I just wanted to let you know that I am so, so impressed by this post, ALL of it. And that I hope you don't mind that I linked it in my LJ, because really, it's fantastic.
I myself mostly stay out of critical discussion of fanfiction, just because it's not why I, myself, am a part of fandom (in fact, I think it's probably why I didn't pursue an advanced degree in literature). But saying that it shouldn't exist, or that it's wrong, or anything else, is just...it's a negation of the plain and simple fact that people are in fandom for a multitude of reasons. And that fandom is this incredible place full of smart people, some of whom are going to discuss and analyze and take real joy out of that kind of interaction with the fiction.
On the flip side, it would be like someone telling me that I'm not a 'good' fan because I don't do the criticism thing. If one is permitted than so the other must be too. I'm not expressing this very well, it's too early, so I'm just going to go back to the top and say thank you for your clear and rational and concise explanation, which really helped me out, as a latecomer to the whole debate.
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Date: 2006-05-20 04:19 pm (UTC)From:I myself mostly stay out of critical discussion of fanfiction, just because it's not why I, myself, am a part of fandom (in fact, I think it's probably why I didn't pursue an advanced degree in literature). But saying that it shouldn't exist, or that it's wrong, or anything else, is just...it's a negation of the plain and simple fact that people are in fandom for a multitude of reasons. And that fandom is this incredible place full of smart people, some of whom are going to discuss and analyze and take real joy out of that kind of interaction with the fiction.
On the flip side, it would be like someone telling me that I'm not a 'good' fan because I don't do the criticism thing. If one is permitted than so the other must be too. I'm not expressing this very well, it's too early, so I'm just going to go back to the top and say thank you for your clear and rational and concise explanation, which really helped me out, as a latecomer to the whole debate.