Epiphany about fans

[sqbr]

So I've read a bunch of online fannish arguments where people go "These sorts of fans are crazy" and give examples, and then talk about the way fans should actually think, and end up conflating "Crazy fans" and "People whose attitudes are rational, but different to mine". And I had thought about where one should draw the line.

Some examples of sane attitudes for a fan (most people won't have all of these at once):

• The one true text (such as it is) is the canon. Fanfic can be fun and all (maybe even better than the original text), but it's not the way the story actually happens;
  
• There are infinitely many possible interpretations and offshoots of canon, all valid and interesting, and potentially as worthy of being taken seriously as the original source;
  
• It's the authors perogative to write whatever they like, but we're under no obligation to like it;
  
• You can enjoy something while also enjoying picking it apart and looking at all it's flaws, but that's not the only way to enjoy something;
  
• If the author wants to be any good they should pay attention to constructive criticism (especially on stuff like unconscious bias).
  

Crazy attitudes for a fan:

• There is One True Version of the text. Anyone who doesn't see this is a fool. Anyone criticises the One True Text is an evil heathen. Anyone who enjoys thinking about or writing different versions of the story is an evil heretic who Misses the Point;
  
• ..and that one true text is imperfectly reflected by the "canon", meaning that the author is an evil heretic too, who must be made to see the light about how their story actually goes.
  

I feel a bit weird using the words "crazy" and "sane", but no better ones come to mind. Also, I banged my elbow this morning and it still hurts :( (Yeah, ok, so those of you who know sonnlich may not see my mild twinges as all that terrible. I don't care, I like whining!)

Comments

[nico-wolfwood.livejournal.com]

Yes! As someone who grew up on X-Men (and can go on and on about the Phoenix saga and the improbable retconning thereof) I do find it can be hard to have a cannon when all the writers are free to do whatever they want to each others work.