Fannish thought of the day

[snick_backup]

I will willingly read funny fic about any fandom that I'm even remotely familiar with, but I have to luuurv a fandom in a certain way in order to want to read epics or serious longfics or character studies or especially angst. For reasons I can't articulate yet, I luuurv the Buffyverse that way. I've seen all the canon (almost - one of these days I'll finish Ats S4 and those last two eps of S5) and I own a lot of it, and I'm pretty open to fics of all kinds in it. I have a few squicks (Conner, most Buffy/Angel) and a few things I'm Just Not Interested In, in any fandom (slash, PWP), but otherwise I'll try just about anything.

On the other hand, I don't like House this way. I'm up for reading just about any cracky House crossover ever, with any fandom I know, but I have just about no interest in reading actual serious fic about the characters. I've seen most of season 1-4, I adore Hugh Laurie as the character, I love the sniping and Wilson and Cuddy, and yet.

Maybe some of it is that I prefer to know the canon really well before digging into the fic? I don't think I've ever put as much thought into any canon as I have about Buffy since I discovered it. Part of what I love about fic is the in-jokes and allusions and casual use of backstory, and I just can't appreciate that without a deep familiarity with the canon. Also, I prefer to have some of my own opinions before letting fic shape them for me, which, again, requires a lot of dedication to canon and a lot of thinky time spent on it.

I need a thinky thots Buffyverse icon.

Comments

[clawofcat.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've ever put as much thought into any canon as I have about Buffy since I discovered it. Part of what I love about fic is the in-jokes and allusions and casual use of backstory
Oh gosh, me too. I've been asked a few times if I write Heroes or Lost fic, since I watch (or have watched) the shows. But I don't think I ever could because I'm such a canon whore. A lot of my work in BtVS really relies on knowing canon because my characters do so much reflecting on past events. I also like FITB fics, so... you're sunk if you don't know canon for those, and I certainly am not familiar with either Lost or Heroes to that extent.

I don't think I've as zealously followed any other show like I have with BtVS/AtS either. I kinda grew up with it, you know? Watched it from the beginning when I was only 10 and the show ended when I was 16. I then read fic for years and started writing over a year and a half ago. I guess old habits die hard and I can't shake it. I associate it with my formative years.

I need a thinky thoughts icon, too!

[snickfic]

Yeah, writing fic, for me, takes an even deeper level of commitment to canon than reading fic, although for a lot of the same reasons. And I tend to think that in some ways tying back to canon is at least as important for AU's and post-series pieces as it is for FITB pieces. FITB's aren't my first love, so feel free to correct me on this, but it seems to me that when writing an FITB you at least have a context; you know where you are. A good FITB will hopefully not only deepen the connections we saw in canon but maybe draw connections canon didn't bother with, but still, you have a beginning and an ending - you're in the middle of a canon sandwich. In an AU, on the other hand, ties to canon (and really spot-on characterization) are what ground the story and keep the reader from going "This isn't my Buffyverse anymore." They're the difference between "That was a nice story" and "That was a Buffy story," at least for me.

(Er, by AU I mean stories that diverge from some specific point in canon, not Spike-is-a-lusty-pirate stories.)

I kinda grew up with it, you know?

Tee hee. Whereas I saw my first episode in March. Watching (almost) twelve seasons in four months or so was more time-consuming than I probably ought to admit to, but I think I liked it that way. I certainly would've hated watching, say, Buffy S7 as it dragged out over a full TV season. OTOH, I would've liked to participate in the fannish squee - coming to it after the fact is rather different.

I need a thinky thoughts icon, too!

I dunno, I kinda like your pondering Andrew icon. He even ponders with a theatrical flair. *g*

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

I, and everybody in my family (including in-laws) are huge consumers/creators of media (movies, tv, comic books, etc.) and we are all fannish about many things, and quote movies ad nauseum and all that. I'm prone to serial obsessions, as are many people I know. However, the Buffy thing for me is beyond all that. I've never felt the need to seek Harry Potter fic, for instance, though I know plenty of people do. I loved Moulin Rouge, but never needed to create my own version (though, as I write this, I'm thinking of a Spike/Dru crossover). There are a couple of reasons for this. One is the scope of a show like Buffy. There's just so much, and a movie could never hope to do in 90 minutes was Joss and crew did over the course of 7 years. Also, the mix of humor, horror, mythical reference, romance, politics (see Season 4), and epic adventure is rare. Only Harry Potter comes close, but it is skewed a tad young to really hit the same mark, I think.

In short, Buffy is special. Also, let's not forget: Spike. There's nothing like him anyplace else. Not even House, baby.

There's a forum discussion going on at Bloodshedverse.com along the lines of, "Will you be a fangirl in 10 or 20 years?". The consensus seems to be, "Hell yeah!" with lots of reference to Trekkies and whatnot. Me, I'm waiting to commit until I see what happens with Dollhouse. Chances are though, Buffylove will be with us a long, long time.

[snickfic]

I loved Moulin Rouge, but never needed to create my own version (though, as I write this, I'm thinking of a Spike/Dru crossover).

Dude. I haven't even seen Moulin Rouge yet (just the trailer and snippets), and I think that's a great idea!

There's just so much, and a movie could never hope to do in 90 minutes was Joss and crew did over the course of 7 years.

Yes, that. I'm still a bit skeptical of fandoms for one-shots like movies and standalone novels. OTOH, I think I have different reasons for liking fic in the Buffyverse than I do for liking the Buffyverse itself. One of the great things about Buffyfic is that, at least in terms of worldbuilding, the canon is so cracked out - you can justify any premise in the world with a spell or a funky demon. You have three totally separate evol villainous organizations (W&H, the Initiative, the Council of Watchers) anytime you need background for a conspiracy. In canon you have body swapping, telepathy, teleportation, time travel, alternate universes... That kind of flexibility is great for fic, and totally not what I love about the show itself - in fact, those same things kind of drive me up the wall about the show.

Also, let's not forget: Spike. There's nothing like him anyplace else.

Is true. I feel like a shallow fangirl for saying it, but much as I enjoy so many other things about BtVS, Spike made the show for me. "School Hard" first made me sit up and take notice, and FFL is when I fell in love. In fact, maybe he's the answer to "Why Buffy" for me - he's what finally got me obsessed, in a way that I've never been obsessed about any other show or character.

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

Word.

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

Okay, that last comment was a bit of a cheat. Anyway, yes to the Spike-love.

I hear you about one-shots, but I have read some really moving little fics about Dr. Horrible, so you never know. I've never sought out any non-Jossverse fanfic, I must admit. I've read plenty of crossovers, however, even things about which I know absolutely nothing. Through the lens of BtVS, I can see whole landscapes.

...the canon is so cracked out
Heh. Yeah. I sorta like that, especially in juxtaposition with the mundane stuff, like Skip the demon talking about his commute. I hadn't really parsed it out, though, until I was putting together my seasonal_spuffy story. It is all about the magical overload that is Season 4, which I had originally thought was all about technology (and features the Initiative AND the Council of Watchers). I'm sure the crackiness is why some people will never discover the delights we have. Poor punters.

[snickfic]

I'm sure the crackiness is why some people will never discover the delights we have.

Yah. If I found a universe like the Buffyverse in an original fiction novel, I'd say, "Dude, your worldbuilding is broken. Give it up."

And yeah, I did like your seasonal_spuffy story for that very reason - I hadn't noticed how much magic there was in that season, either, until you brought it up. To me, though, the wacko technology is even crazier - I mean, the Buffybot? The Frankesteiny thing in "Some Assembly Required"? Pretty much everything the Trio does? I can buy the magic because, you know, magic. That some guy just out of high school has mastered state-of-the-art robotics is a whole separate premise, to my mind.

But I can grump about the Buffy worldbuilding all night. I'll be quiet now. *g*

[snickfic]

It occurs to me now that my perception of the importance of canon to AU's vs. FITB's may be warped by the AU project that is currently kicking my butt. So, no offense meant to FITB writers everywhere. *g*