|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 12:02 pm
I think we've all read that fanfiction that adds in new things, usually races, that did not exist in the Fandom. And I mean this outside of an AU. Typically, in my experience, it is done with Oc central pieces and the person wants their character to be extra special or rare. What is your opinion on authors adding in things that are not actually part of the fandom?
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 7:18 am
New additions to the universe outside of an AU? When I first read this, I thought, "No, I haven't seen that before." But I actually have. sweatdrop
I know in the HP fandom a lot of writers catch heat for making vampire characters. Normally I would back up the critics because the author is trying to make their character "extra special" but there were actually vampires in the HP universe. The vamps were mentioned in passing, if I recall correctly, but not enough for readers to get a good feel for the lore that Rowling was using. So, vamp characters are one of those additions (but not really) to the fandom and I'm okay with them if they're done right. Like, I have a hard time believing Dumbledore would allow an American vampire student into Hogwarts without some serious supervision (or a vamp student of any origin, it's just that typically OCs in the HP fandom tend to be American).
So I guess what I'm saying is that I'm totally fine with authors adding new things to the universe of their choosing as long as they tag it as AU (and hopefully explain why it's AU before I read... I've read stories labeled AU and have absolutely no idea what's going on through the whole thing until the end...) and as long as it's something that doesn't require me to suspend my disbelief to the umpteenth power. Sometimes writers throw some really bizarre things into a universe and expect the readers to just roll with the punches without giving any reasonable explanation other than "just 'cuz I like it" or "it is what it is" or whatever. Although it's fanfiction, the story still needs to have some grounding in that universe's reality so that it's believable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Violent Crow Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 11:54 am
Violent Crow New additions to the universe outside of an AU? When I first read this, I thought, "No, I haven't seen that before." But I actually have. sweatdrop I know in the HP fandom a lot of writers catch heat for making vampire characters. Normally I would back up the critics because the author is trying to make their character "extra special" but there were actually vampires in the HP universe. The vamps were mentioned in passing, if I recall correctly, but not enough for readers to get a good feel for the lore that Rowling was using. So, vamp characters are one of those additions (but not really) to the fandom and I'm okay with them if they're done right. Like, I have a hard time believing Dumbledore would allow an American vampire student into Hogwarts without some serious supervision (or a vamp student of any origin, it's just that typically OCs in the HP fandom tend to be American). So I guess what I'm saying is that I'm totally fine with authors adding new things to the universe of their choosing as long as they tag it as AU (and hopefully explain why it's AU before I read... I've read stories labeled AU and have absolutely no idea what's going on through the whole thing until the end...) and as long as it's something that doesn't require me to suspend my disbelief to the umpteenth power. Sometimes writers throw some really bizarre things into a universe and expect the readers to just roll with the punches without giving any reasonable explanation other than "just 'cuz I like it" or "it is what it is" or whatever. Although it's fanfiction, the story still needs to have some grounding in that universe's reality so that it's believable. I agree with you. I don't mind if there are extra additions as long as it is well thought out and would mesh in with the universe. Vampires in Harry Potter is definitely cool, especially since they actually were part of the fandom even if they weren't given a spot light. They still need to be well thought out, of course, but you get my point. I've read a handful of fanfictions that just throw in new races that don't belong at all just because they want to make a character that way. It's cool if you want a specific race of character but readers are going to expect you to be able to tie them in with the fandom in a way that is sensible.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 1:03 pm
Night Kunoichi I agree with you. I don't mind if there are extra additions as long as it is well thought out and would mesh in with the universe. Vampires in Harry Potter is definitely cool, especially since they actually were part of the fandom even if they weren't given a spot light. They still need to be well thought out, of course, but you get my point. I've read a handful of fanfictions that just throw in new races that don't belong at all just because they want to make a character that way. It's cool if you want a specific race of character but readers are going to expect you to be able to tie them in with the fandom in a way that is sensible. Yeah, I don't like it when the "new" info is up in the air unless it's a mystery story. But even then, if it's something like adding a new race, I think you have to at least give some history or something about the race and how that particular race ties into the universe. While we're on the subject of having different "races" or "class types" or anything like that in a fandom that doesn't originally house those new additions, what do you think about crossovers? I mean, like having a witch in the YYH universe and that witch uses spells, lore, etc. from the HP fandom, as an example? I only ask because I read a fic like that but I don't recall there being an explanation. I don't read many crossovers, so is it normal for the actual crossing over of universes to remain unexplained? Is a crossover one of those instances where the author isn't obligated in any way to explain their new additions? Sorry for all of the questions. I'm just curious. sweatdrop
|
|
|
|
|
|
Violent Crow Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 9:23 pm
Within the Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, Doctor Who, and DC Superheroes fandoms, people are ALWAYS making up new planets and races. And they usually come in twos too. There'll be one OC from one race that is usually a damsel in distress, and then an ARMY of villains from the second race. Or, the two races will be at war with each other and the canon characters have to either take sides or make peace between them.
On a slightly different note, but still the same vein of conversation, within in the DC Superheroes fandom and SPECIFICALLY with those who ship Tim/Kon, there is a fan-made character that -while he is not a canon character in any way- has sort of been "adopted" by the fandom as canon. Apparently, most (possibly all) of the Tim/Kon shippers agree that during the time that Kon was dead and Tim was trying to clone him, he instead combined his own DNA with Kon's to make an offspring instead of a clone. Thus, Daniel Jack Kent-Drake was born.
Individual fictions branch off from there. But the character's name and origin is basically the exact same in each one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2014 1:39 pm
Renkon Root Within the Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, Doctor Who, and DC Superheroes fandoms, people are ALWAYS making up new planets and races. And they usually come in twos too. There'll be one OC from one race that is usually a damsel in distress, and then an ARMY of villains from the second race. Or, the two races will be at war with each other and the canon characters have to either take sides or make peace between them. On a slightly different note, but still the same vein of conversation, within in the DC Superheroes fandom and SPECIFICALLY with those who ship Tim/Kon, there is a fan-made character that -while he is not a canon character in any way- has sort of been "adopted" by the fandom as canon. Apparently, most (possibly all) of the Tim/Kon shippers agree that during the time that Kon was dead and Tim was trying to clone him, he instead combined his own DNA with Kon's to make an offspring instead of a clone. Thus, Daniel Jack Kent-Drake was born. Individual fictions branch off from there. But the character's name and origin is basically the exact same in each one. Ah, yes. The typical ploy to make the OC the focal point no matter what it takes. I like OCs, I think I've made that obvious by now, but I hate it when the entire universe has to change in order to revolve around the OC. It seems like OCs have to be very, very important and can't just be an interesting supporting character. Then again, I guess that's just my preference. As for the fan-made character? I honestly don't know what to think about that. I think it mostly annoys me because I can see something like that happening in one of my fandoms and I'm usually adverse to people bastardizing the canon-verse and acting like it is canon and "no we didn't just make this up, it's a real thing or will be a real thing if we try hard enough". An OC is an OC. As much as I like OCs, never will an OC be a canon character.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Violent Crow Vice Captain
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Violent Crow Vice Captain
|
Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 4:26 pm
I have a quick question about new additions. How about if a writer alters a canon race? I remember reading a Skyrim character bio (supplied by you, evil Kunoichi) where the writer made their OC a highly intelligent and dashingly handsome Falmer who could see and was cast out by his clan for being different. Can this alteration (could be called a bastardization) of canon lore be called a new addition without need for an AU label, seeing as how the writer totally rewrote a race by having a genetic anomaly of a character that undid years upon years of evolution?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 7:57 pm
Violent Crow I have a quick question about new additions. How about if a writer alters a canon race? I remember reading a Skyrim character bio (supplied by you, evil Kunoichi) where the writer made their OC a highly intelligent and dashingly handsome Falmer who could see and was cast out by his clan for being different. Can this alteration (could be called a bastardization) of canon lore be called a new addition without need for an AU label, seeing as how the writer totally rewrote a race by having a genetic anomaly of a character that undid years upon years of evolution? What can I say I aim to torture please.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
