In which I type about fandom.

[impulsereader]

This week I bumped directly into two radically different aspects of fandom, and that made me want to type about it.[Poll #1878866]

Comments

[221b-hound.livejournal.com]

My experience with writing Stay and the response to it has been very positive, especially when I wondered if I should post it at all. But it really has given me a handle on talking to my friend, who is still in hospital. It also seems that my words have been meaningful for others, which makes me both humble and very, very moved. It is, as you say,an example of the best fandom has to offer as a supportive community.

I agree with your analysis thoroughly. I may admire the talents/looks of certain actors in my fandoms, but it's always the ideas that got me involved in the first place. When I write fanfic, I'm exploring those ideas and expanding them, as well as exploring and expanding my own writing with scenarios and ideas I haven't necessarily written before. In fact, two RL writing projects have evolved from all my Sherlock fic, so it's been very good for my writing in general. :)

I'm amused when I find out the creators are engaging with the fandom, but I have reservations too. I know that when I'm reading, or writing, fic or admiring art (whether gen or slash) I'm not really seeing the *actors*. In my head, they are the *characters* and while they look like the actors (to greater or lesser degrees) that's not who I see. It's one of the reasons I've never been into Real Person fic. But I'm not sure the performers can see that separation - and of course, in some cases, that separation doesn't exist for the fan creator or fan consumer of a story or piece of art. It must feel very confronting for the actors, sometimes, and that's a shame. (FOr me, they've so absolutely created an entirely new person, it's only the new person I see, as it were.)

I think I'm babbling now.

Anyway, I'm supposed to be doing my Day Job now, so off I go. Dayjobbing away. :)

[djarum99.livejournal.com]

I must confess to the following pattern re: fandom - I fall head over heals for a character and by default the actor who plays them, and this then motivates me to devote my complete attention to the work as a whole, be it a film or a series. Thinky thoughts feed on the energy created by character love, but the end result is the same, I think, as it is for the "fans of the show" you describe above.

I also believe that age may have something to with it, although definitely not always. Very definitely not.

Fandom at its best can indeed be a wonderful place that meets our needs for community, connection, intellectual stimulation, and many other things. I've seen plenty of the worst of fandom as well, but just can't quit it.

Bathrooms are the one place in the house where you can let your kitsch flag fly, no question :-)

[northernwalker]

I tend to pick towels that hide stains- especially hair dye stains.

I'm not sure what happened, not being in the fandom, but I wish to high heaven that people would leave the actors out of their fic-writing endeavors. Slash away. Write RPF, if it floats your boat. But stop forcing it on the actors!

Sorry, that topic makes me a little ranty.

[kizzia.livejournal.com]

TBH it was a little embarrassing when one of the audience asked if we'd ever see John in red pants and Martin said he knew what it related to and that we were all fucking shameful. However the best response to 'fandom slash' questions was the one Andrew Scott gave - he's been asked what he thought of MorMor and his answer (by proxy of a dummy and Mark Gatiss since he wasn't actually there) was that it was how you said murmur in a Northern Irish accent. I may have laughed unfeasibly loudly at that.
In fact I spent most of the session laughing madly. It was brilliant fun and I'm glad I went but I did wince a few times.

[f-m-r-l.livejournal.com]

How long do you plan to stay in the place? How long do your enthusiasms for color last? How often are you willing to paint/buy new bathmats/etc.? If you love avocado forever and plan to stay forever, go with the avocado. If you go through colors quickly and hate to bother to change your color scheme, save yourself the grief and go with vintage blue. If you don't plan to stay long, go with whatever you can see yourself taking to your next place.

Sometimes I find myself following a show where I don't like any of the characters, but think the situation and/or character interactions are interesting.