Fanfiction: Ethically and Effectively Unleashing Our Imagination
Lucía Ocaña Baudoin
English Composition II – CAE-BUS02A1M
25 November 2011
Fanfiction: Ethically and effectively unleashing our imagination
Imagine if Anakin had never become Darth Vader and, instead, had fought chancellor Palpatine, end his plans of building a galactic empire, and then disappear for ever after the battle, remaining as a legendary hero of the Galactic Republic… or if Edward Cullen was a normal and mortal human being, and not a sparkling yet dangerous vampire anymore. Of course, this is not what happens in the original stories. However, do you imagine if a person could have the chance to create a whole new story about the universe and characters he or she loves, according to his or her preferences and innovative ideas, and then share it with other people all over the world? Although it may sound a bit surreal, today, it is completely possible, thanks to fanfiction.
Fanfiction is a term that generally designates fan labor regarding stories about characters, settings and universes written not by the original creator, but by fans of the original work, and that is usually read by other fans. In these stories, fanficcers (term commonly referred to fan authors) have the chance to extend the original plotline of the story, develop relationships between characters from the original work, and even create new, original characters that will appear in their own version of the story (Black, “Language, Culture and Identity” 172). Of course, after the creation of Internet, fanfiction has spread and become more popular all over the world, especially after the site FanFiction.Net came online in 1998. Since then, there have been many debates about its legality, ethics and originality. However, I strongly believe that fanfiction ethically and effectively encourages creativity.
One of the most popular arguments used by people who oppose to fanfiction, is that it is disrespectful with the original authors. They state that by practicing
English Composition II – CAE-BUS02A1M
25 November 2011
Fanfiction: Ethically and effectively unleashing our imagination
Imagine if Anakin had never become Darth Vader and, instead, had fought chancellor Palpatine, end his plans of building a galactic empire, and then disappear for ever after the battle, remaining as a legendary hero of the Galactic Republic… or if Edward Cullen was a normal and mortal human being, and not a sparkling yet dangerous vampire anymore. Of course, this is not what happens in the original stories. However, do you imagine if a person could have the chance to create a whole new story about the universe and characters he or she loves, according to his or her preferences and innovative ideas, and then share it with other people all over the world? Although it may sound a bit surreal, today, it is completely possible, thanks to fanfiction.
Fanfiction is a term that generally designates fan labor regarding stories about characters, settings and universes written not by the original creator, but by fans of the original work, and that is usually read by other fans. In these stories, fanficcers (term commonly referred to fan authors) have the chance to extend the original plotline of the story, develop relationships between characters from the original work, and even create new, original characters that will appear in their own version of the story (Black, “Language, Culture and Identity” 172). Of course, after the creation of Internet, fanfiction has spread and become more popular all over the world, especially after the site FanFiction.Net came online in 1998. Since then, there have been many debates about its legality, ethics and originality. However, I strongly believe that fanfiction ethically and effectively encourages creativity.
One of the most popular arguments used by people who oppose to fanfiction, is that it is disrespectful with the original authors. They state that by practicing
References: • SCHAFFNER, Becca. “In Defense of fanfiction.” Horn Book Magazine, Vol. 85. Nov/Dec 2009 613-616. Web. • BLACK, Rebecca W. “Language, Culture and Identity in Online Fanfiction.” E-Learning and Digital Media, Volume 3. 2006 170-184. Web. • BLACK, Rebecca W. “Access and affiliation: The literacy and composition practices of English-language learners in an online fanfiction community.” International Reading Association. 2005 118-128. Web. • Fanfiction.Net. 1998. 15 November 2011.