Fandom, fanfictions, fffffffffffffffffffffffffffff

(Note: I started writing this post about Banned Books Week only to realize that I already did and that I'm basically a dumbfuck for not checking up on my topics before I posted this.)

I found a link to some really choice wank about Diana Gabaldon's opinion on fanfiction some weeks back through some LJ community. It's no surprise to me that there are authors out there who object to fanfiction about their works - shit like this is hardly new, Anne Rice has never not raged against fanfiction about her own work. What does surprise me though, is how many authors still have a very... well, "malformed" opinion on the shit, for lack of a better word. Diana Gabaldon is not alone in holding the belief that fanfiction is "ew gross porn"-y crap written by the talentless horny masses. She's since deleted the whole mess, but through the whole mire of self-satisfied smugness and circle-jerking, I thought about a whole bunch of what-ifs that come with publishing and fandom. 

I'm not yet so full of shit that I would regard fanfiction of my characters and books as outright theft... mostly because fanfiction is protected under Fair Use laws, but also because after 4 years of going through college and having to write analytical papers, my professors have been really keen to harp on concepts such as "Intertexuality" (my adviser's favorite philosophy) and "Death of the Author." From what I know and how I've had to write for the past 4 years, I do strongly adhere to the idea that once my work is in the public sphere that I cannot dictate a reader's interpretation of my works: that my work exists outside of and away from myself. I've grown so used to the idea that I feel that when, or if, I get published that the only time I feel the right to interfere with fanworks (fanfiction, fanart, etc.) is when it interferes with my ability to profit from my own work. That is something which I've seen a lot of authors misinterpret and confuse all fanfiction as an attempt to make bank, which is largely not possible and something that I've hardly ever seen fans not respect.

Fandom is an interesting beast. Although I've never considered myself to be part of really any fandom in any capacity (unless you want to lump hate-dom in with fandom - in which case, yeah I've totally been in fandom, haha) I do personally know a huge number of people who are, online and off. My opinion on fandom largely isn't positive - I feel that there are some very fucking maladjusted and obsessive people involved in fandom - but I understand it. A lot of people in fandom are really attached to their respective fandoms, and I can see why they would. Through fandom one can find creative outlet, socialization, friendship, validation, and even catharsis. I rag on people who get way too involved, but I've only ever been one to say "Hey, maybe you should get off the internet for a bit and talk to people IRL" and never forcefully tried to change them. Because I know I really can't. Just like I know I really can't stop fanfiction (the good, the bad, and the squicky) of my own work. In fact, the more I mull it over the more I'd like to encourage it. As long as people find enjoyment in it and aren't harming each other, it shouldn't be a problem. Hell, I'd love to see some wank about it, too. Not because I think that's a good indication as to whether or not I've "made it" as an author, so to speak - but rather that my works have done what I've wanted it to do: to make people think, if not for a little bit.