The Difference Between TBAY and FF (WAS FF: Speculation; Fanfic is like TBAY

[Penny Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 39035

Hi --

Lots of T-bay folks have rushed in, proclaiming loudly that they are not in fact writing Fanfic.  "Oh, no," they protest.  "Fanfic is very, very different than what we T-Bay'ers are engaging in."  

Relax.  I agree.  :--)  However,.....

I originally said the following:

>Let's continue with the Snape as a Vampire thing, since Amanda used 
>that example too.  Is there substantively any difference at all 
>between the following?
> 
> (a)  Poster A, who writes a really long post citing all the canon 
evidence that suggests that Snape is a vampire and refuting canon 
points that suggest he might not be (using sort of an "academic" 
straight narrative format);
> (b) Poster B, who has written a fanfic exploring how Snape became 
a Vampire, using the same canon evidence that Poster A marshalls to 
his side in his narrative post; or
> (c) Poster C, who takes Poster A's points and manipulates the 
material into what we're calling a TBAY post
> 
> Obviously, these are 3 different *forms* of writing.  They can all 
>be classed as persuasive writing perhaps -- the objective of all 3 
>posters is to convince other readers that Snape *could* be a 
>vampire.  Same objective -- just 3 different ways of arriving at 
>the same place.    

Cindy responded with:

<<<<I think I understand the argument here, but I can't quite get on 
board with the idea that TBAY and Fanfic can be equated in quite 
this way.>>>>>>>>

I wholeheartedly agree that Fanfic and TBAY are *different.*  They are.  But, in my example above, I specifically said that the fanfic writer is using the same canon evidence that Poster A used.  I could have been more clear and perhaps that's what was confusing.  Let's give all 3 writers the same tools.  They can all use canon evidence and *only* canon evidence and they must use the *same* canon evidence.  In my example, I'm also assuming that the fanfic author is not "making up" things that are not in canon to support his or her thesis.  In *that* case .... I think we're just talking about form over substance; substantively, the objective of all 3 pieces is the same, IMHO.  Yes, fanfic authors aren't normally constrained by the rules I'm using in this example ... but they *could* be, and if they were, then the end result will be "form over substance."      

I should be clear that on this list, we do have specific rules about posting, especially with regard to Fanfic.  So, as far as posts to this list are concerned, fanfic authors must be making a canon point & must only use discrete portions of a fanfic to advance their arguments.  But, the original spark to this conversation suggested that fanfic was "subversive" and not equivalent to general discussions like we have on this list.  What I'm saying is: fanfic can be equivalent to a narrative argument.  In my example, I've put all 3 posters on the same playing field, and all 3 posters are just using a different form to communicate their arguments on a given issue.

As to "wild theories" in fanfic, Eileen had the following point to make:

<<<<<<<HOWEVER, I do think that FF is, in a way, somewhat dishonest as a 
method of theory persuasion.. To take the ever popular Cassandra 
Claire, there is no way that Harry and Draco will discover they have 
super powers in JKR's universe. That's a great twist in a fanfic, but 
for some strange reason, some readers have taken this as a likely 
thing in JKR's universe, because Cassie is such a good writer. I know 
Cassie herself is the last person to believe this, but it shows that 
fanfic can persuade people of theories that really aren't possible.>>>>>>>

Er .... why do you say that there is "no way" that Harry & Draco will discover they both have super powers in JKR's universe?  Do you have inside information?  <g>  I mean if you believe it's impossible, that's one thing; but why is anything absolutely impossible if JKR hasn't specifically ruled it out?  We know, for example, that she has explicitly ruled out teenage pregnancy, and she's made it reasonably clear by implication that there probably won't be teenage sex either ("gritty sexual feelings" probably doesn't equal actual sexual relations).  Therefore, there are a fair number of Hogwarts-centered fics, including some very popular ones, that are covering ground that definitely won't be part of canon.  But, JKR hasn't been specifically ruling out all that much, as far as I know.  :--)

Penny

  



  


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