[HPforGrownups] The HP Fandom/Lexicon (was annoying inconsistencies)

[Magpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 163929

aceworker:
> And that brings up a point I've often thought about. I'm almost a
> bigger fan of the Lexicon then I'm of the books, and I've often
> wondered just how much Steven and the Lexicon, Mugglenet and even this
> group list have to do with both JKR's accuracy and the popularity
> itself of HP. Just how popular would HP be without the Lexicon or
> other fan-sites like Mugglenet?
>
> The Lexicon's is tailor made to help fulfill every HP
> fans obsession with obscure facts, and these facts become lures that
> help pull in fans for JKR.
>
> For instance Dr. Strange and Mr. Norell was an interesting read and
> very detailed, but it doesn't have a Lexicon. Neither does Eragon.
>
> Both have fandom a fraction of the HP fandon. The fact that Star Trek
> has things close to the Lexicon helps explains some it popularity.
> (Steve's first Lexicon type thing was for Star Trek.)
>
> It seems that within fandom one or two fans that make themselves
> almost as popular, knowledgeable and useful as the author can act as a
> multiplyer for the popularity of work, especially in the internet age.
>
> If Steve or someone like him were to set up an Eragon Lexicon I wonder
> how much the popularity of that fandom would sore? Even if someone
> just set up an Eragon for adults yahoo group, I bet the popularity of
> that fandom would grow tremendously.
>
> It is sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy isn't it? Steven and the
> Lexicon staff and others such as Mugglenet (which is really sort of an
> online magazine as well as a community)have really helped Jo become
> very rich.

Magpie:
I honestly don't think so, no. I think the popularity of the fandom inspires 
the lexicons, not vice versa. Turning Eragon into Harry Potter or Star Trek 
could not possibly be so easy as making lists and things from the books. 
That stuff's only interesting because the books/shows have pulled people in 
first. I don't think those fan sites account for much more than a fraction 
of JKR's wealth from the books. I wouldn't be surprised if there were sites 
devoted to things like Eragon. People put up stuf about just about 
everything.

aceworker:
> What's also helped of course, is that Jo is smart enough to play a
> strong part in the culture and fandom she has developed. She has even
> allowed it to a limited extent to become an alternative shared universe.
>
> If she had ignored it, questioned it or denied fan-fiction. If she'd
> had refused to have fun with the fans of her own creation. Well we
> wouldn't have what we have now would we?

Magpie:
JMO, but I think we pretty much would. Her not publically condemning fanfic 
or going after it is good, but I don't see what involvement she has with the 
fans as creating the fandom or making it significantly larger.

We're living in a time when creators of shows, movies and books are all 
beginning to see the value of fandom because of the Internet. Interacting 
with it has I think become more and more standard. But I think that happened 
because the Internet gave fans more of a voice creators could hear-the fans, 
as ever, create themselves.

-m