Fannish Love

[dwgm]

Some of my earliest memories, beginning when I was three years old or so, involve falling in love with stories and characters from television, movies, and books. My head has always been filled with stories about the characters I love, from Yogi Bear & Boo Boo, Lassie, Bonanza, My Favorite Martian, King Arthur (inspired by Richard Burton in Camelot), The Beatles (on seeing A Hard Day’s Night), High Chaparral, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Lord of the Rings (the book), Star Trek (the original series), Star Wars, McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern series, Miami Vice, Phantom of the Opera (Michael Crawford RPF, omg!), etc., to my obsession of the last four years, Pirates of the Caribbean.

Growing up, none of my friends seemed to share my fannish tendencies, and it wasn’t until I began looking for further Pirates adventures on the internet in late 2003 that I discovered that I was Not Alone. Reading others’ stories or sharing my own, it’s been an amazing experience, more fun, more satisfying than I ever imagined possible. I’ve met, both online and off, so many wonderful people, and each of them has at least that one thing in common with me: Fannish Love.

Fannish Love is a very real thing, as long as it lasts, whether it’s weeks, months, or years. Fannish Love is particularly intense for those of us who write. We spend many hours, countless hours, with these characters, composing stories in our heads long before they are pounded into a keyboard and appear on a screen. These stories, these characters, are important to us in the same way story and myth have always been important to people. They speak to us of our human condition, in words that reach our minds and hearts.

Additionally, there is no one correct interpretation of a story or character. There are many variations that can fall within the parameters of canon. Sometimes a majority of fans will agree on various points, but that doesn’t mean that the minority view is incorrect, and sometimes views are as diverse as fandom itself. The one thing all views have in common is that they are more or less dear to the hearts of their proponents, and because of this, friendly discussion of them is acceptable, but acrimonious debate or intentional ridicule is not.

Fannish harmony is a truly joyful thing, because we do care so much, but conversely, fannish discord hurts, and takes the fun out of participation in fandom. Just as in any human interaction, the feelings of others must be taken into consideration, and civility should be the order of the day. Unfortunately, whether it’s meta, comments, or even author’s notes, the “anonymity” of the internet encourages just the opposite. One may feel fewer constraints regarding content, tone, and language, resulting in messages that may be misinterpreted, or interpreted all too accurately. When one creates negative energy, damage is done. And as these instances multiply over the course of time, harmony is destroyed.

Whatever you write – stories, author’s notes, meta, comments, whatever – let it be written out of love. Love of the characters, the stories, and your fellow fans. We’re all in this together, as diverse as we are. Let’s be good to each other, civil in debate, gentle in criticism, respectful of each others’ likes and dislikes.

And if all else fails, remember what Thumper’s dad said, savvy?


~.~

Comments

[virgo-79.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this, 'mama. I don't know what conflict prompted it, but it's good advice. I've always thought this fandom was particularly civil when it came to differing opinions when compared to some others, and even though it looks as if there are some people with some hurt feelings right now, I honestly still feel that way. I know that probably doesn't help the ones who are feeling kind of stung right now, and I don't mean to belittle the problems that are out there, but I've always felt this is a very welcoming fandom. Maybe that's just my personal experience, but it's something I'm very grateful for.

There are, as you say, so many different and perfectly valid interpretations of characters, and that variety is what makes fandom fun. If something isn't my personal cup of tea, I just don't read it. But just because I choose to change the channel doesn't mean I want something to go away. A fandom needs writers, and if we were all writing the same kinds of stories, this place would get pretty bloody dull.

And I don't think people should be afraid to debate, or even to argue -- but we need to remember not to make it -- or take it -- personally, and that gets tough when you're passionate about something. I know I've gotten pretty hot at times when it comes to discussion of the films and things that I didn't like (or... things that I despised) about them. But I don't think less of my fellow fans who loved some aspect of the movies that I disliked, and I hope I've never hurt anybody's feelings in my expression of my opinions. (Except for the person or persons who made the call to cut the slave backstory from the films, and if that person is reading this: I meant every word and I hope I made you cry like a little sissy girl, you quack.)

I have, however, been the unpopular voice in a fandom before...and it can suck. And to the people who find themselves feeling like that's where they're at...don't let it stop you. What you have to say is as significant as anyone else's opinion. Write what you want to write, and don't ever be intimidated. Don't ever let anyone chase you away from something you love. Now I agree with Geekmama -- do it out of love. Do it because it's what you believe, or are fascinated by, or because it's a story that won't leave you be until you get it down. There's expressing our own opinions, and then there's attacking someone else for theirs. 'Mama's right: let's keep it about the love.

That said, I love this fandom for its diversity, its talent, its encouragement, and its respectfulness. We all have our bad days and take things a little too far, and that's okay, it happens -- we just need to remember to take that deep breath and bounce back from it, and come back to be constructive, and receptive, and good to each other.

But I would hate to see anybody, on either side of an argument, chased out of this fandom, because it's absolutely an awesome, awesome group of people, and everyone in it has something valuable to contribute.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

We all have our bad days and take things a little too far, and that's okay, it happens -- we just need to remember to take that deep breath and bounce back from it, and come back to be constructive, and receptive, and good to each other.

Amen. Me included! We need to remind ourselves over and over that it's all about love. It has to be, to be a positive thing.

*hugs you very much*

[virgo-79.livejournal.com]

**smooch**

[teenybuffalo.livejournal.com]

I'm so out of the loop. What was the slave backstory?

[the-dala.livejournal.com]

I believe that would be a few lines in the script that were left out of the final cut, in which we learn that Jack fell out of favour with the EITC because he refused to carry a shipful of slaves. I can't recall the exact phrasing, but it took place during the negotiation scene between Jack and Beckett. The backstory's been backed up by other sources as well - I think the junior novelization and another book, or a toy package? In any case, I think a lot of people treat it as canon even though it didn't make it into the film. Sort of like how I'm always forgetting that the extended proposal acceptance and the 'peas in a pod' scene weren't actually in the theatrical release of CoBP.

The lack of deleted scenes for DMC and AWE is criminal. There are even screencaps floating around of the cut Norrington scenes.

[virgo-79.livejournal.com]

It was the proposed explanation for the animosity between Jack and Beckett and the reason Jack got tangled up with Davy Jones. It also would have explained why there was a swamp full of people we had never met before crying after Jack was killed.

But mostly, it would have just been lovely if, whatever background they gave, *someone* had bothered to actually finish telling the Jack/DJ/ Beckett story, instead of being distracted by whatever shiny thing happened to roll across the floor while they were editing and leaving us with half a plot.

Wow. It's a year later and I'm still kinda bitter about this. I'm going to go look at roux's icon some more, and find my happy thoughts. :D

[honorat.livejournal.com]

Repeat this mantra while visualizing Jack Sparrow sans shirt: "PotC 2 and 3 are merely Disney fanfic. They do not have the power to disrupt my PotC 1 universe any more than any other scatterbrained fanfic on FF.net. PotC 1 is fun and joyful and full of intriguing and good people. I am joyful and full of intriguing and fun plotbunnies."