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On Fan Fiction By rissa Aug 10, 2003 |
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A huge portion of the Harry Potter fandom involves people who write stories involving Harry Potter characters -- fan fiction. There are, of course, different "types" of writers. There are the "Mary Sue" writers, who either create or turn another character into the perfect female -- patient, understanding, funny, strong -- and pair her up with their favorite male character. There are people who write odd, off-the-wall and out-of-character (OOC) fanfics. There are those who create angsty, near-suicidal versions of the characters. There are people who write "smutfics," whose entire purpose is explicit sex. And of course, there are the slash writers, who can be any of the above, except with homosexual pairings instead of heterosexual. (Don't worry, this isn't going to turn into a slash rant, I promise.)
The problem with the Harry Potter fandom, and almost every fandom in existence really, is that some people think that only certain types of fanfics should be "allowed," as if there's some greater entity that creates and enforces rules on what people can type up on their computers.
One of the things I have come across a number of times as a fanfic writer are people who write reviews that point out all of the things I've written that aren't "canon" (i.e. supported by the books). They will say things like, "that would never happen," "Harry would never do that," "Rowling would never write that." And I can't help feeling like these people are sort of missing the point of fan fiction.
I have no problem with people who write fan fiction based on what they think Rowling's going to do with the series. I actually enjoy reading those quite a bit, because I've always enjoyed Harry Potter theorizing. However, in my view the point of fan fiction isn't simply to write what's going to happen -- that's the author's job! I think that fan fiction is for writing what you would want to read; for what you want to happen, for who you want to pair up, no matter what and who those might be. It's for exploring things the author wouldn't or couldn't explore, or might not even think about exploring. It's for finding connections that the author may or may not have intended and putting your own spin on them.
Additionally, there are always arguments over what kinds of pairings and such should be allowed. This does not just refer to slash -- though that's probably one of the bigger fights out there. I've seen reviews of, for example, a fan fiction that paired up Ron and Pansy Parkinson, and was astounded to find that people really hated the idea and told the author that she was stupid; to get a life.
Now, I personally can't stand Harry/Hermione and Harry/Ginny pairings. I won't go into the reasons for this because that's not what this article is about -- but instead of writing reviews telling people off, I simply choose not to read them. Instead of spending a whole lot of effort trying to tell someone what they can and cannot write, trying to change his or her mind on the realism of the pairing, or just spouting insults at them... I just don't read it! What right do I have to tell people what to write, anyway, just because I don't like it?
Fan fiction allows members of the fan community to exercise their own creativity and take part in the community. It lets people explore their own writing skills as well as the Harry Potter characters, and it gives a forum for opinions on the books, bringing the fans together. Because of this, it always saddens me to see some people turning it into something to fight about.
COMMENTS (431)
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Geri Minister of Disinformation (Moderator)  Joined: Feb 5, 2003 House: Gryffindor Points: 9657 |
Great Jeff - love the further reading section.
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Rococoed Game Keeper Joined: Sep 1, 2003 House: Gryffindor Points: 7828 |
Great editiorial you've got there. I hope more are published soon!
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Harry James Potter Chief Warlock (Moderator)  Joined: Aug 21, 2003 House: Gryffindor Points: 3807 |
Great editorial and very true. Now I understand what they mean with the editorial stuff. First I thought I had to write about something someone else already wrote about but now I see.
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Professor Snape Auror  Joined: Oct 31, 2003 House: Slytherin Points: 2034 |
Yeah that was a great article rissa and i agree with you. there are all kinds of fanfiction out there for reading. all of them are different.
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feltonluver Professional Beater  Joined: Dec 8, 2003 House: Slytherin Points: 20891 |
This is a great article! I agree completely, no one has the really has the right to criticize an author for something they just plainly dont' like about it. It is just a way for people to express themselves, and personally I love the weird twists that would never happen!
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HPN4eveRon Auror  Joined: Aug 9, 2003 House: Gryffindor Points: 2391 |
Love this new section. Great addition to the site cheeser!
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Waddi Wasi Hufflepuff Princess  Joined: Feb 9, 2003 House: Hufflepuff Points: 24832 |
I love this section, and the article is well-written and informative. I agree totally on your opinion.
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Muggle Wizard Wizard  Joined: Jun 24, 2003 House: Ravenclaw Points: 993 |
Very nice article.
If a fanfic (or a complete, independent story) is really that good, it will become popular, being read by many people. If it is not good, or contains subjects that a large majority of people do not like, it will not be very popular at all. I guess what I'm saying is to let the popularity of the story speak for itself. One subject I would have liked to see a little more treatment on, though, would have been on the author's rights. If I write a story and put together a character who seems absolutely perfect to me (the guy who decided exactly what the character was supposed to be like), can I be unhappy (and take some action) towards a person who takes my perfect character and ruins him or her? |
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hpchik898 Auror Joined: Nov 27, 2003 House: Ravenclaw Points: 2119 |
I love fan fiction! I feel it is almost apart of the book!
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ChelCho Witch Joined: Jun 15, 2003 House: Slytherin Points: 927 |
This was a great editorial, very well written.
I personally agree with you about writing what you want to happen, and what you want to read. Sometimes it's fun to write about Hermione blowing off studying to go party. We all know she would most likely not do that within the books, but it's interesting to read it. I enjoy both reading and writing fan fic. It's a great way to fill my time with Harry Potter related things in between the movies and the books. To me, the whole point of fan fic is to get the author of the story's view on how the characters are to them, and what they would like to see. I would have to disagree with you on the point of Harry/Ginny, however. :-) |
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MissMaryPotter Professor  Joined: Jul 24, 2003 House: Gryffindor Points: 1155 |
whatever
Updated Dec 30, 2004 at 2:03 PM by MissMaryPotter |
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siriusgyal Order of Merlin, 2nd Class  Joined: May 13, 2003 House: Gryffindor Points: 1660 |
I love fanfiction i write my own. it's like getting what you think happy potter would be about till the next book.
it's like the book but other peoples opionions. |
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Superboy Boy of Steel  Joined: Oct 2, 2003 House: Hufflepuff Points: 4506 |
To: MissMaryPotter
I agree with you in that minors should not be able to access fan fiction, that is of an adult nature. My biggest disagreemnt with you however is that you suggest that it is the responsibility of the author of the stories to prevent minors from accessing their potentially "adult" material. This RESPONSIBILITY, shoud reside with the parents, and parents alone. It always disturbs me when people talk about censorship. Whether you agree with me or not, "Controlling" different forms of media is a form of "Censorship". I can already feel Big Brother pounding at the door..... One last thing and I'll try and shut up, : ) Freedom of Speech & Fair Use laws protect all fan fiction authors from just about any type of legal action. In fact, the only time the authors can be sued for copyright infringment, is if they dont give credit where credits due; giving J.K. Rowling credit for the creation of the characters, and not profiting off her creation. |
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Lydia Deetz Muggle  Joined: Jan 2, 2004 House: Gryffindor Points: 71 |
WOW! Rissa is right about that stuff! Great article Rissa!
Thanks for the Quibbler, Cheeser! All that *slash* garbage should be deleted, but that's my opion. Some younger readers could be reading the fanfiction too you know? My nephew is 5 and I read him HP fanfiction, and I don't like him hearing inapropriate things. |
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rissa High Witch (Moderator)  Joined: Dec 12, 2002 House: Slytherin Points: 782 |
Scar Hens: Well, if you read him fanfiction, then you only have to worry about it if you start reading it to him...:)
One problem people tend to have is separating slash fiction and sexually explicit fiction. True, there are a lot of sexually explicit slashes-- but there are also quite a few non-explicit slashes, and plenty of explicit heterosexual fiction, to boot. MissMaryPotter is very correct in saying that the EXPLICIT fanfiction should be better regulated. However, in the age of political correctness, should an author be required to give a "warning" if their fanfiction involves a slash pairing? In my mind, two boys kissing lightly on the lips shouldn't be given a higher (i.e. PG, PG-13, R) rating than a fic that has a boy and a girl kissing lightly on the lips, but there are plenty of people who would disagree with me on that. There's a strong debate on what all the rules "should" be, and many websites choose to simply not allow sexually explicit (or even not allow slash). I hope eventually we'll have things worked out such that adult and slash writers can write and post their work without having to offend the sensibilities of those who aren't interested in it-- some websites already exist for such things. However, some people choose to be offended that such fanfics exist at all... |
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MissMaryPotter Professor Joined: Jul 24, 2003 House: Gryffindor Points: 1155 |
whatever again
Updated Dec 30, 2004 at 2:04 PM by MissMaryPotter |
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xmalfoys_girlx Muggle  Joined: Feb 4, 2004 House: Slytherin Points: 33 |
I love this keep up the good work!
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Miss Parkinson Prefect  Joined: Feb 21, 2004 House: Slytherin Points: 372 |
Brilliant article -- highlighting some rather important points regarding fanfiction, i.e. "What I Like" doesn't necessarily equal or "What Is Right", and "What I Don't Like" doesn't necessarily equal "What Is BadWrongAndTwisted". Some people like Draco/Harry, others would prefer their Harry to settle down and have lots of bright red babies with Ginny Weasley.
(Personally, I think Harry should take a vow of celibacy, but I'm mean that way and prefer Professor Snape and Lucius Malfoy) Fanfiction is about writing what you want...so yeah, pairings and slash and such shouldn't be such a big, argumentative issue...sadly, people are just stupid like that. (Also, fanfiction authors are obliged to put a rating and, if necessary, a warning on their story...but they're not obliged to babysit other people's children. Your child is reading "naughty" stories online? Your problem.) |
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lexie75 Witch  Joined: Feb 25, 2004 House: Gryffindor Points: 540 |
Very good makes me think about what other people and myself want to read and should write
thanks. |
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PunkyDunky Auror  Joined: Mar 7, 2004 House: Slytherin Points: 2787 |
I think you're absolutely right about the whole Harry/Hermione pairings. They kinda get boring. Great editorial and the fanfics are great!
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stocco Unspeakable  Joined: Feb 22, 2004 House: Hufflepuff Points: 3920 |
Wow. That's a great editorial. I couldn't agree more. I hate when people criticize the pairings. For example, I refuse to read Hermione/Draco stories. But I don't go to the author and tell them to get a life. I do exactly what the author of this article does; don't read it.
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Bartender HPmad Auror  Joined: Mar 19, 2004 House: Gryffindor Points: 2045 |
I hope you'll publish more soon. I really love it.
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Immortal Vegemite Professor  Joined: Sep 7, 2003 House: Gryffindor Points: 1122 |
Great article, it raises alot of good points
I understand how some people feel aout slash, i can stand it, if the characters are completly out of character, and it does seem like the actual characters from the book.. if that makes ense... What i can't stand are ethically and morally wrong stories. For example -- Teacher student pairing, i think are totally inappropriate.. and incest... is also really disgusting..i read a summary of someone's story which involved a Ron/Ginny pairing,i didn't read the story, but i saw some of the reviews for it, and the readers certainly shared the same view as me. I don't encourage Harry Potter Porn, in the form of just porn, but if it is necessary to work into a story line, then sexual material is okay. I am gettitng a bit sick of Harry/Hermione and Harry Ginny relationships, but i think it all depends on how well it is written. I also worry about children reading some of these fanfics, it could taint their whole Harry potter experience when they actually read the next books, not making the distiction between the books and the fanfic, at times the line between the two can blurr.... So keep the facfiction coming... just make it appropriate! Updated Mar 21, 2004 at 1:01 AM by Immortal Vegemite |
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Toire Muggle  Joined: Mar 21, 2004 House: Gryffindor Points: 65 |
I stand tall and support Sirius/Lily to some extent. There's always the feeling that someone's going to hack my head off because they think the pairing is wack. Yea, it's either read or don't read - don't insult. That was great and I agree.
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Toire Muggle Joined: Mar 21, 2004 House: Gryffindor Points: 65 |
Updated Mar 21, 2004 at 11:22 PM by Toire |
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