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21 Days of Dreamwidth - 14 & 15
May. 9th, 2011 09:11 pm
14. Did you have a gateway fandom? Still in it? Why or why not? Is there a community for it on DW?
I learned about 'fandom'—and, really, the internet—after taking some kind of kids' writing class when I was ten. This girl showed us her Harry Potter script-format fic on one of the nearby computers. It was terrible, but I loved it, and it set me on my life's path. So I suppose Harry Potter was my gateway fandom, in (possible) tandem with the Tamora Pierce books.
Yes, I'm still in HP fandom, even when I don't particularly want to be. It's a time-sucker, especially with that whole 're-re-re-reading fics I already know and love to death' thing I've got going. (Just re-read most of Secret of Slytherin. ALL THE THINGS I LIKE, it has them.) It kept me from doing all the things I really should have done—that I really wanted to do—today; cleaning, doing laundry, walking around, studying for my final that's in two days, not spending the entire day lying around in bed or sitting in a chair. But there are so, so many worthwhile things about it. Even if I kind of hate canon some of the time, I will always love at least a little teensy part of the fandom. It will never be my home fandom, but it will always be there for me.
(Incidentally, I wrote Hogwarts fic!)
My other gateway fandom was—sigh—D.N. Angel. I saw some terrible music video to it back when I was eleven or twelve, and thought it looked pretty cool (even if it was a cartoon). I have never finished the anime or the manga, and I have never actually written fic for it. It is so very terrible in so many ways, not even including the bad science. But it got me into anime and manga, and introduced me to the concept of a phantom thief. I've started (re)reading the manga for Japanese practice now, and oh the memories. (Also, I just learned how to say 'ordinary'!) It's not nearly as bad as I thought it would be, at least so long as I don't think about it too hard.
Maybe I'll write a crossover or something. It could be fun! Speaking of DNAngel crossovers, this one is fairly good, and helped me realize my love of chase scenes. From either perspective.
15. What's your current obsession? What about it captures your imagination?
SHOES. I don't know why, but I think high heels are positively gorgeous. Of course, if that was all, then I wouldn't care so much about owning and wearing them. I think I love shoes for the same reason I love jackets or dresses or skirts. They look sleek and cool or bright and flouncy, and sometimes both. I also love them the way I love nail polish and lipstick—they're very gender-coded things, and in addition to loving the way they look, I love the way they say "Look at me, I am a girl," and imply all sorts of things by that ("and fuck you," "who wants to stand taller than anyone else," "and I love these colours," among them, usually). I love the way that message can be altered by tacking other things on top of it—facial hair, butch clothes, long unfussy skirts, men's hats—even if I never do.
I learned about 'fandom'—and, really, the internet—after taking some kind of kids' writing class when I was ten. This girl showed us her Harry Potter script-format fic on one of the nearby computers. It was terrible, but I loved it, and it set me on my life's path. So I suppose Harry Potter was my gateway fandom, in (possible) tandem with the Tamora Pierce books.
Yes, I'm still in HP fandom, even when I don't particularly want to be. It's a time-sucker, especially with that whole 're-re-re-reading fics I already know and love to death' thing I've got going. (Just re-read most of Secret of Slytherin. ALL THE THINGS I LIKE, it has them.) It kept me from doing all the things I really should have done—that I really wanted to do—today; cleaning, doing laundry, walking around, studying for my final that's in two days, not spending the entire day lying around in bed or sitting in a chair. But there are so, so many worthwhile things about it. Even if I kind of hate canon some of the time, I will always love at least a little teensy part of the fandom. It will never be my home fandom, but it will always be there for me.
(Incidentally, I wrote Hogwarts fic!)
My other gateway fandom was—sigh—D.N. Angel. I saw some terrible music video to it back when I was eleven or twelve, and thought it looked pretty cool (even if it was a cartoon). I have never finished the anime or the manga, and I have never actually written fic for it. It is so very terrible in so many ways, not even including the bad science. But it got me into anime and manga, and introduced me to the concept of a phantom thief. I've started (re)reading the manga for Japanese practice now, and oh the memories. (Also, I just learned how to say 'ordinary'!) It's not nearly as bad as I thought it would be, at least so long as I don't think about it too hard.
Maybe I'll write a crossover or something. It could be fun! Speaking of DNAngel crossovers, this one is fairly good, and helped me realize my love of chase scenes. From either perspective.
15. What's your current obsession? What about it captures your imagination?
SHOES. I don't know why, but I think high heels are positively gorgeous. Of course, if that was all, then I wouldn't care so much about owning and wearing them. I think I love shoes for the same reason I love jackets or dresses or skirts. They look sleek and cool or bright and flouncy, and sometimes both. I also love them the way I love nail polish and lipstick—they're very gender-coded things, and in addition to loving the way they look, I love the way they say "Look at me, I am a girl," and imply all sorts of things by that ("and fuck you," "who wants to stand taller than anyone else," "and I love these colours," among them, usually). I love the way that message can be altered by tacking other things on top of it—facial hair, butch clothes, long unfussy skirts, men's hats—even if I never do.
