A little rant

[emmagrant01]

When I was in the Harry Potter fandom I always found it interesting how there were so many ways to participate in fandom. You could be into wizard rock for Quidditch or cosplay or meta about the book or the movies, and so many other things. I sometimes felt guilty that all I did was read and write porn. Sometimes I thought I was just a bad Harry Potter fan. But of course the Harry Potter fandom was so huge that it seemed okay; no one could do everything.

And then as I branched out into other fandoms, I got that same sense that there were segments of fandom that seemed to think you had to pay your dues somehow in order to play. You couldn't just jump in and write fic without going through all the canon and reading all the fic or whatever.

So now I'm in the Sherlock fandom and I see it here too. Everyone is into reading the original canon, and watching other versions of the series, and watching the damn mouse movie and all of these things that I really don't give a fuck about. I really just want to read and write porn, you know? There are only so many hours in the day that I can devote to fandom and that's how I want to spend them.

And I'm kind of tired of feeling like I have to apologize for the fact that I'm basically here for the porn. I'm not pushing it on other people. (Well, if you follow my Tumblr, then maybe you think I am - but if you follow my Tumblr, odds are that you agree with me on some level.) But honestly, it's just what makes me happy.

Just to be clear, this post wasn't brought on by any particular post or comment. It's just that every now and then I get the feeling that other people think that you're not a good Sherlock fan if you haven't read the original books or watched the other series or whatever. I get a little tired of other people telling me what I should be doing in my precious free time, but moreover, who decided that one group in fandom gets to be the fandom police and tell others how they should and should not participate? Yeah, no: fuck you. You're not the boss of fandom.

So yeah, I'm here for the porn. If someone doesn't like that, that's fine. There is an unfollow button for a reason. I'm done apologizing or being made to feel like a second-class fan, I really am.

Edit to add: This is why I love lubricus so much. That con is a safe space for people like me, and I'm constantly reminded how important that is.

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

Comments

[holyfant.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow, I'm so sorry someone or something has made you feel like a second-class fan! That's just not okay. I have indeed seen random people on tumblr or LJ saying that they get annoyed by Sherlock fans who don't know their canon, but they can stfu. There's no reason you are OBLIGED to read Victorian detective stories in order to enjoy a detective show full of homoeroticism set in 21st century London. (In my book, you're an extremely first-class fan, anyway. :D Your porn hits all of my buttons! <3)

I have read some of the canon before watching Sherlock, because I did a class on Victorian lit at one point, and I do plan to read more when I have the time/frame of mind for it, but only because I enjoy the stories in their own right. There was some stuff in Sherlock that was funnier or (I think) made more sense with the canon background I have, but that's neither here nor there; the show is totally accessible without it, and it's 100% stupid to say that anyone who's a fan of Sherlock should know the canon or start reading it after watching the show. Just, no. I'm sorry you've encountered the fandom police, and I wish those people would just stop minding other people's business, because it's nobody's job to tell other fans how to have their fannish experience.

Fuck those people. Hooray for not being bullied by them. Hooray for porn. Hooray for you!

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

There wasn't anything in particular; it's just a general feeling I get from certain segments of fandom who turn their nose up at shipping and the porny side of fandom. I just need to occasionally roll my eyes and blow off some steam, because I can't really confront those folks and say STFU, yanno?

I have tried to read the ACD stories, but I just didn't get sucked in and I had lots of other stuff I wanted to spend my time on. It's sitting on my Kindle and maybe I'll get to it, but I'd really rather read fanfic. I also only read each of the HP books twice. Ever. :-P

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

No one may read it but label it AU for alternate universe and they can't quibble and nag because it's not going to follow cannon necessarily.
I think that fan-fiction sets itself up for this behavior. People want more of the same of the book or show and those writers aren't writing fast enough. *shrugs* Makes it tough when people just want to play with the characters but not all the other things that the originals have.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

It's endemic to fandom, really. I know it's pointless to complain, but sometimes I just need to roll my eyes a bit. :-P

[critterel.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean, I've felt and seen it. It's not really overt, but there's a feeling of things a good fan should do.

I read the original books, but it's because I'm curious after watching Sherlock about what "in-jokes" I'm missing that Moffat and Gattis have included in the show. (Plus I'm a Librarian, I think it's sort of a requirement, lol.) But, there is a new Sherlock Holmes series out that is quite popular where he is married... I just shelved it the other day on our "New Books" shelf, and I have ZERO interest in it. Don't care if the fandom police think a good fan should read it. : )

Now, on the other hand, I do think those who are unshockable should read your stuff because it's awesome and will only addict them to the pairing more than they ever thought they would be... and they'll discover new kinks they didn't know they had.

So, I empathise completely. Now I must hit send before my power goes out... it's not too blustery here with Sandy ATM but our Power seems to go out when someone sneezes on a power line...

Clare

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

People can take or leave my fic, really. I'm not offended if people don't like it, because I didn't write it for them. ;-)

Stay safe!

[starlitshore.livejournal.com]

PORN FTW!

I don't understand that about fandoms with varying and extremely long canons. Like ... if you're there for the British version of the show, then that's what you like. And it's not the original books. It's not the fanfic written about those books. It's not "The Great Mouse Detective" (brilliant movie involving a gimpy bat, though, lol). It's not about the American show. It's not about any of that.

So why make it about that?

DO WHAT YOU WANT. Show all these hipster fandomers what's up.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

That was one of the things I LOVED about the Trek fandom. The old fans were so, so welcoming of the people who came in in 2009 because of the movie, and there was very little posturing that I saw. Most people were thrilled to have their fandom be so vibrant again. I'm not sure why Sherlock Holmes is different, but there you go.

[winstonmom.livejournal.com]

I came into fandom directly from the BBC show. I haven't read the books (maybe, one day I will) and I don't think If I had read them that would have made a difference in how I enjoy fandom.
I am here for the saucy version of the Sherlock I like and your writings and others have kept me entertained.
Swiftly kick in the butt for those people!

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I've seen some of the other incarnations over the years and nothing about them made me feel fannish, not even the RDJ movies. I didn't expect the BBC series to grab me like it did, but I decided to go with it, and it's been a great ride so far. One of the things I like about it is that, like with the ST 2009 movie, it feels like a reboot, and entry point. And some people have gone back and read books and watched other versions on film, and that's great for them. But I'm just not interested. I like this incarnation, and I don't really have a desire to dig deeper right now. Maybe I will later, but there are only so many hours in the day, and I've got my priorities! ;-)

[justgotone.livejournal.com]

Ha, fandom has rules?? Kind of defeats the purpose. This is only the second fandom I've ever lurked in ... the last one was Harry Potter about a decade ago. I'm not a first class fan or even a second class fan, I'm a lurker and shameless consumer of fan created materials for my selfish pleasure.

I AM a Sherlock Holmes fan -- that's why I watched the show in the first place, because I read the ACD books many years ago, I loved the Granada series, and I was totally tickled at the idea of a modern update and was pleased to death at how awesome it was.

But I didn't fangirl it. I saw the first series, loved it. 18 months later I saw the second series, loved it. A few months after that, doodling around the interwebz like you do, I fell upon the Sherlock fandom, said "oh yes, I remember fanfiction," read a little S/J and said to myself, "Self -- to the reading of these materials you will devote the next three to six months of your spare time. So let it be done."

I read. I don't write. I don't make fan art. Nary a gif. I throw loving comments at the fics I like. That's about it. My LJ and Tumblr for this express purpose have ... *checks* ... one friend and three followers, respectively.

Now THAT'S an omega-level fan, baby! Doesn't get more passive-consumer than that. So what? Your stories and other peoples' stories make me happy. I'm glad you guys are around to write them. I'm pleased as punch to be amongst your sea of eyeballs. Keep up the good work, until you don't want to anymore, then stop. And tell other people to stfu.

[write-out.livejournal.com]

Yes yes yes. YES. To all of this.

I fangirled from the start (but I had a late start, only saw S1 for the first time last fall but got to watch S2 along with everyone else), but I am just another pair of eyeballs here for the porn and I say porn away. Please.

Part of the joy of fandom is being able to dip ones toes in all sorts of waters, whether it be serious meta, canon comparisions, fanart, whatever. There is something for everyone and no one needs to play fandom police.

[musamihi.livejournal.com]

I've read the original canon, and enjoyed it, but I'm definitely primarily a BBC fan - and I've also noticed this phenomenon. There seems to be an attitude among fans of the canon that their material is somehow superior for having come first in time and being the ur-fandom, and it's problematic. (It's also pretty expected; any fandom experiencing a huge boom because of a new and different adaptation is going to be home to some bitter and defensive factions.) Sure, if someone wants to talk about whether one version of Holmes is more 'canon' than another, or wants to argue about whether BBC's Sherlock is 'faithful,' then of course a knowledge of those other branches of fandom needs to be incorporated; but plenty of people don't care to have those conversations at all, and don't really have a lot of interest in fandom meta generally. And they shouldn't have to to be a welcome part of the community. If you're just in it because you think Benedict Cumberbatch is hot, and you own it? Everyone can fuck off.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Right, exactly. If I were interested in having those kinds of conversations, I'd have to read up on canon. But in order to write fic, I really just need to watch the show a few times. And that's one of the things I like about the Sherlock fandom: there's a relatively small amount of canon you have to go through in order to participate. :-)

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

It's the same ole, same ole. People trying to find a niche where they can flex their muscles to make themselves feel better than other people. I don't know why fans are so frigging insecure, but that seems to be the nature of the beast. You play and enjoy your boys any way you like. I know that you of all people don't need to hear this, but it never hurts to be reminded that that you should never have to justify the toys you bring to fandom. They are your toys. This is your corner of the sandbox and your mental energy and your time, and whatever games you want to play and, even more importantly, how you want to play with them? It's good.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that way fans have of othering the people who aren't into their part of fandom is always so disturbing. In many cases, I get the feeling that they feel a bit weird about being fans and have to say, "At least I'm not as weird as THOSE people over there" to make themselves feel better about it. But worse are the ones who feel like they've somehow been given authority to make those statements on behalf of fandom. It's like the Leaky Cauldron all over again, looking down on slash and shipping. :-P

And yeah, at this point you know IDGAF, but I need to roll my eyes every now and then.

[dreamingjewel.livejournal.com]

I'm from the other end of the spectrum and have little interest in Sherlock. What irritates me is when fans who know very little about canon or the multiple adaptations start spewing on about how horrible it is to have a woman as Watson or an American production. As if this were the first female Watson or the first American production ever made. Sherlock Holmes is an old fandom, and there is room enough for everybody and their interests.Those who like porn should be able to enjoy their porn and those who are looking for other things should be able to enjoy too. The lack of civility needs to go, however.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Right, ITA. If I were interested in having those sorts of conversations about canon, I'd go do my research, you know? But I'm not and I make no claim to know anything about it. I'm here for the porn. :-)

[amorette.livejournal.com]

THIS!

I hate people sometimes. Some people suck the fun out of fandom by being pretentious and/or snobby. I love your point about the fucking "fandom police" LOL

You are an awesome "fan", no matter which fandom you're in. (although I do miss your HP stories, erhm erhm)

<3

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

In the next slashcast I talk with a couple of people about HP fic, and it really made me feel nostalgic! I'm sure I'll write more one day. It's a home base fandom. :-)

[onlyonechoice.livejournal.com]

I read the original stories when I was a kid, and I loved the "fun" versions of Sherlock Holmes (Young Sherlock Holmes, The Great Mouse Detective, the Guy Ritchie movies), but I don't have an interest in much of the other canon in regards to this one. Fuck people if they think that makes me less of a fan.

BRING ON THE PORN.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Appropriate icon is appropriate!

[bluebellanon]

*stands on chair*

"My name is bluebellanon and I'm just here for the porn!"

(And for the canon love between S/J obv. xD)

I know what you mean about not really caring about other adaptations/the original books. I'm interested to a certain extent and I did read the books a long time ago (can't really remember much because my memory is shit) but it doesn't inform my opinion/reading/view of Sherlock. I generally come at fiction from a 'death of the author' pov, and tbh I don't really care that much about other adaptations, I don't really care about what the writers/actors have to say, I don't really care about what parts of the original books they've drawn on. Because none of that is Sherlock BBC canon. I might be interested in those things in passing - but they don't usually have any effect on my view of the series. And it's quite sad and wrong if people are being looked down on/seen as not as good a fan for not being canon savy or not being interested in other adaptations.

I'm probably not making any sense. I woke up at 5:30 today, probably rambling by now.

But yes, tldr: I agree! <3

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Yeah, absolutely. The canon just hasn't grabbed me, and neither have the other versions. I enjoyed watching the RDJ films, but they didn't inspire me to write or even read fic. But 10 minutes into the BBC version I was biting my fingers, dude. It was glorious!

There's a reason why that is the subtitle of my LJ. ;-)

[woldy]

I'm right there with you (in HP fandom and Sherlock) in the porn camp.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Poooorn. :-D

[belphemon.livejournal.com]

porn built the internet better recognize

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I know, right? ;-)

[veritas03.livejournal.com]

I'm with you. My life is pretty full and fandom (HP) is my escape. I love the variety of ways people express themselves and that, if I choose to, I can take part in the discussions of canon or whatever else comes up. But when it gets down to it, I'm here for the porn. I came for the porn, I stayed for the porn. Well, and the friendships I've made. But yeah - life's too short and too busy. Do what you want and, if it's not hurting anyone, don't apologize for it.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I came for the porn, and I stayed for... the porn.

Bwahaha!

[alisanne.livejournal.com]

*nods* Yeah, this says it best I think.
The Internet is for Porn

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

LOL, I hadn't seen that!

[vampireanneke.livejournal.com]

And why I go to Yaoi-con (for my Anime M/M porn) and Lubricus.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Yes! I love that about Lubricus. :-)

[girlthatsaidno.livejournal.com]

Seriously fandom is like being back in high school some days. There are the popular kids, their rabid followers, people who get labeled as 'weirdoes' because they don't fit into the mainstream, and people at the bottom of the totem pole (like me) who are only here to read fic and squee. I try to keep calm and carry on most of the time but I experienced a mean girls episode couple months back that sounds similar to what you are talking about.

It had to do with one of these "popular kids" I mentioned. These are the people with influence. Sometimes they have connection to the actors, the writer, the press etc. Sometimes, they are the event organizers. They are well known in fandom, so after awhile their word becomes law and they go into this power trip and start thinking they are the "rulers" of the fandom. Well, thanks to one of these lovely people, I ended up banished.

This person happened to have the only means for me to get access to a public event, and decided I wasn't cool enough to be participating. I couldn't get in and I heard later on this happened to a lot of other people who weren't deemed 'worthy' as well.

I ranted a little, had a beer and life went on. Long story short, there are always going to be people like that. I just try to remember that there are as many lovely people in fandom who I would have never known otherwise. And most days, the good overrides the bad. :)

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

If the people you are talking about are in the Sherlock fandom, then know EXACTLY who you are talking about. They're the same ones I'm talking about here, most likely. I'm done dealing with their attitude that they represent fandom. They don't represent me, and I resent their judgment.

Ugh, I'm so sorry you had to deal with that.

[pennswoods.livejournal.com]

I hate fandom policing in all its many flavors. There is no single right way to be fannish, and the only wrong way to be fannish is to try to police the fannishness of other fans. I have no tolerance for that sort of mindset. I too am in this particular fandom for the porn and the Johnlock relationship. It's what I need and want to spend my free-time doing and I don't need to apologize for or justify this.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly. I'm too old to deal with high-school-like politics. I get that for many people, having power and influence in fandom is part of what makes it fun for them. it makes them feel important, and everyone should have the chance to feel important in their lives. I don't begrudge them that. But when it comes at the expense of judging me, I take issue. :-P

[tealightwhimsy.livejournal.com]

My first reaction to this was, "They think you're a bad fan? But you're Emma Grant!?!?"

My second reaction is, "Fuck 'em!" I don't understand the whole thinking behind, "You're not a real fan unless..." but if history tells us anything, it's that there's always going to be someone saying he/she is better than us. No matter how dubious a field!

Whatever! The rest of us are here for each other and that's what matters!

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I think there is a segment of fandom (in every fandom) that just doesn't get the shippers and the porn. They think we're weird and they're embarrassed by our existence. And I don't really care what they think, but sometimes it's annoying to be talked down to by those people. :-P

[helens78]

Oh man, I feel you. I think I actually left one fandom (King Arthur, back in the day) because in spite of having a medieval studies minor, I just wasn't interested in the in-depth History Of King Arthur and I was really not interested in having my porn nitpicked for things like using the word "fuck" (it didn't exist then? NEITHER DID MODERN ENGLISH. When I write porn in Middle English, or whatever, feel free to nitpick my etymology).

And of course XMFC and Avengers have their share of fans who think if you haven't read the 9000 comics, you're going to end up doing it wrong. I was reading X-Men and Avengers comics before many of those fans were born, but hey, I fell out of it when the comics got so convoluted that even a die-hard lifelong comics fan (me!) gave up.

I love that the movieverses, and the Sherlock BBC-verse, and all the other modern reimaginings, slim down the canon to something that is reasonable for a person who wants to spend her time reading and writing porn to consume and familiarize herself with. I love that we get a smaller version of canon that is itself an AU, one that has a very specific point of entry and exit.

To me, anything extra that we get out of the surrounding canon is an Easter egg for canon fans, and something that should be optional. I include tons of not-in-the-movie stuff, but I also don't feel beholden to the 50 years of comics canon when I'm writing; I feel like because we have a version of canon that made its own choices to bend, fold, spindle, and mutilate the original source, we can do the same, and we can use everything in our own ways and we don't have to justify anything. And I absolutely love seeing what different writers and artists do with that freedom. I love it, because it's building a brand-new version of that AU every single time we're writing or making art or vids or fanmixes or podfic or knitwear. It's wonderful. It's the creative ecosphere at play! MY HEART ♥ ♥ ♥

Obviously I have MANY FEELINGS about this XD Many strong feelings! But at the heart of it: DO WHAT YOU LOVE, take the version of canon you want to work with, and make it your own. That's what I wish everyone would do. And if I disagree with the way someone took something, there's bound to be something I like better around the corner; I'm not going to bother telling them they're doing it wrong. If they're doing it right for themselves, well, hey, there's plenty of room in the creative ecosphere for all of us!

(AHEM. MANY FEELINGS.)

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I can only imagine that this sort of thing is HUGE in comic book fandoms. There was a little bit of it in Star Wars, but since fandom communities were so separated back in those days, there wasn't a lot of opportunity for slashers to hear it, you know?

But yes, I firmly believe that there is room for everyone and that we should all participate in ways that make us happy!

[lishwitch.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to say that is was your Sherlock porn (A Cure for Boredom) that got me to crossover from H/D into the Sherlock fandom.

Yes, I'm only interested in the BBC version of Sherlock and that is okay. It irks me when I try to read non-BBC versions and John/Sherlock call each other Watson/Holmes. Yes, it is technically cannon but whatever.

Also, Rupert Fucking Graves. That's why.

[drinkingcocoa.livejournal.com]

I saw yourlast paragraph and my heart gave a jolt. Um, YES.

[metal-dog5.livejournal.com]

How annoying. I adore Sherlock Holmes but that doesn't mean that if I haven't watched an American based Sherlock or a mouse movie that I'm less of a fan and nor should anyone be considered a lesser fan for not taking on all interpretations of the original books. (At times I much prefer fic where the author only has one source running through their head; their characterisation often is better for it.)

I've encountered a similar attitude from some sections of comic fandom - seriously who has time to read that many comics, the reboots and the crossovers (where you need to have more background for the crossover titles)....let alone movie canon which doesn't always match.

[coendou.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there was a discussion a couple months ago on the sherlockbbc comm, I think on a Friday FFA post or some other mod post, about having a "fanon or canon?" Q & A for fandom newbies - and several people were saying that you should just go read the ACD stories if you really want to know. Right, because I'm going to go read all nine books (and memorize all the details) before I pick up another piece of fanfic. I'd already read some of it, but I still didn't know who Victor Trevor was until I saw several fics reference him and googled it.

Yes, I do think that reading the original stories enhances enjoyment of the show (I read hound of the baskervilles right before watching the episode and it was a ton of fun to see exactly what bits they used and how they twisted them around) but nobody has time to go read all of it right this minute just so they get a few in jokes, and they shouldn't have to. Nor should they feel embarrassed about asking when they don't get a reference, or fear getting talked down to.

[enchanted-jae.livejournal.com]

O.o

You're a goddess in HP fandom; how could you feel you don't belong?!

*feels faint*

I daresay you've already carved quite a niche in Sherlock fandom..."Cure for Boredom", unless I'm mixing up my authors? I don't read Sherlock, but seems to me that story was a big hit.