This whole fan fiction thing, with copyright discussions and everything, has had me thinking lately: what is original? I believe I mentioned, at some point, the "original work" in comparison to fanfiction based on said work. I know this is somewhat cliché, and has been discussed before, but how can we really define an original work? Let's look at Harry Potter, since that's what we've been discussing. I haven't read most of Rowling's books, but I'm guessing that many of her story lines are "original," in that she didn't base them particularly on any other stories. However, much of the content that fills her books is borrowed from myths and folklore. Many of the novels I like to read are based at least in part on fairytales and the like. How do we draw the line? Why is it ok for Rowling to draw heavily on other stories, but more questionable for someone else to write a story drawing on her books for their characters or what-not?
I don't expect an answer will be forthcoming on this one any time soon...
Monday, April 7, 2008
A conclusion of sorts
So what do we do with all of this? All of the photos, drawings, stories, music, videos, and animations? Are these re-iterations the effect that the internet has on literature? I would conclude that, yes, this is the case. The internet is a highly tribalizing form. McLuhan always warns/lauds about the 'wave' that electric technology would have on society due to it's increase in speed. The internet - not the internet of the 1990s but of the 21st century - is the current apotheosis of that speed up. To expand on Paulo Virilio a little bit, I would argue that it is not the city that becomes the 'district' to the 'meta-world' but the computer terminal. Through the computer and the internet, people can edit and remake anything (limited possibly by the sophistication of policing) and put it up on the internet. Harry Potter is no exception. As you can see, fanfiction goes beyond merely writing stories around the original literature (although it is a significant portion of it) but extends into any media that a fan can create. Some can even achieve a level of fame (or infamy) from their creations.
If this blog is any indication of what the internet is capable of doing to literature, I would say that the effect of the internet on literature is to transform a highly 'hot' medium into an intensely 'cool' participatory one - where participation is the very attempt at creating something in relation to the primary source.
McLuhan would probably shun me for wanting to bring an ethical standpoint to it all, but I would also argue that this transformation is a good thing. Literature still 'fragments' the readers with their different reading and interpretations of the text but that leads to the diversity of recreations in different media that they then can host on the internet.
Fin!
If this blog is any indication of what the internet is capable of doing to literature, I would say that the effect of the internet on literature is to transform a highly 'hot' medium into an intensely 'cool' participatory one - where participation is the very attempt at creating something in relation to the primary source.
McLuhan would probably shun me for wanting to bring an ethical standpoint to it all, but I would also argue that this transformation is a good thing. Literature still 'fragments' the readers with their different reading and interpretations of the text but that leads to the diversity of recreations in different media that they then can host on the internet.
Fin!
Your ship's come in
There is some really pretty shipping art out there! You definitely have to look for it though.
Sturgeon's Law, right?
The titles of these last three posts contain the links to where I found the art.
A PG version of that last picture
PS: Be thankful I did not share the too-graphic pencil drawing I found of this shipping. Carrie is now scarred for life. Or at least the rest of the night.
Harry P. on Second L.
The rumours are true. It is now possible for anybody to visit Diagon Alley or Hogwarts Castle.. If they are a computer-rendered avatar in Second Life. That's right, Hogwarts is a searchable location in the Second Life world for fans to come together to break down geography and barriers even more than before. That is, if you understand how to control yourself in the virtual world. Alas, it was difficult for a poor nOOb like myself who found Diagon Alley after a little effort. When you first transport into the SecondLife world of Harry Potter you have the chance to get sorted by a conveniently located sorting hat. Except, I couldn't figure out how to do that. Then, you can wander around the wizarding shopping alley and buy... capes or magic wands. The whole "alleyway" kind of looked like a marketplace in Aladdin actually. So that was a bit strange. A conversation with another Harry Potter fan went like this: "Do you like Harry Potter?" to a brief: "Uhhh... I'm sitting in a Harry Potter sim. That's a pretty obvious answer." Touché Salores Ghia whose avatar looks a bit like a skunk with an elf face! After trying to find Hogwarts Castle I was unsuccessful and my computer was beginning to lag and glitch. In any case, the Harry Potter world has entered Second Life so fans have even more ways to connect with each other. If connecting to the internet involved wearing goggles imagine how much more real it would feel! Perhaps someone will invent that technology soon.
Ships Ahoy
So, as I was saying, I've come across HP things and not always known what was going on... when I first saw this image (which I think is gorgeous!) my reaction was "Do they really do that in Harry Potter? No ... do they?" Yes, I get it, Photoshop, shipping, I understand now. [For those who are not so familiar with fanfic, as I was not before this course, shipping involves a romantic pairing in fan fiction which may or may not be evident in the original work. As you may have guessed, this one is decidedly not canon.] There is a lot of fan art out there supporting different shippings. Some is better than others, some much more graphic than others! Oh, the things you can find on the internet these days. Or, always...
Oh my, Harry, I never knew!
Wow, hi there Harry, you've done some growing up since I last saw you...
I saw this and thought I missed something important in the whole Harry Potter universe, but this is for the play Equus, which I still haven't seen or studied, but I think it's about time I did.
Having only read the first book and watched the first movie (of Harry Potter), at least that I remember, I often find myself in the dark when people talk Harry Potter or I come across something on the net...but more on that to come.
Interview with a BETA
After what seemed like a LOT of effort, I finally successfully contacted someone involved with writing/editing fan fiction. I asked her some brief questions and here are her responses:
Sorry it's all in this one blog making it really long, I don't know how to make it smaller or whatever....
-What does a Beta do?
A beta is someone the corrects other authors work. I am a beta and what basically happens is an author send me their work, I go through it and make corrections, fix sentences etc, and make suggestions on how the work could improve.
-Do you write fan fiction?
I do, I actually have a story in que right now, so hopefully it will be approved.
-Do you feel like it is abused in any way?
Personally, I don't think so, I think it is a really great creative outlet for people. I mean, we all have our preferences so it is great that there is such a diverse group of people on sites like this.
-What can go wrong with fanfiction?
Well a lot of people try to write stories and submit them without getting a beta to look over it. That is a huge mistake! The site wont accept anything that has a lot of errors, and no body wants to read things like that anyway. Also if you don't have a good plot, your screwed. People are going to get through your story and hope that it gets better, but a lot of times, stories are very disappointing. Another problem is when people try to use characters that JK Rowling has already created, and they make them unbelievable in their story. I mean, would Gunny really get a sex change opperation? Or would Harry really marry Voldermort?
-Do you think fanfiction has any negative impact on the original publishing?
No I don't, I think it is a huge compliment to the original author that so many people love her stories enough to adapt them. I mean, fan fics are huge! How cool would it be to be an author and see how many people love your stories and characters to the point that they wont let them go?
-How about any positive?
Like I said in the previous question, I think it is a huge compliment to the author. It is also a great think because it gets more people reading, and allows people to write. There are very few outlets for creative writers, especially ones that want to elaborate on a story that has already been published. It also give people the chance to change the out come f things, and step into a whole new version of fantasy.
-Have you encountered copyright problems?
I have not. The trick is to put a disclaimer on every chapter of every story you do. Say something like you are just borrowing these characters to play with, and you are not making any money off of your work, and of course that no copyright infringement is intended. That usually helps. But also, don't plagiarize, that is one of the biggest and most moronic mistakes you can make.
-Do you think fanfiction adds or detracts from the original material? Both? Can you explain?
I really think it adds. I mean, it gives people a chance to see a story from every possible angle every imagined. That is really great. Also it makes people want to read the original work to see what has caused so many people to write about it.
-How do you think fanfiction differs from "regular" fiction?
Well first of all, when fan fics are written, they are an adaptation of an original work. Most original works are exactly that, original. And even fictions that take on aspects of other works don't have many of the same characters in the same world with the same lives.
What I find most interesting is her answers to whether fanfiction is positive/negative. Obviously somebody incredibly involved in the fanfiction world is not going to see any/much negative aspect of it, but I think she really brings up a good point. I think fanfiction is a sort of "ultimate compliment" to an author. Also, the fact that people are serious enough about fanfiction that they submit/spend ALOT of time editing their work makes it apparent that fanfiction is not merely a fun past-time for many. It is almost like a job.
Sorry it's all in this one blog making it really long, I don't know how to make it smaller or whatever....
-What does a Beta do?
A beta is someone the corrects other authors work. I am a beta and what basically happens is an author send me their work, I go through it and make corrections, fix sentences etc, and make suggestions on how the work could improve.
-Do you write fan fiction?
I do, I actually have a story in que right now, so hopefully it will be approved.
-Do you feel like it is abused in any way?
Personally, I don't think so, I think it is a really great creative outlet for people. I mean, we all have our preferences so it is great that there is such a diverse group of people on sites like this.
-What can go wrong with fanfiction?
Well a lot of people try to write stories and submit them without getting a beta to look over it. That is a huge mistake! The site wont accept anything that has a lot of errors, and no body wants to read things like that anyway. Also if you don't have a good plot, your screwed. People are going to get through your story and hope that it gets better, but a lot of times, stories are very disappointing. Another problem is when people try to use characters that JK Rowling has already created, and they make them unbelievable in their story. I mean, would Gunny really get a sex change opperation? Or would Harry really marry Voldermort?
-Do you think fanfiction has any negative impact on the original publishing?
No I don't, I think it is a huge compliment to the original author that so many people love her stories enough to adapt them. I mean, fan fics are huge! How cool would it be to be an author and see how many people love your stories and characters to the point that they wont let them go?
-How about any positive?
Like I said in the previous question, I think it is a huge compliment to the author. It is also a great think because it gets more people reading, and allows people to write. There are very few outlets for creative writers, especially ones that want to elaborate on a story that has already been published. It also give people the chance to change the out come f things, and step into a whole new version of fantasy.
-Have you encountered copyright problems?
I have not. The trick is to put a disclaimer on every chapter of every story you do. Say something like you are just borrowing these characters to play with, and you are not making any money off of your work, and of course that no copyright infringement is intended. That usually helps. But also, don't plagiarize, that is one of the biggest and most moronic mistakes you can make.
-Do you think fanfiction adds or detracts from the original material? Both? Can you explain?
I really think it adds. I mean, it gives people a chance to see a story from every possible angle every imagined. That is really great. Also it makes people want to read the original work to see what has caused so many people to write about it.
-How do you think fanfiction differs from "regular" fiction?
Well first of all, when fan fics are written, they are an adaptation of an original work. Most original works are exactly that, original. And even fictions that take on aspects of other works don't have many of the same characters in the same world with the same lives.
What I find most interesting is her answers to whether fanfiction is positive/negative. Obviously somebody incredibly involved in the fanfiction world is not going to see any/much negative aspect of it, but I think she really brings up a good point. I think fanfiction is a sort of "ultimate compliment" to an author. Also, the fact that people are serious enough about fanfiction that they submit/spend ALOT of time editing their work makes it apparent that fanfiction is not merely a fun past-time for many. It is almost like a job.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Breakdown of Geography: side-note
[In response, or addition to, Carrie's post]
The lexicon I just posted about is also breaking down language, and therefor geographical, boundaries. The internet, and therefor the lexicon, is accessible anywhere in the world that there is internet, however not everyone reads English. But people of the world rejoice! The lexicon has authorized sister sites in French and Spanish, with Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Portuguese and Russian coming soon! Woohoo!
The lexicon I just posted about is also breaking down language, and therefor geographical, boundaries. The internet, and therefor the lexicon, is accessible anywhere in the world that there is internet, however not everyone reads English. But people of the world rejoice! The lexicon has authorized sister sites in French and Spanish, with Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Portuguese and Russian coming soon! Woohoo!
G'day Mate, or: A Breakdown of Geography
A concept that Virilio highlights in The Information Bomb is that "globalism illustrates the victory of free enterprise over totalitarian collectivism is to understand nothing of the current loss of time intervals, the endless feedback, the telescoping of industrial or post-industrial activities" (8). The distances and geography are breaking up... Dense. Intense. Virilio.I think though, that fanfiction is really a good gathering place for people of all walks of life to converge over a certain love of one thing: writing about Harry Potter having sex. No! I mean.. Fan fiction allows for a group of dedicated writers and readers to join together in a common bond. It doesn't matter where each of these people are from because the Internet has broken down geography so that a person from Australia can chat with someone up in the Yukon INSTANTLY. Well, if they had strange sleeping patterns. At any given time someone can write a fan fiction, post it, and instantly somebody else can provide feedback. The world is growing smaller and smaller. With the translation of popular texts into many different languages as well, even more people can connect and discuss. The endless feedback also comes from the comments and reviews people leave on the fanfic they read. Often it is short and unhelpful, but other times reviews can mean a world of difference. More on that later..
Harry Potter: The Last Battle
I've had this article (linked in this post's title) bookmarked for awhile. I believe I first found it through the Vancouver International Writers Festival Book News newsletter I receive through e-mail every month or so (I think? I don't keep track). It seems that Harry Potter's creator, JK Rowling, can't quite decide what she thinks of fan fiction, and other fan activities. The article is about the Harry Potter Lexicon. The is an attempt to keep track of information pertaining to the Harry Potter books and movies. Apparently everyone's been using it, from fans and students reading the books in class to Warner Brothers (they made the HP movies) and Rowling herself. However, trouble started brewing after Steve Vander Ark, who started the site, started working on getting the Lexicon published as a book. I won't summarize the whole debate, as that would only be reiterating the article, which you can check out for yourselves.
Ms Rowling seems to be a bit possessive. She likes fans to engage with her work, but only so much, in a certain way. Only enough to get them hooked on the franchise (oh, I'm sorry, that was judgmental and jaded. Well, such is life.). I can see that she might be upset if she were truly working on her own lexicon, as she claims, and she is therefor afraid that this fan lexicon will infringe on her upcoming work. However, the argument seems to be, from what this article says, that the lexicon is only "reorganizing" Rowling's work, and that it is therefor not original, and is therefor a copyright infringement and should not be published. I fail to see how Rowling could allow and even use and endorse the website but now turn around and claim that's it's a copyright infringement yada yada in print form. Hi, JK? You can't have your cake and eat it too. Same goes for lexicons.
Ms Rowling seems to be a bit possessive. She likes fans to engage with her work, but only so much, in a certain way. Only enough to get them hooked on the franchise (oh, I'm sorry, that was judgmental and jaded. Well, such is life.). I can see that she might be upset if she were truly working on her own lexicon, as she claims, and she is therefor afraid that this fan lexicon will infringe on her upcoming work. However, the argument seems to be, from what this article says, that the lexicon is only "reorganizing" Rowling's work, and that it is therefor not original, and is therefor a copyright infringement and should not be published. I fail to see how Rowling could allow and even use and endorse the website but now turn around and claim that's it's a copyright infringement yada yada in print form. Hi, JK? You can't have your cake and eat it too. Same goes for lexicons.
"Helpful" Tutorials
Should you want to write a fan fiction on Harry Potter but have no idea how to start, there is a helpful list of tutorials at this website: http://www.harrypotterfanfiction.com/viewuser.php?showuid=25357. One example of the tutorials (which are admittably a bit strange) centres around how to go about incorporating sexual assault, child abuse and spousal abuse into your writing. Of course, these subjects are not directly allowed to be used. What is permitted is allusions to the events. Other tutorials include "Mature rape reference tutorial" and "Mature Cutting scene tutorial". This begs the question, is fan fiction going too far? Taking the basic concepts of Harry Potter and infiltrating the innocence with sex, rape, abuse, and profanity is a bit absurd. Even in the name of creativity.
Fooled! Hoodwinked!
I was trying to think of a witty Harry Potter themed pun for the title , but evidently I didn't come up with one. Maybe if I'd read more of the books...
In any case, there was much hoopla over at http://www.harrypotterfanfiction.com/ for April Fool's day this year. My group-mate and I were both very confused when we visited the site the night before the first only to find the regular web-site replaced by something new. The homepage had been replaced with "HP Shippers Unite," bearing an image of a cork board and a notice that the site would only be accepting stories which featured a relationship between either Sirius and Lily or Harry Potter and Cho. Many, or most, of the stories previously hosted on the site were inaccessible. There was outrage, as you can imagine. The forums were on fire. Everyone had something to say about the drastic changes being made. There was a podcast from the angry staffers that were striking over the change. Apparently some people were so upset that their volatile reactions (e-mails and the like sent to the website's admins) caused them to be banned from the site. Temper temper! Much to everyone's relief, I'm sure, the site has been restored to it's usual self. Those that sent angry e-mails are doubtlessly lolling about in front of their computers, ruing their calendar ineptitude...
This whole episode shows what a cool medium the internet is. Look at all of this interaction! People interacting with the internet, the website, each-other... it's a big party...of interaction. In this sense, books are a much hotter medium than the internet. There just doesn't seem to be the potential for anything close to this sort of interaction with books as there is with the internet.
Other April-foolery, non fanfic related, going on this year included Questionable Content, xkcd and Qwantz all switching websites with each-other. Fun link chasing ensued to find my favourite comics. There were some upset, confused and worried people all over that one too. In Jeph, QC's creator's, words, " Jeez people come on it was APRIL FIRST." [via Twitter. I am getting too entwined on the net.]
In any case, there was much hoopla over at http://www.harrypotterfanfiction.com/ for April Fool's day this year. My group-mate and I were both very confused when we visited the site the night before the first only to find the regular web-site replaced by something new. The homepage had been replaced with "HP Shippers Unite," bearing an image of a cork board and a notice that the site would only be accepting stories which featured a relationship between either Sirius and Lily or Harry Potter and Cho. Many, or most, of the stories previously hosted on the site were inaccessible. There was outrage, as you can imagine. The forums were on fire. Everyone had something to say about the drastic changes being made. There was a podcast from the angry staffers that were striking over the change. Apparently some people were so upset that their volatile reactions (e-mails and the like sent to the website's admins) caused them to be banned from the site. Temper temper! Much to everyone's relief, I'm sure, the site has been restored to it's usual self. Those that sent angry e-mails are doubtlessly lolling about in front of their computers, ruing their calendar ineptitude...
This whole episode shows what a cool medium the internet is. Look at all of this interaction! People interacting with the internet, the website, each-other... it's a big party...of interaction. In this sense, books are a much hotter medium than the internet. There just doesn't seem to be the potential for anything close to this sort of interaction with books as there is with the internet.
Other April-foolery, non fanfic related, going on this year included Questionable Content, xkcd and Qwantz all switching websites with each-other. Fun link chasing ensued to find my favourite comics. There were some upset, confused and worried people all over that one too. In Jeph, QC's creator's, words, " Jeez people come on it was APRIL FIRST." [via Twitter. I am getting too entwined on the net.]
Sounds like fanfiction!
Check this out! It's a band that writes and plays music around the Harry Potter series, and they're not that shabby!
Personally, I'm all about their song "firebolt." it's got this really catchy sort of organ to it that just makes me want to dance about...
Okay, I'm done that now.
So what do we do with fiction-turned-music? Well, McLuhan would definitely say that there's been a transition from a hot medium (literature) into a much cooler medium (music) to which everyone can dance too! (tribal drum beat dance party!)
I'm butchering McLuhan.
Or am I just explaining theory in an accessible manner? Only our mark will tell!!!
Personally, I'm all about their song "firebolt." it's got this really catchy sort of organ to it that just makes me want to dance about...
Okay, I'm done that now.
So what do we do with fiction-turned-music? Well, McLuhan would definitely say that there's been a transition from a hot medium (literature) into a much cooler medium (music) to which everyone can dance too! (tribal drum beat dance party!)
I'm butchering McLuhan.
Or am I just explaining theory in an accessible manner? Only our mark will tell!!!
Interview with a Reader: Part 3 (finale)
And here's the last part of our interview!
My haven't I learned a fancy new trick!
Our reader (ashamedly, my sister) brought to light many interesting aspects of reading fanfiction that I had never thought about before! I did not know you had to go through such a rigorous process in order to get your work published! and that's only on a website.
I am slightly intrigued by these different media forms of fanfiction and I'll be blogging (ridiculously) soon about them.
Hope you liked the interview!
Ian
My haven't I learned a fancy new trick!
Our reader (ashamedly, my sister) brought to light many interesting aspects of reading fanfiction that I had never thought about before! I did not know you had to go through such a rigorous process in order to get your work published! and that's only on a website.
I am slightly intrigued by these different media forms of fanfiction and I'll be blogging (ridiculously) soon about them.
Hope you liked the interview!
Ian
Interview with a Reader: Part 2
I'm sorry that the link takes you to a retarded filesharing site. Either way, it should work if you have a program that can play audio files such as iTunes.
Here's part 2:
http://www.box.net/shared/nhsu9xhs8k
Here's part 2:
http://www.box.net/shared/nhsu9xhs8k
Interview with a Reader: Part 1
Hey there! Soooo we're really really behind in our blogging project but this is mainly due the difficulty of our subjects: We're interviewing a fanfiction reader, a writer, and a webmaster of a fanfiction website! Though at this point, I think we only have the reader interviewed...
Here's part one of the interview I did with our avid reader. There's two other parts on the way. If you're wondering how we recorded this, it was by Skype! Skype is an internet videophone system that allows you to call someone else's computer and chat to them! The great thing about it is that it doesn't cost any long distance fees (it's all on the internet and is sort of a more sophisticated version of instant messaging). So our interview was over Skype, but my interviewee was actually over in the room beside me while we were talking. It was quite odd not being able to see the person you were asking questions to but knowing (and hearing) that they were right in the room beside you! How very transhorizon of us. Did I just butcher that word? Yes, yes I did. But I digress.
The interview:
http://www.box.net/shared/kzb8u54ysw
Edit: ah the joys of the internet. Apparently I have to link this in from a newly created filespace program. Chances are that it won't be up for very long.. a month at most. Um, I hope it works?
Here's part one of the interview I did with our avid reader. There's two other parts on the way. If you're wondering how we recorded this, it was by Skype! Skype is an internet videophone system that allows you to call someone else's computer and chat to them! The great thing about it is that it doesn't cost any long distance fees (it's all on the internet and is sort of a more sophisticated version of instant messaging). So our interview was over Skype, but my interviewee was actually over in the room beside me while we were talking. It was quite odd not being able to see the person you were asking questions to but knowing (and hearing) that they were right in the room beside you! How very transhorizon of us. Did I just butcher that word? Yes, yes I did. But I digress.
The interview:
http://www.box.net/shared/kzb8u54ysw
Edit: ah the joys of the internet. Apparently I have to link this in from a newly created filespace program. Chances are that it won't be up for very long.. a month at most. Um, I hope it works?
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
On fanfiction.net there are 344,628 different stories available to be read about Harry Potter. So it's pretty obvious that not every single one of these are going to be astoundingly original. I found a video on youtube that was actually quite funny. (http://youtube.com/watch?v=09Hi1VVSh9g) In it a girl talks about all the common scenarios she has read that have to do with a Draco/Hermione love affair. She said that she was able to come up with at least 26 repeated themes. Some of these include: Hermione becoming a pureblood, an emotional breakdown, a mascarade ball, detention (stuck in potions class together), hermione gets pregnant with Draco's baby, etc... At one point the video-blogger says "believe it or not people actually write this", sometimes it's hard for me to understand the motivation behind a lot of these fanfictions other than humour. I suppose though, when you are really attached to a work of art you feel the need to reproduce it in your own way. Anyway, I thought this video was funny and interesting in relation to Harry Potter fanfiction.
The usual thought associated with fanfiction is that it is a written work of fiction based on another work. There are tons of available "original" writing surrounding this idea. However, with the rise in popularity of youtube, a new form of fan fiction is being created. In some cases parodies are made using characters and ideas that rise from Harry Potter. Such as "Harry Potter: Bad Roomate" (http://youtube.com/watch?v=DhDdmwJrVPo), which has had 275, 543 hits since being added in August. Another popular youtube video is for a fanfiction writer to create a trailor for their writing (much like a movie trailor but for a work of fanfiction). Adding even more depth, or perhaps credibility to their creations. I found this video: (http://youtube.com/watch?v=wq6sGHz6KkY) as one example. Authors are not sticking strictly to writing only, they are using a whole new technology to add to their initial creation. This shows that people are putting a lot of time and energy into these pieces of writing. One final video option of fanfiction is not as creative as the others. It it simply a video of a bunch of movie-stills mashed together with background music. An example is "Bad Boys in Harry Potter Films" (http://youtube.com/watch?v=aKJbDt0LGC4). It seems that all you need is an editing program, devotion, and time to create these videos. Yet, they are a tad more involved then the "simple" task of writing a fan fiction.
Tutelary Review Part 2: Application
Thanks 'Stina!
That's the beauty of having three authors to one blog (and one upcoming due date): You never know who's going to post next! (To make myself completely nerdy, I used to be part of a forum where we would have 'post frenzies'...)
Anyway! Back to the 'Tutelary' podcast!
So McLuhan's idea is that radio creates a deeper multi-sensory awareness in comparison to literature which primarily focuses on one sense - sight. But does this effect occur with the podcast? While McLuhan might be loathe to looking at the content (for that is what distracts us, as listeners), I do have to say that the form of the story itself, a dramatic monologue of sorts from the perspective of Albus Dumbledore, suits the medium exceptionally well. Having Albus narrate a sort of pseudo address to Tom Riddle (who later becomes Voldemort, the main antagonist of the series) but in second person creates the interesting effect of placing the listener/audience in Voldemorte's position (an awkward position for any 'fan' of Harry Potter).
However, while the form of the story lends itself to the audio/radio medium well, there are certain pitfalls that accompany the delivery as well. First, a lengthy disclaimer explains the legal precautions of non-plagiarism, etc. which removes the audience from the initial 'state of disbelief'. Second, the narrator of the piece speaks with an accent. Now this accent wouldn't normally bother me (and I'm sure McLuhan would say that it adds a certain texture to the work) but I'm fairly certain the narrator has a mild lisp which makes understanding some of the fanfiction difficult.
Third, the narrator also appears to rush through the narration at a faster-than-regular-flow-of-conversation which leaves the listener in the precarious position of not being able to understand the action (I felt this at the beginning and in the middle of the fiction when the narrator switches from dramatic monologue to limited omniscient perspective).
I would agree with McLuhan's notion that the radio medium fills out a sort of 'greater sensory awareness' in that while listening to the podcast, I could pick up on intricacies of speech that defined concepts of character quite well (small sayings on Dumbledore's part).
Yet, I find there is also a certain lack in the podcast that real radio (particularly radio drama's or radio plays) more adequately fulfills: ambiance. Now this probably has more to do with the fact that the fanfiction is not a play, but is more of a 'book-on-tape'. With radio (and I can only speculate that by radio, McLuhan meant radio plays), a whole realm of sound effects, multiple voice actors, and music accompany a work. With the podcast narration, all the listener has is the narrator herself. As I mentioned already, the form of this particular work lends itself well to the podcast form because of it's dramatic monologue form, but other works of fanfiction might find themselves inadequately represented by the podcast medium as it lacks (or at least the creator of the podcasts lacks) the rest of the sound effects, voice actors, and music that would assist in 'filling in' the rest of the 'sound image'.
However, the podcast form does have the advantage over it's written counterparts as a wider audience (non-literates) can listen to it. Though, I'm not sure about whether that audience would be able to navigate their way too the podcast site as the internet itself requires a certain level of literacy too.
Huh, perhaps the internet, to that extent makes text and literature more 'cool'?
Stay tuned for more reviews!
That's the beauty of having three authors to one blog (and one upcoming due date): You never know who's going to post next! (To make myself completely nerdy, I used to be part of a forum where we would have 'post frenzies'...)
Anyway! Back to the 'Tutelary' podcast!
So McLuhan's idea is that radio creates a deeper multi-sensory awareness in comparison to literature which primarily focuses on one sense - sight. But does this effect occur with the podcast? While McLuhan might be loathe to looking at the content (for that is what distracts us, as listeners), I do have to say that the form of the story itself, a dramatic monologue of sorts from the perspective of Albus Dumbledore, suits the medium exceptionally well. Having Albus narrate a sort of pseudo address to Tom Riddle (who later becomes Voldemort, the main antagonist of the series) but in second person creates the interesting effect of placing the listener/audience in Voldemorte's position (an awkward position for any 'fan' of Harry Potter).
However, while the form of the story lends itself to the audio/radio medium well, there are certain pitfalls that accompany the delivery as well. First, a lengthy disclaimer explains the legal precautions of non-plagiarism, etc. which removes the audience from the initial 'state of disbelief'. Second, the narrator of the piece speaks with an accent. Now this accent wouldn't normally bother me (and I'm sure McLuhan would say that it adds a certain texture to the work) but I'm fairly certain the narrator has a mild lisp which makes understanding some of the fanfiction difficult.
Third, the narrator also appears to rush through the narration at a faster-than-regular-flow-of-conversation which leaves the listener in the precarious position of not being able to understand the action (I felt this at the beginning and in the middle of the fiction when the narrator switches from dramatic monologue to limited omniscient perspective).
I would agree with McLuhan's notion that the radio medium fills out a sort of 'greater sensory awareness' in that while listening to the podcast, I could pick up on intricacies of speech that defined concepts of character quite well (small sayings on Dumbledore's part).
Yet, I find there is also a certain lack in the podcast that real radio (particularly radio drama's or radio plays) more adequately fulfills: ambiance. Now this probably has more to do with the fact that the fanfiction is not a play, but is more of a 'book-on-tape'. With radio (and I can only speculate that by radio, McLuhan meant radio plays), a whole realm of sound effects, multiple voice actors, and music accompany a work. With the podcast narration, all the listener has is the narrator herself. As I mentioned already, the form of this particular work lends itself well to the podcast form because of it's dramatic monologue form, but other works of fanfiction might find themselves inadequately represented by the podcast medium as it lacks (or at least the creator of the podcasts lacks) the rest of the sound effects, voice actors, and music that would assist in 'filling in' the rest of the 'sound image'.
However, the podcast form does have the advantage over it's written counterparts as a wider audience (non-literates) can listen to it. Though, I'm not sure about whether that audience would be able to navigate their way too the podcast site as the internet itself requires a certain level of literacy too.
Huh, perhaps the internet, to that extent makes text and literature more 'cool'?
Stay tuned for more reviews!
A quick intro to our project and our blog...
Fan fiction, for those who don’t know, is fiction written by fans of a book, movie, or other similar media, which uses the characters or environment from the story (from the book, movie etc.). Fan fiction often continues where the other story left off, although there are also fan fictions which rewrite the story, perhaps with a different ending, or which parody the original story, as well as other variations. Fan fictions are most often published on the web. A popular site that publishes fan fiction is:
Fanfiction.net - www.fanfiction.net
A popular website that publishes articles on Fanfiction is:
The Fanfic Symposium - www.trickster.org/symposium/symp173.htm
For our project, we will be focusing on Harry Potter fan fiction. Some popular Harry Potter fan fiction sites we’ve come across are:
http://fanfiction.mugglenet.com/
http://www.harrypotterfanfiction.com/
MuggleNet also has some other interesting Harry Potter stuff, such as a podcast.
The Critic will be looking at a podcast in his next post.
'Tutelary' review: Part 1 - Theory
I am going to look at a podcast fanfiction (an interesting form - a sort of radio play or book-on-tape - that intrigued me when I came across it) titled 'Tutelary' by the writer Bowles.
Here are the links to both the podcast and the written story:
http://www.harrypotterpodcast.net/
http://www.harrypotterfanfiction.com/viewstory.php?chapterid=188003
However, I will mention that I will base this 'review' of sorts purely on the podcast version and not the written one.
First, some introductory jargon: Fanfiction writers post most of their work on the internet in written form. Some fictions combine different media - for example, visual art and writing - but still contain an element of text. With podcasting, the text becomes audio - a whole different medium with different strengths and weaknesses.
As a side note, (just to show that the podcast form itself isn’t ’numbingly’ new) I’m actually listening to a podcast (CBC Radio 3) while writing this.
Let’s see what McLuhan has to say about the written word:
The written word “has nothing to do with the content of the alphabetized words; it is the result of the sudden breach between the auditory and visual experience of man [sic]. Only the phonetic alphabet makes such a sharp division in experience, giving to its user an eye for an ear, and freeing him from the tribal trance of resonating word magic and the web of kinship.” (McLuhan 84)
Phew! Okay, so that’s quite a bit to unload, but let’s just quickly (and very informally) go over what McLuhan is getting at here with writing. Not surprisingly, McLuhan immediately strips text of its content; it‘s not what the text says but what the physical placement of ink in specific shapes does to the audience. In this case, the embalming (if you’ll bare with me waxing poetic) of speech - an auditory medium - into text - a visual medium - metaphorically strips the audience of shared (heard, tribal) experience for personal interpretation (read, individual).
So that is what’s happening with text but what does McLuhan have to say about radio (which is the closest to podcast form that I can surmise)?
“Radio affects most people intimately, person-to-person, offering a world of unspoken communication between writer-speaker and the listener. That is the immediate aspect of radio. A private experience.”(299); “All those gestural qualities that the printed page strips from language come back in the dark, and on the radio. Given only the sound of a play, we have to fill in all of the senses, not just the sight of the action.” (303)
Two key differences of radio compared to text are that 1) rather than being indifferent (text as readable for anyone/everyone), radio is an intimate exchange from speaker to listener, and 2) Radio provides a ‘second sight’ where the sound does not take place of sight but fills in sight and physicality.
I didn’t anticipate how much I would write within this, so what I’ll do, just so the post doesn’t take up an intrusive amount of the page, is I’ll split it into two sections. You’ve just read the ‘theory’ section and I’ll post the ‘review’ section right after!
End of Part 1
Here are the links to both the podcast and the written story:
http://www.harrypotterpodcast.net/
http://www.harrypotterfanfiction.com/viewstory.php?chapterid=188003
However, I will mention that I will base this 'review' of sorts purely on the podcast version and not the written one.
First, some introductory jargon: Fanfiction writers post most of their work on the internet in written form. Some fictions combine different media - for example, visual art and writing - but still contain an element of text. With podcasting, the text becomes audio - a whole different medium with different strengths and weaknesses.
As a side note, (just to show that the podcast form itself isn’t ’numbingly’ new) I’m actually listening to a podcast (CBC Radio 3) while writing this.
Let’s see what McLuhan has to say about the written word:
The written word “has nothing to do with the content of the alphabetized words; it is the result of the sudden breach between the auditory and visual experience of man [sic]. Only the phonetic alphabet makes such a sharp division in experience, giving to its user an eye for an ear, and freeing him from the tribal trance of resonating word magic and the web of kinship.” (McLuhan 84)
Phew! Okay, so that’s quite a bit to unload, but let’s just quickly (and very informally) go over what McLuhan is getting at here with writing. Not surprisingly, McLuhan immediately strips text of its content; it‘s not what the text says but what the physical placement of ink in specific shapes does to the audience. In this case, the embalming (if you’ll bare with me waxing poetic) of speech - an auditory medium - into text - a visual medium - metaphorically strips the audience of shared (heard, tribal) experience for personal interpretation (read, individual).
So that is what’s happening with text but what does McLuhan have to say about radio (which is the closest to podcast form that I can surmise)?
“Radio affects most people intimately, person-to-person, offering a world of unspoken communication between writer-speaker and the listener. That is the immediate aspect of radio. A private experience.”(299); “All those gestural qualities that the printed page strips from language come back in the dark, and on the radio. Given only the sound of a play, we have to fill in all of the senses, not just the sight of the action.” (303)
Two key differences of radio compared to text are that 1) rather than being indifferent (text as readable for anyone/everyone), radio is an intimate exchange from speaker to listener, and 2) Radio provides a ‘second sight’ where the sound does not take place of sight but fills in sight and physicality.
I didn’t anticipate how much I would write within this, so what I’ll do, just so the post doesn’t take up an intrusive amount of the page, is I’ll split it into two sections. You’ve just read the ‘theory’ section and I’ll post the ‘review’ section right after!
End of Part 1
Monday, February 4, 2008
The Assignment
This is what we are here to do:
Group On-Line Literature Project Criteria
In the three-person groups set in the critical theory assignment, complete an on-line literary engagement with fanfiction. The objective of the assignment is demonstration of familiarity with and critical understanding of literature in the online medium.
- There are two sections, each worth ten percent of the course grade, for a total assignment grade of twenty percent.
- The due dates for the two sections are chosen by the group, with three weeks at minimum between the two dates.
- Each section will work hands-on with an aspect of fanfiction. Some alternatives are:
- a blog on an existing fanfiction
- a fanfiction creation of the group's own
- a Second-Life project
- a critical-theory essay or manifesto
Select from the course list of fanfiction sites or research a choice of your own. Each section assumes 10% of the course grading effort for each group member. Hand in a hard-copy proposal for the full project (both sections) by February 4th.
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