How can you decide where 'fanfiction' begins and 'literature', 'textual criticism' or 'multiple authorship' ends, without recourse to the law of copyright or the hierarchy of institutions and genres? [...] In other words, fanfiction as concept and practice can be central to one of the most important political / cultural / aesthetic problems of our time: is it possible to create anything new?
Fanfic has been represented as existing in this space; as rejecting traditional notions of ownership and using this natural resource to power divergent discourses. [...] The key point is the proposition that ownership ceases with publication, and thereafter, so long as no profit is sought by the fanfic creator (although this is perhaps a placatory gesture, rather than an integral part of the argument), it is unreasonable to object to anyone making use of what was once your fictional universe. But it hurts. Simple as that. Which is weird. [...] I feel an injury, a gut-churning sensation like a blow. What the hell is that about?
Hmm.
No, really, just ... hmm. Given my peculiar past, I suppose I ought to have more to say about it, but just ... hmm.
I do understand the difference that Mr Cornwall makes between his television characters and his fiction characters, though. Given the way that writing on television usually works, you can be somewhat less invested in television characters and plot.
The discussion on the Barbelith bulletin boards is sailing well over my head, I'm afraid.
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Copyright © 2001, Iain Jackson, after-words.org
[Archives: 2001 and after]
Archives before February 5, 2001
Search entries:
12/19/2001: vive la france
12/19/2001: princess, redux
12/19/2001: yemen and rumsfeld
12/18/2001: you're NOT in the army now
12/18/2001: interesting donation
12/18/2001: shame on winn dixie, indeed
12/18/2001: saudi princess
12/17/2001: new resolve
12/17/2001: a victim of the attack ... yeah, right
12/17/2001: polluters ho!