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reenkaI know how people get annoyed seeing the same uber-popular fics recced all the time, and oh yeah, I definitely empathize. Except I definitely also get really really irritated seeing the same fics anti-recced, too. It's always the same fanfics, whether they're being bashed or fangirled. It perpetuates the cycle. It spreads the disease, man.
Not to mention! No fic is -that- bad or -that- good. I fail to see why so many intelligent people feel the need to harp on something just because it's popular, whereas lots and lots of other fics are just as bad and most often -worse-. The only difference being that they're not pimped as loudly.
This isn't a phenomenon only seen in fanfic reccing, of course. The most hyped-up movies are also the most trashed ones by the critics. Speaking as someone who sometimes enjoys such movies shamelessly and sometimes hates them and sometimes can't be bothered-- it's kind of embarrassing to call yourself a critic and always descend to this petty bashing of the popular kids. I realize no one -cares- if you don't like some obscure art-house movie. But there's such a thing as a critic's integrity, too.
When people ask me what fics I can't stand, I usually name ones the other person hasn't heard of. Most people haven't read `Perfect Imperfection' or `All Torn Down' or `Ruses'-- but so what? I often think the whole idea of anti-reccing is fishy because it implies the person has read the fic in question beforehand-- otherwise they're not really going to -understand- what the big deal is unless you summarize the fic for them and have them sort of read it vicariously. Overall, it's more useful to generalize the flaws you see and try to promote good writing techniques rather than beat on these few popular stories, whether they're deservedly so or not. Though I admit partly it's just that I -like- IP and feel a tad embarrassed, eheheh.
~~
A few days ago, I was thinking slightly about![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
isiscolo's post about the necessary exclusivity of recs & the issue of needing to trust the reccer.
I wondered (once again) what exactly my bias is. I never really think about how I'm biased-- I rec mostly as a personal reference to myself, so it's implicit which fics are just "good porn" or "squee" or "deep" or "emotionally impactful". I don't know if that's useful to put next to my recs, though maybe I should. I definitely rec based on emotional reaction (laughter, sadness, pain, wonder, thoughtfulness, stylistic beauty, with style often dominating). It seems to me that any story can be written well or badly, but often enough this doesn't correlate to whether people would want to read it or not. People have their issues they're looking to see explored, types of characterizations they favor, things they notice while reading.
I think a number of people just don't -notice- the things I notice. I mean, I don't really know if/how many people do trust my recs, though I assume a number of people find my opinion valid, otherwise they wouldn't read it. Even so, I think the things I perceive are seen as -interesting- rather than er... evident.
As a writer, I think I tend to write to a certain audience-- all writers do, implicitly. There are certain givens in everyone's writing, unstated but always there. "This is what human beings act like." One might think it's universal, and it might be in a way, but not every writer has the same level and type of understanding of that universal. I tend to intuitively notice the sort of philosophy implied in people's writing-- it's just what comes naturally to me. So some of the thing that really attracts me or annoys me about a story is likely to be that subtle philosophical edge. Everything implies a philosophy of living, even Wal-Mart ads.
In a way, I think it's more interesting to delineate bias than to argue over specific instances in particular fics. Because once I start thinking about particular fics and whether they're good or bad and get into an argument about it, my temper starts to rise. It's very easy to start thinking that people have no taste and that they're just deluded. Most people just don't think about -why- a certain story appeals to them, but breaking it down too much could be counter-productive too, since a good story transcends categories and is just emotionally suited to its "ideal reader".
The thing is, there really isn't any reccer I trust completely. I've never really met someone with the same taste as me, even in the very limited world of H/D fics. I thinkeleveninches and I have the closest tastes of anyone else whose recs I've read in the fandom, but that's mostly 'cause she's very selective and generally I can trust her to look at the whole story rather than any particular emotional kink it has. That's usually a good recipe for something I'll enjoy at least on the "oh, good stuff" level if not the squeeing madness level.
That's kind of funny, isn't it? The same people who cry indignantly at IP also rec some of the most bland and boring dreck ever written in the pairing. I mean, just because it doesn't have purple prose or overt symbolism doesn't mean it's subtle and cutting and perfectly balanced by any means. But now I'm just kind of complaining, so I'll stop.
~~
You know how I said I hatehatehate pimping? Well, that's other people's pimping, not my own, ehehehe.
I was feeling all irritated and cranky, and then I stumbled upon one of my favorite HP fanartists-- Syrena Doné of jareth.com & Severus Snape's Slytherin Society. I love her Draco and her Snape. They're so... evil. *cries with joy* There's also this odds n' ends gallery with 'puter-hating!Snape, omg. Hee! I have this... thing against evil!Draco in fanfic but I -love- and adore seeing that awful sneer and the maniacally vicious glint in his eye. It just makes me warm and fuzzy. Her inking style is just so old-fashioned and intricate and the characterization so vivid and canon. Also, bathtub!Snape has my heart.
Not to mention! No fic is -that- bad or -that- good. I fail to see why so many intelligent people feel the need to harp on something just because it's popular, whereas lots and lots of other fics are just as bad and most often -worse-. The only difference being that they're not pimped as loudly.
This isn't a phenomenon only seen in fanfic reccing, of course. The most hyped-up movies are also the most trashed ones by the critics. Speaking as someone who sometimes enjoys such movies shamelessly and sometimes hates them and sometimes can't be bothered-- it's kind of embarrassing to call yourself a critic and always descend to this petty bashing of the popular kids. I realize no one -cares- if you don't like some obscure art-house movie. But there's such a thing as a critic's integrity, too.
When people ask me what fics I can't stand, I usually name ones the other person hasn't heard of. Most people haven't read `Perfect Imperfection' or `All Torn Down' or `Ruses'-- but so what? I often think the whole idea of anti-reccing is fishy because it implies the person has read the fic in question beforehand-- otherwise they're not really going to -understand- what the big deal is unless you summarize the fic for them and have them sort of read it vicariously. Overall, it's more useful to generalize the flaws you see and try to promote good writing techniques rather than beat on these few popular stories, whether they're deservedly so or not. Though I admit partly it's just that I -like- IP and feel a tad embarrassed, eheheh.
~~
A few days ago, I was thinking slightly about
isiscolo's post about the necessary exclusivity of recs & the issue of needing to trust the reccer. I wondered (once again) what exactly my bias is. I never really think about how I'm biased-- I rec mostly as a personal reference to myself, so it's implicit which fics are just "good porn" or "squee" or "deep" or "emotionally impactful". I don't know if that's useful to put next to my recs, though maybe I should. I definitely rec based on emotional reaction (laughter, sadness, pain, wonder, thoughtfulness, stylistic beauty, with style often dominating). It seems to me that any story can be written well or badly, but often enough this doesn't correlate to whether people would want to read it or not. People have their issues they're looking to see explored, types of characterizations they favor, things they notice while reading.
I think a number of people just don't -notice- the things I notice. I mean, I don't really know if/how many people do trust my recs, though I assume a number of people find my opinion valid, otherwise they wouldn't read it. Even so, I think the things I perceive are seen as -interesting- rather than er... evident.
As a writer, I think I tend to write to a certain audience-- all writers do, implicitly. There are certain givens in everyone's writing, unstated but always there. "This is what human beings act like." One might think it's universal, and it might be in a way, but not every writer has the same level and type of understanding of that universal. I tend to intuitively notice the sort of philosophy implied in people's writing-- it's just what comes naturally to me. So some of the thing that really attracts me or annoys me about a story is likely to be that subtle philosophical edge. Everything implies a philosophy of living, even Wal-Mart ads.
In a way, I think it's more interesting to delineate bias than to argue over specific instances in particular fics. Because once I start thinking about particular fics and whether they're good or bad and get into an argument about it, my temper starts to rise. It's very easy to start thinking that people have no taste and that they're just deluded. Most people just don't think about -why- a certain story appeals to them, but breaking it down too much could be counter-productive too, since a good story transcends categories and is just emotionally suited to its "ideal reader".
The thing is, there really isn't any reccer I trust completely. I've never really met someone with the same taste as me, even in the very limited world of H/D fics. I think
eleveninches and I have the closest tastes of anyone else whose recs I've read in the fandom, but that's mostly 'cause she's very selective and generally I can trust her to look at the whole story rather than any particular emotional kink it has. That's usually a good recipe for something I'll enjoy at least on the "oh, good stuff" level if not the squeeing madness level.That's kind of funny, isn't it? The same people who cry indignantly at IP also rec some of the most bland and boring dreck ever written in the pairing. I mean, just because it doesn't have purple prose or overt symbolism doesn't mean it's subtle and cutting and perfectly balanced by any means. But now I'm just kind of complaining, so I'll stop.
~~
You know how I said I hatehatehate pimping? Well, that's other people's pimping, not my own, ehehehe.
I was feeling all irritated and cranky, and then I stumbled upon one of my favorite HP fanartists-- Syrena Doné of jareth.com & Severus Snape's Slytherin Society. I love her Draco and her Snape. They're so... evil. *cries with joy* There's also this odds n' ends gallery with 'puter-hating!Snape, omg. Hee! I have this... thing against evil!Draco in fanfic but I -love- and adore seeing that awful sneer and the maniacally vicious glint in his eye. It just makes me warm and fuzzy. Her inking style is just so old-fashioned and intricate and the characterization so vivid and canon. Also, bathtub!Snape has my heart.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2003-11-23 02:17 pm (UTC)(And omg, champion!Draco-- that just cracks me up. Only Draco could uphold the balance of good and evil within the universe! Whatever shall we -do-?!)
I was talking to Abaddon about this only last night-- well, whether Draco's more "hot" or more "adorable", because well, losers can't be hot and so on. And he was like, Draco's scary and fucked up and borderline psychotic (http://www.livejournal.com/users/orangewatcher/25150.html?thread=173886). Heh. And "nasty" rather than "sadly tormented". And I think he kind of identified with him too, so it's not a lack of Draco-love.
Redeemed!Draco is only popular with the plebes, man. *WEEPS*
no subject
Date: 2003-11-23 02:26 pm (UTC)*snarls* DAVID HE IS NOT BORDERLINE PSYCHOTIC. Well, okay, he might be, but I see no direct canonical evidence.
what Draco needs is a wake-up to reality, for most of the things he wants to come true so he can see how awful it all is, someone he respects to let him know about morals and once he becomes more secure, a few good slaps upside the head.
oh... no... this soapbox just rose right out of the ground under my feet. I'm sorry, my reena.
dude. I would love it so much if in the sixth book Dumbledore was all like 'miscalculation of the prophecy, Draco is champion!' Because. Gales of laughter. World so screwed. OMG.
no subject
Date: 2003-11-23 02:46 pm (UTC)The whole idea is so hilarious it kills me, especially the Slytherin's reactions (they'd hate it), and Draco's reaction (he'd hate it) and everyone's reaction (they'd all hate it), omg. Best. Idea. EVAR!!1 *hyperventilates* It'd only work if Draco didn't get any nicer whatsoever, you know, but now-- it's like he's in Harry's shoes. It's kill or be killed!! OMG I ADORE IT SO. Ha!! 'Cause so much of -Harry's- issues stem from the fate he didn't choose, so like, if -Draco- also had one, or had one instead, it'd be soooooooo much more interesting than all the Harry-in-Slytherin fics. Heh.
Also, I don't really think Draco needs to be redeemed (especially not with the normal definition where you'd have to actually do something that needs atonement), but really it's just shorthand for alread-redeemed!Draco, which is just a view on him where he's sympathetic. It's a crappy view, but like-- I think for a lot of people the boundary between "redeemed" and "unredeemed" is just between "palatable" and "unpalatable". Which sucks.
Heeeeee. I love your Draco the way I love
no subject
Date: 2003-11-23 03:02 pm (UTC)AW. REENA, YOU SAY THE SWEETEST THINGS. AND I REALLY GET BEHIND THAT. Because. You know. Wah. Yes. Easy to love=person=howyoubreakmyheart.
Oh my God, I totally want to write prophecy!Draco now. Except, I really just want Silvia to write it, because I'd mess up that bland-statement-of-the-fantastical humour but yeah. Um. So tempted.
"So, *Potter*," Draco sneered. "I hear you're not the golden boy of prophecy anymore. Not the champion. Not everybody's darling. No more signing autographs for you, no sir, you'll have to look into gainful employment. But who could this be, the one everybody wants, the new shining star? Oh yes! I do believe it's *me.*"
Harry glared at him, wondered how the hell he'd gotten into Gryffindor tower anyway and then saw Colin Creevey gazing adoringly at a whole stack of signed photographs, with the ink still wet on them.
Typical. Fairweather fans.
"Terrific, Malfoy," he snarled. "And since it's you. What are you going to do about it?"
Draco blinked.
"When's the duel to the death with Voldemort?"
"What was that?" said Draco, going visibly paler and with his voice rising to a squeak. "No. Look. I'm delicate. I've never really been the same since that whole arm slashing incident. My father frowns on extra-curricular activities."
"So you haven't planned *anything*?" Harry said, incredulity and fury rising together. "Just came up here straight away to gloat, did you?"
Draco regained enough self-possession to sneer.
"Well," he said loftily, "I would've thought that would be *obvious.*"
... errrr. Sorry again, reena.
no subject
Date: 2003-11-23 03:25 pm (UTC)*CLINGS TO YOUR ANKLES*
YOU MUST WRIIIITE THIIIIIIS OH THE LOVE <333333333333333333333333
*breathes*
I WOULD LOVE YOU (EVEN MORE) OMG YOU HAVE NO IDEA!!1 *INCOHERENT*
OH GOD. SO IN LOVE. *pants*
love this so much; had to restrain self from squeeing too loudly in 'puter lab. the comedic genius of this whole things knocks me DEAD. deaditellyouDEAD. and! silvia wouldn't do it past a short-fic and she's all QAF right now and OMG GUH. i will never leave you be, pestering you 'til you do it, you realize this don't you :D :D :D
no subject
Date: 2003-11-23 03:58 pm (UTC)no, don't tempt me, got to finish book...
no subject
Date: 2003-11-23 04:41 pm (UTC)(or, something like that).
also!! like. you can write it in pieces! and! after UL! and!!
YOU JUST HAVE TO WRITE IT OMG GUH *incoherent meebling*
just think of the glory..!..!! or... something. also! it'd be fun, y'know. eheheheheh. *evil look*
no subject
Date: 2003-11-23 05:16 pm (UTC)It has a nicer ring than MigrantFarmer!Snape, I think.
no subject
Date: 2003-11-23 05:19 pm (UTC)it's comments like this that i live for, man.
we are truly sisters in spirit. *giggle!!*
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Date: 2003-11-23 05:22 pm (UTC)perhaps this was the watch draco left behind in his bookbag to incriminate harry...? or the watch harry found ramdomly in the halls? or the watch future!Draco sent harry as a love token?? heeee
no subject
Date: 2003-11-23 05:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-23 05:55 pm (UTC)and i'll badger maya into that champion!draco epic, JUST YOU WAIT >:D
*manic laugh*
no subject
Date: 2003-11-23 06:05 pm (UTC)*claps hands merrily*
no subject
Date: 2003-11-23 06:07 pm (UTC)awwwww, you're too good to me. thank you, thank you.
*bows*
no subject
Date: 2003-11-23 06:11 pm (UTC)*wild cackling*
Muaha. *strews dead flowers in your wake*
no subject
Date: 2003-11-23 06:20 pm (UTC)*DEAD!!1*
(i now feel like i should make a clique or something, since this is reminding me of that `phenomenal women of the web' clique OMG ACK I CAN'T BELIEVE I REMEMBERED THAT ^^; um.)
i mean, YEAY DESTRUCTION!!1
no subject
Date: 2003-11-23 06:45 pm (UTC)(ahahaha INTELLIGENTSIA TENDENCIES MUCH?)
Fandom fall down and go
BOOM!"!!!"no subject
Date: 2003-11-23 06:48 pm (UTC)like, i would babble and babble and people would be like,
"!!!" and "o_0" and "......" and "@-)" and that just makes my day.
<3333333 heheheeh >:D
no subject
Date: 2003-11-23 07:00 pm (UTC)Good times, man, good times.
<3