect or demand representation.

Re: Fandom Things

[(Anonymous)]

"Representation Matters!"

> All characters are the same Californian with a palette-swap.

Re: Fandom Things

[(Anonymous)]

I find it odd, and tend to think of it as the complaint of someone who hasn't got to the root of their loneliness yet. I like seeing stuff set locally, but not for some grand goal of Representation, it's just funnier to me when it's places I know, and some in-jokes are only going to work with familiarity. I think when you read books, even when you're from the same place as the author, they're often old enough that you're living in a different culture to the author's anyway. I don't remember ever reading a book and thinking "wow, that character is just like me!" Bits and pieces, sure. I'm surpised when people expect it, anyway. But I'm always surprised if people even know $parent's country exists. :P I don't think I know of *any* media where the characters are living in my country and have a parent from that country. This may just show how little I read.

Re: Fandom Things

[(Anonymous)]

SA

I do, however, enjoy writing fic alluding to the niche stuff and putting it up just to baffle americans.

Re: Fandom Things

[(Anonymous)]

I feel like it's tied to the increasing trend where a fan asks an author if this or that character was meant to be here and then gets mad if the author says no or ecstatic if the author says yes.

It feels kinda needy and pointless. Like why do you need the author's stamp of approval? Read what you want. 80% of the fandom will write essays about why the author is wrong and whateverphobic if the author doesn't say what they want to say anyway and scream about the Death of the Author so why does it matter? Stop asking authors to validate you and just enjoy the book and take what you want from it?

God y'all needier than my dog when she realises I'm eating a sandwich.

Re: Fandom Things

[(Anonymous)]

SA

The cynical answer is that it isn't about Muh Representation, it's about the dopamine rush of an author agreeing with your read of a book, so much better if you Identify With that demographic for whatever reason.

Put it together and you have "As a queer transmasculine man I'm so so so glad Side-Character No One Gives A FUck About Is Gay Nevermind That There Have Been Twenty Essays Written About Why He's Gay That I'd Have Cited If That Homophobic Author Said Actually She Didn't Intend Anything In Particular" wait where was I going again,

Re: Fandom Things

[(Anonymous)]

Ayrt

Ah, concerns over Representation as a noble-sounding excuse to harass authors (or to try to enlist them as your shield against your opponents in a fandom fight)? Sounds plausible to me. And maybe explains why some authors get into the discourse; must make them feel more important if people are hanging on their every word instead of defecting to the ficcers. :P

Re: Fandom Things

[(Anonymous)]

Ayrt

I read this as defecating at first and was very confused. Today I am Missreading Anon I have misread multiple other work emails :P

Wise authors just have a Twitter malfunction when asked to adjudicate in shipping wars!