Transformative - Blog Posts

zeffiroh

3 years ago

Perhaps you could do one episode on what it is exactly that makes fanfiction distinct from any other kind of fiction? And I mean beyond the ol' "fanfiction is not real literature" argument. It isn't even worth dignifying.

But to really question why people place it in a category of it's own at all. Just how much literary elitism affects our perception of art & distorts our understanding of the world, & of the very concept of originality. Does such a thing as absolute originality even exist?

Nothing comes from nothing. Every story began somewhere outside of its creator's control, & they found it, remembered it, transformed it, either consciously or subconsciously. If all characters ever created are amalgamations of the people we have known (including ourselves) & characters already in existence, & the stories we conjure just byproducts of the media we consume & a point of inspiration lying somewhere between experience & fantasy (& what is fantasy if not just another story), then isnt all fiction fanfiction? Would that make the first story ever written RPF?

Anyhow, dont mind me, just talking nonsense. Fascinating stuff, transformative artistry. Love the podcast, though I have yet to listen to the episodes of writers I am unfamiliar with. Still, love the very idea of it, yaknow. Good shit.

Oooo I LOVE this comment! I could easily do a 15 minute bonus episode sometime all about this. I have so many thoughts on the very nature of fanfiction, how it stems from older folk storytelling traditions, and how modern commercialism and concepts like ownership and copyright law shape the way fanfiction is placed into a category on its own. I would agree that literary elitism fits into this with precise messaging on how they think we ought to perceive certain art forms. In many ways fanfiction is a defiant response and a continuation of the storytelling traditions humans have always participated in. Nonnie, you should come on and discuss it along with me! PM or e-mail me if you'd like to do that. I think this would make a great bonus drop. Also, thank you for the support! I'm so glad you like the idea of what the show is all about. 'Good shit' is what I aspire to. Cheers!