[HPforGrownups] Re: FF: Speculation - a matter of perspective; Perspective in the Potterverse

[Amanda Geist]

No: HPFGUIDX 38988

Leaping into the fray....

Serenadust said

> I do thank you Penny, for directing me to Steve's post.  He does a
> much better job than I do in presenting the reasons for my
> reservations about fanfic.  I'm thrilled to be in such distinguished
> company!

As I recall, Steve and I were the original "purists" the first time this
debate sprang up. I authored the "do you read fanfic" poll (which I believe
has closed, since I didn't know how to keep it open, but is still there if
you'd like to see the responses). We are evidently the beloved odd lunatic
fringe.  : D

To the best of my recollection, Steve and I were on precisely the same page
about fanfiction. That being--we had no problem with it. *We* just don't
want to read it. For many people, it is the ultimate expression of enjoyment
of an author, that they want to join in--they find the characters, setting,
interactions, etc., so appealing that the natural extension is to set those
characters in scenarios of their own crafting. Neither Steve nor I had any
problem with that; we think creativity is fabulous and (I at least) am a bit
envious of those who can write so well. Hell, I'm envious of those
TBAY-scenario writers!

But fanfic. I don't read it because I know that personally, after a bit, I
will not be able to clearly distinguish the character impressions I got from
the books, from the character impressions I got from someone's fanfiction.
This is simply me, the way I process things. I would *love* to read
fanfiction, but I don't want to until after the series is completed. I want
my first complete "take" on the books and the characters to be JKR's. Note
the use of the word "personally" up there. Plenty of people *can*
distinguish the source of character impressions, or don't care as much as I
do about where they come from.

There had also been discussion in the past, as the Movie loomed ever closer,
about whether that would alter our perceptions of the characters just as
much or more. For that very reason, several listmembers stated their
intention to not see the movie. For my part, I have no problem with the
movie, because I do not read either visually or aurally (with rare
exceptions). By that, I mean I do not actually form pictures in my head--I
don't "see" characters, and unless I concentrate, I don't have a geographic
impression of setting, either. Nor do I "hear" voices; I can get intonation,
but except for rare occasions, I just read the words. I can't explain this
any better, since from other commentary I've gotten the impression that most
everyone else *does* do all this. The best I can think of is that I read
very swiftly, and it's as if the information bypasses the sensory input and
is deposited directly into the intellectual. I have a ferocious memory for
detail.

ANYWAY, the movie gave me no problems with distinguishing where the
character impressions come from, because if I'm recalling a clear visual,
it's going to have been from the movie, not of my own making. However, I can
completely understand those who didn't/don't want to see the movie. This
without believing the movie is subversive or dangerous to canon.

But wait! I hear you cry. JKR had input into the movie, so it's not in the
same category as fanfiction! Ah, but it is closer to fanfiction than
canon--she had input, but she had input into fanfiction as well, probably
much more. All the rest is interpretation. In fact, we are such visual
creatures, the movie has probably done more to shape the view of the
wizarding world than all the fanfiction written--writing, of necessity,
starts with nothing and builds. A movie, again by its nature, starts with a
complete visual and then must winnow. All the thousands of teeny details
left unsaid in the books--what color wallpaper at the Dursley's? what age
mix of people in Diagon Alley? what decorations are on the walls of the
Great Hall? etc.--must be answered to make a movie, and enter The
Consciousness.

> What can I say?  I find there to be a big difference
> between "discussion" and fanfic.

Good heavens, have you read any of the massively fun TBAY threads? They
bridge the gap nicely and in a way difficult to avoid, the way they and
their characters interact, share Kool-Aid, and heave cannons about. In
general, there is a distinction which can be made, and sometimes it takes
careful reading to make it, but usually it's pretty clear.

>  I have no problem with having my
> perceptions of canon challenged by the discussions on this list.
> Fanfic IMO brings a whole new, subversive level of distortion to the
> characters in particular.  They aren't JKR's Harry, Ron, Hermione,
> et al; they *can't* be.  I wouldn't care so much if I hadn't read so
> many posts citing other author's versions of the characters in
> support of the posters perceptions of the canon characters.

You sound like there is a Vast Fanfic Conspiracy out there, scheming to get
you ensnared in its evil threads. Fanfic people are loons, I'll give you
that (waves merrily at all the fanfic loons), but there is a simple answer.
Don't read fanfic. Don't read posts that are fanfic discussions. When it
seems unclear, ask. As one who has been a purist from the day I found the
list, and has read no serious fanfic, this is not all *that* difficult.

Also a bit of clarification--you fanfic loons, correct me if I'm wrong--but
you are technically correct in saying that these are not JKR's Harry, Ron,
Hermione, etc. They aren't; they are what JKR's characters *could* be. The
projection is generally based on a canon foundation (of varying strength),
but fanfictions are just that--projections. They aren't trying to *be* JKR's
characters so much as they are trying to explore other, possible facets of
JKR's characters. Did I get that right, fanfic loons?

In some instances, the different interpretations found in fanfic have
enabled someone to view the canon character in a different light. Is this
what you find subversive? New viewpoints? JKR has a near-genius for writing
almost nothing that is set in stone, character- or motivation-wise. For
instance, I defy you to find me anything, any one thing, that Snape has done
or said, for which the motive is crystal clear and indisputable. Which is
one reason the fanfic loons love him so--he's so *interpretable*! And Snape
is the extreme, but this is true of many of the major characters. JKR has
given us enough to make it interesting, but not so much that we know
everything (or even most, I suspect), which is why speculation is so fun.
Speculation in canon is discussion; speculation in writing is fanfiction.

So, say I forget my principles and read a superb fanfic about Snape being a
vampire. Say further that it causes me to decide that this canon-based
vampire theory, far from being the heap of rubbish I had formerly thought it
to be, is not only valid but worth further exploration. Have I been
subverted, or have I been challenged? Has my interpretation been distorted,
or simply expanded?

Basically, I think there is room on the list for purists and for fanfic
loons. But I don't think those of us who are Saving Ourselves For JKR need
to condemn those whose lifestyle permits them to read or write outside of
series-lock.

--Amanda PrimaGeist

P.S. -- Snape is *not* a vampire, it *is* a heap of rubbish!
[The preceding P.S. has been a personal interpretation of canon, and is not
meant to be taken as a binding interpretation of canon text for anyone other
than the author of this statement and anyone else with an ounce of sense.
Other personal interpretations of canon are possible, I suppose, and any
difference of personal opinion with the foregoing *better* interpretation
will not be prosecuted in a court of law, but will be argued wtih
vociferously if I have time. Message sold by weight, not volume. Semantic
content may have settled in shipping. Do not remove tag under penalty of
law. Wash hands after using. Slippery when wet. Do not use in shower.]