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on pairings in fandom
Jul. 29th, 2006 04:35 pmA lot of the time, I wish there was more gen fic in fandom. There are some fandoms in which I have trouble reading gen, because I'm set on pairings there (SGA and Smallville for a few examples). There are other fandoms where I'm happy to read gen, as long as there's a certain pairing in the background (BtVS). And there are some fandoms where it's almost impossible for me to read pairing fic, het or slash. And I think I figured out why.
A lot of fandoms (especially TV fandoms, which are, uh, my main fodder nowadays), I have not seen the source show. Or if I have, I've only seen a couple eps, and the only reason I did was because of the fandom. (See: BtVS, Angel, Stargate Atlantis, Smallville) Therefore, most of my association with the characters and the universe comes from the fandom -- which is completely filled with pairings, pairings, and more pairings. I attach easily to many things. I'm like a bird; I imprint. (Unfortunately, I do this in real life too)
On the other hand, there are some fandoms where the canon came first, then I went looking for the fandom. (See: CSI:NY, Miracle, HP, and most recently, Dark Angel) Therefore, my main interaction with the characters/universe comes from the canon itself -- which usually doesn't have a whole lot of pairings (although that's a whole 'nother rant). When I go looking for fics in that fandom, I basically want an extension of the show -- snark, universe, action, plot, subtext if you feel so inclined -- not pairings. Occasionally I want to read smut and/or have a preferred pairing in that fandom (HP: H/D, but only because fandom had a lot more influence on me than the books). Other times I'm just fine with interaction -- a lot of the time because the relationships the show gives are much more interesting (CSI:NY: the lab; Dark Angel: the X5s, the transgenics, Jam Pony, Max/Logan; Miracle: the team,yo) than any relationship drama the average fan can come up with. And, um, I don't see subtext unless it's practically text (See: Smallville). No, seriously, I don't. Or unless it's pointed out to me. When I go to fanfic, I want an extension of the show, and I don't get that a lot. Which would probably be why most of my fic is getting to be gen-ish.
*pause* Yeah, I think that was basically it.
A lot of fandoms (especially TV fandoms, which are, uh, my main fodder nowadays), I have not seen the source show. Or if I have, I've only seen a couple eps, and the only reason I did was because of the fandom. (See: BtVS, Angel, Stargate Atlantis, Smallville) Therefore, most of my association with the characters and the universe comes from the fandom -- which is completely filled with pairings, pairings, and more pairings. I attach easily to many things. I'm like a bird; I imprint. (Unfortunately, I do this in real life too)
On the other hand, there are some fandoms where the canon came first, then I went looking for the fandom. (See: CSI:NY, Miracle, HP, and most recently, Dark Angel) Therefore, my main interaction with the characters/universe comes from the canon itself -- which usually doesn't have a whole lot of pairings (although that's a whole 'nother rant). When I go looking for fics in that fandom, I basically want an extension of the show -- snark, universe, action, plot, subtext if you feel so inclined -- not pairings. Occasionally I want to read smut and/or have a preferred pairing in that fandom (HP: H/D, but only because fandom had a lot more influence on me than the books). Other times I'm just fine with interaction -- a lot of the time because the relationships the show gives are much more interesting (CSI:NY: the lab; Dark Angel: the X5s, the transgenics, Jam Pony, Max/Logan; Miracle: the team,yo) than any relationship drama the average fan can come up with. And, um, I don't see subtext unless it's practically text (See: Smallville). No, seriously, I don't. Or unless it's pointed out to me. When I go to fanfic, I want an extension of the show, and I don't get that a lot. Which would probably be why most of my fic is getting to be gen-ish.
*pause* Yeah, I think that was basically it.