deliciously_naughty
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This is an interesting article about fan fic, and specifically about HP fanfic and Rowlings stance and such on it.
Washington Post article
Washington Post article
Harry Potter Fanfic
- Thread starter deliciously_naughty
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Alex756
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Very interesting article.
From my experience, alot of the acceptance of Fanfiction comes from exactly what you are fanficing. I mean ALOT of the people who write star trek started either played the role playing games or wrote fan fic, or both. Star trek fan fic has been around as long as I can remeber and its never seemed to be anything anyone freaked over.
Also, my husband reads alot of Pokemon Fanfic. Of course this comes from a culture where fansubs are seen as perfectly normal too. (a fan sub for those that known't know is when a copy of a movie/TV show is made and then 'Fans' subtitle it so that it has a wider audience. In Anime this emans people record stuff abd put english subtitles on) As DVDs and computers advance, fansubbing has turned into an absolute artform, and many Japanese companies are perfectly fine with fansubs being distributed, at least prior to region 1 distribution rights being sold.
People are always going to wonder what happens to charavcters when they get older, or if two characters fall in love or some such. Fanfiction is a great outlet for that. TO say certain fanfic is fine becasue it doens't have sexual content and other fanfic isn't becasue it does ... that smacks of censorship.
All the people worrying about thier kids finding whatever online should spend more time making sure their kids can't find stuff online. Sites are well marked, parental control software exists. Of course if the computer is nothing but a feel good babysitter -- since it isn't a TV .... I can see the problem, but it isn't the fanfic writer's fault.
Alex756
http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=177120
Yes I write fanfic
and Have since 4th grade.
From my experience, alot of the acceptance of Fanfiction comes from exactly what you are fanficing. I mean ALOT of the people who write star trek started either played the role playing games or wrote fan fic, or both. Star trek fan fic has been around as long as I can remeber and its never seemed to be anything anyone freaked over.
Also, my husband reads alot of Pokemon Fanfic. Of course this comes from a culture where fansubs are seen as perfectly normal too. (a fan sub for those that known't know is when a copy of a movie/TV show is made and then 'Fans' subtitle it so that it has a wider audience. In Anime this emans people record stuff abd put english subtitles on) As DVDs and computers advance, fansubbing has turned into an absolute artform, and many Japanese companies are perfectly fine with fansubs being distributed, at least prior to region 1 distribution rights being sold.
People are always going to wonder what happens to charavcters when they get older, or if two characters fall in love or some such. Fanfiction is a great outlet for that. TO say certain fanfic is fine becasue it doens't have sexual content and other fanfic isn't becasue it does ... that smacks of censorship.
All the people worrying about thier kids finding whatever online should spend more time making sure their kids can't find stuff online. Sites are well marked, parental control software exists. Of course if the computer is nothing but a feel good babysitter -- since it isn't a TV .... I can see the problem, but it isn't the fanfic writer's fault.
Alex756
http://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=177120
Yes I write fanfic
and Have since 4th grade.
Svenskaflicka
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Restricted Section now also has a rule that you must register to be able to read the fics, and you can't register until you're 18.
It's not the site's responsibility to make sure that kids don't hack into their site to read sex stories, that's the parents' job. No worries, Mrs Rowling!
As for sexual fan fics - I say, as long as they're written well, what's the problem?
Go RestrictedSection, Go!!!!!!
(Where, incidentally, I've got two fan fics, The Squibs and Moonlight Sonata, under the screen name Polly Juice.
Read 'em while the site's still up!
Chicklet
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plagarism vs art
very interesting concept.
in a hundred years or so I think it becomes a free-for-all, doesn't it? (like we can use alice-in-wonderland in any way we want now, right?)
hrm.
good article, and I don't know what my stand on it would be.
-Chicklet
very interesting concept.
in a hundred years or so I think it becomes a free-for-all, doesn't it? (like we can use alice-in-wonderland in any way we want now, right?)
hrm.
good article, and I don't know what my stand on it would be.
-Chicklet
Svenskaflicka
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Chicklet
"If you can't beat them - join them!"
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deliciously_naughty
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PierceStreet said:
This *is* the author's hangout/forum...I personally think that it's certainly relevant and important/interesting.
Beyond that...we've had many the debate about the whole HP fanfics (incidentally, I believe laurel got one of the cease and desist letters, or heard that JKR was sending them and took them off, and HP is now not accepted along with Disney who is also nasty about fanfic)
Sabledrake
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Well, gee, after reading the article I just have to wonder ... what about 'genuine fan fiction' that happens to include sexual content? I like to think that's where mine falls.
Sabledrake
Sabledrake
Weird Harold
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Sabledrake said:
IMHO, JKR and Disney are more concerned about Image than "infringement." Harry Potter and Disney Animation are aimed at children and anything which might damage the image of their property (and cause confusion over what is appropriate for Kids) is vigorously discouraged.
There is nothing inherently "wrong" about writing sexually graphic fanfic about any characters, but in the case of Disney Animation and Harry Potter doing so violates the "Spirit of the Original" and potentially damages the franchise by creating an association with adult themes.
I'm not sure about whether I agree with Disney, but JKR definitely has a point about discouraging people who deviate from the spirit of the Harry Potter books.
Adults checking the Web to determine if Harry Potter is suitable for their child could turn up a sexually explicit fanfic and JKR Immediately loses five book sales.
Just-Legal
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Its a Harry Potter thread, of course I have a comment....
Hmm, from what I've been told and readon the HP Slash lists I belong to, JKR isn't so concerned with Image per se, more the worry that "inncoent children" (is there such a thing any more??) xome across the NC-17 stuff.
As far as I'm aware, Inkstained Fingers, another HP archive including NC-17 stuff, once passworded against accidental entry, was left alone, as well as other similar sites.
Besides, JKR has no problem, as mentioned with the article, with the softer stuff being in the public domain. Disney, as far as I'm aware, does.
Just my 2p /2c
Hmm, from what I've been told and readon the HP Slash lists I belong to, JKR isn't so concerned with Image per se, more the worry that "inncoent children" (is there such a thing any more??) xome across the NC-17 stuff.
As far as I'm aware, Inkstained Fingers, another HP archive including NC-17 stuff, once passworded against accidental entry, was left alone, as well as other similar sites.
Besides, JKR has no problem, as mentioned with the article, with the softer stuff being in the public domain. Disney, as far as I'm aware, does.
Just my 2p /2c
Sabledrake
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:: snicker :: I like this ... "Spirit of the Original" ... look what they did to Victor Hugo's novel, for instance, let alone the fairy tale adaptations!Weird Harold said:
Sabledrake
deliciously_naughty
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Sabledrake said::: snicker :: I like this ... "Spirit of the Original" ... look what they did to Victor Hugo's novel, for instance, let alone the fairy tale adaptations!
Sabledrake
I was playing Jeopardy with my students and one of my categories was Fairy Tales. For the $500 question, I asked "In the *real* version of the little mermaid, NOT the Disney version, what happens to the little mermaid at the end?" I got mostly a lot of blank looks. Sigh
I really hate disney
Rainbow Skin
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Isn't HP a teency weency bit, um, underage? Unless the fanfic is about Fred Weasley, and... can't think who's old enough, Cho Chang? Viktor Krum? Professor McGonagall letting her hair down?
Harry's 15 in this new book so that's a year before he's legal. So the last book he was 14. New book's three years in the waiting. So any fanfic that's appeared in the last three years, he's two years underage, and so is Hermione, which to me rather defeats the purpose. I wouldn't want to read about Fred and McGonagall.
Harry's 15 in this new book so that's a year before he's legal. So the last book he was 14. New book's three years in the waiting. So any fanfic that's appeared in the last three years, he's two years underage, and so is Hermione, which to me rather defeats the purpose. I wouldn't want to read about Fred and McGonagall.
Rainbow Skin
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I'm a writer
There's a quote from some science fiction author to a studio executive that's relevant here - something like, 'I'm a writer, I don't know what the fuck you think you are.'
Now, I don't at all agree with Disney monstering Congress to get their wretched Steamboat Willie extended indefinitely, but they have a point that it's unfair on them because US copyright law was so screwed up until 1989.
Walt created the Mouse. Walt died in, oh I don't know, 1967 or so. It is perfectly reasonable for Walt's children to own the copyright and pass it on to their children until 2017. I wish his grandchildren could get the royalties and the Disney Corporation nothing but a few paltry licensing fees.
But anyway, we're writers, we're creators. We don't - I hope - rip off other people's good and original ideas and pass them off as our own. Why should it matter if we can't use Joanne Rowling's brilliant ideas in our own much less brilliant, tedious rehashings?
Isn't it more important to know that no-one else can rip off our original ideas? The more copyright protection the better, sez I.
It's just a pity it also benefits pillocks like Disney.
There's a quote from some science fiction author to a studio executive that's relevant here - something like, 'I'm a writer, I don't know what the fuck you think you are.'
Now, I don't at all agree with Disney monstering Congress to get their wretched Steamboat Willie extended indefinitely, but they have a point that it's unfair on them because US copyright law was so screwed up until 1989.
Walt created the Mouse. Walt died in, oh I don't know, 1967 or so. It is perfectly reasonable for Walt's children to own the copyright and pass it on to their children until 2017. I wish his grandchildren could get the royalties and the Disney Corporation nothing but a few paltry licensing fees.
But anyway, we're writers, we're creators. We don't - I hope - rip off other people's good and original ideas and pass them off as our own. Why should it matter if we can't use Joanne Rowling's brilliant ideas in our own much less brilliant, tedious rehashings?
Isn't it more important to know that no-one else can rip off our original ideas? The more copyright protection the better, sez I.
It's just a pity it also benefits pillocks like Disney.
Chicklet
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just to add that I don't think I have any problem with people creating stories within worlds other people have invented. I do feel that it is a bit iffy to use their characters, but if you create your own and your own story just within the rules of their world, well, that's just fun.
chicklet
chicklet
deliciously_naughty
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Double post..grumble
Last edited:
deliciously_naughty
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NOte...I mention HP 5 a few times, but there are NO spoilers in this post.
I just find various people's handling of the topic interesting...
For example, Mercedes Lackey (fantasy author) who writes the (most of the time) excellent Valdemar series, sponsored an anthology where she said "come play in my world" and published it as the book "Sword of Ice"
Passed onto me by a friend....about trek fanfic and slash...At a Trek Convention, Kate Mulgrew who played Captian Janeway in Trek Voyager was asked her thoughts on all the slash (or same sex fic) written about her and Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine). She inquired what slash was, and the fan blushingly explained it to her. Mulgrew's reaction? She blinked, and replied "Am I any good?" Paramount also occasionally sanctions the publication of Trek Fanfic (not slash to my understanding) in anthologies.
JK Rowling is fine with it (or at least doesn't send cease and desist letters to sites with it up) as long as there is zero sexual content. She is worried about a 7 year old stumbling across some of the fanfic. However, I'm about 400 pages into the latest book and there's definitely some content that would make me reconsider letting a second grader read IT...swear words, political double dealings etc.
Disney, who profits unendingly from dead copyrights (all their riduculous manglings of fairytales, shakespeare and victor hugo come to mind) prosecutes nursery schools who paint mickey mouse on their walls.
A range of reactions to be sure, but interesting to contemplate.
My thoughts on HP fanfic...either I'd write my own characters and use Rowlings world and rules, or I'd write the characters at least 5 years into the future (Harry and co as Aurors? could be fun). But I do think that writing fanfic is an expression of freedom of speech, and it's not until you go and try to make money off it that it becomes a question of copyright infringement.
There are two ways to consider fanfic...
1. Be thrilled that someone cares enough about the characters you dreamed up to wonder what happens to them when they aren't on the page or if you were to throw X into the mix (an example...what if Picard had a daughter? and there's the basis for my fanfic in the trekverse)
2. Be pissed that someone dare to change your world even the slightest. Yes, we are all protective of our babies...hell, editing can be a painful process for me. When I was writing my undergrad thesis, I had to cut this really great section I loved on school songs because although it was fun, it just didn't contribute anything to my argument and I begged my prof to keep it in. When I was firmly rebuffed, I removed it, but still kept it as a seperate document for about 4 months before I could let it go. Silly, yeah. But I really see people who freak about it as taking this view. You want to protect your kids, but once they're out in the world, more than you influences them. And our stories are like children...we know our characters incredibly well. Ms Rowlings said she cried when she killed off a character (no, I havent' a clue who it is) and I can understand the type of sentiment that might inspire that type of emotion.
Yeah, I'm pro fanfic...but I write it, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.
I just find various people's handling of the topic interesting...
For example, Mercedes Lackey (fantasy author) who writes the (most of the time) excellent Valdemar series, sponsored an anthology where she said "come play in my world" and published it as the book "Sword of Ice"
Passed onto me by a friend....about trek fanfic and slash...At a Trek Convention, Kate Mulgrew who played Captian Janeway in Trek Voyager was asked her thoughts on all the slash (or same sex fic) written about her and Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine). She inquired what slash was, and the fan blushingly explained it to her. Mulgrew's reaction? She blinked, and replied "Am I any good?" Paramount also occasionally sanctions the publication of Trek Fanfic (not slash to my understanding) in anthologies.
JK Rowling is fine with it (or at least doesn't send cease and desist letters to sites with it up) as long as there is zero sexual content. She is worried about a 7 year old stumbling across some of the fanfic. However, I'm about 400 pages into the latest book and there's definitely some content that would make me reconsider letting a second grader read IT...swear words, political double dealings etc.
Disney, who profits unendingly from dead copyrights (all their riduculous manglings of fairytales, shakespeare and victor hugo come to mind) prosecutes nursery schools who paint mickey mouse on their walls.
A range of reactions to be sure, but interesting to contemplate.
My thoughts on HP fanfic...either I'd write my own characters and use Rowlings world and rules, or I'd write the characters at least 5 years into the future (Harry and co as Aurors? could be fun). But I do think that writing fanfic is an expression of freedom of speech, and it's not until you go and try to make money off it that it becomes a question of copyright infringement.
There are two ways to consider fanfic...
1. Be thrilled that someone cares enough about the characters you dreamed up to wonder what happens to them when they aren't on the page or if you were to throw X into the mix (an example...what if Picard had a daughter? and there's the basis for my fanfic in the trekverse)
2. Be pissed that someone dare to change your world even the slightest. Yes, we are all protective of our babies...hell, editing can be a painful process for me. When I was writing my undergrad thesis, I had to cut this really great section I loved on school songs because although it was fun, it just didn't contribute anything to my argument and I begged my prof to keep it in. When I was firmly rebuffed, I removed it, but still kept it as a seperate document for about 4 months before I could let it go. Silly, yeah. But I really see people who freak about it as taking this view. You want to protect your kids, but once they're out in the world, more than you influences them. And our stories are like children...we know our characters incredibly well. Ms Rowlings said she cried when she killed off a character (no, I havent' a clue who it is) and I can understand the type of sentiment that might inspire that type of emotion.
Yeah, I'm pro fanfic...but I write it, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.
Sabledrake
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d_n > I read the whole book last night (luckily, the resident who decided to be a little jerk waited until I was done), and I know what you mean ... it's very dark, and while I'm not worried about reading it aloud to my 8-year-old, I wouldn't feel quite right about just turning it over to her to read on her own.
Sabledrake
Sabledrake
deliciously_naughty
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Sabledrake said:
Glad to hear someone echoing my thoughts...finished it this afternoon. My eyes HURT from all that reading though.
KillerMuffin
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If I ever wrote a world that people got nutso enough to slash, I don't think I'd be too horribly upset about it as long as certain things were universally understood.
One, that my copyrights are clear. Two, that whatever characters I didn't want to see eroticized weren't. Three, that no profit is made from any derivative work. That means that if the site does not carry a not-for-profit licensing, then it would have no advertisements.
The rest, I'd probably find someone with no life and too much obsession as well as reading discrimination to host the "Best of FanFic" page on my own website. This is all pretty much moot because I doubt I'll ever be that popular.
I do write fanfic, slash, and all that. I don't post it though. Not only is it something I consider a waste of time doing since it nets me nothing I can slap on a resume, it's embarrassing.
One, that my copyrights are clear. Two, that whatever characters I didn't want to see eroticized weren't. Three, that no profit is made from any derivative work. That means that if the site does not carry a not-for-profit licensing, then it would have no advertisements.
The rest, I'd probably find someone with no life and too much obsession as well as reading discrimination to host the "Best of FanFic" page on my own website. This is all pretty much moot because I doubt I'll ever be that popular.
I do write fanfic, slash, and all that. I don't post it though. Not only is it something I consider a waste of time doing since it nets me nothing I can slap on a resume, it's embarrassing.
oggbashan
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I agree with deliciously_naughty and KillerMuffin about my characters. They are my creations and I want to protect them.
No one is likely to want to write fanfic about them but I'd be unhappy if the characters were in settings that I didn't approve.
Copyright is one thing that is easy to claim, but very difficult to enforce even in your own country unless you have unlimited funds. Once it is another country, forget it unless you have megabucks.
Apart from enforcing copyright, the author/creator has very little control over fanfics. Even if you protect as much as you can, it is easy to get round copyright by changing a few things as a parody "Vatman" for "Batman" for example.
I think I'm safe only because no one would want my characters but that is the only reason that I am safe.
Og
No one is likely to want to write fanfic about them but I'd be unhappy if the characters were in settings that I didn't approve.
Copyright is one thing that is easy to claim, but very difficult to enforce even in your own country unless you have unlimited funds. Once it is another country, forget it unless you have megabucks.
Apart from enforcing copyright, the author/creator has very little control over fanfics. Even if you protect as much as you can, it is easy to get round copyright by changing a few things as a parody "Vatman" for "Batman" for example.
I think I'm safe only because no one would want my characters but that is the only reason that I am safe.
Og
