Fan Fiction

Fan Fiction

Introduction:

Fan fiction refers to fictional writing written in an amateur capacity by fans, unauthorized by, but based on an existing work of fiction. This means that the written fan fiction is not a part of the author’s story or their vision of the character and possible future works. The author’s official work and its storyline is commonly referred to as the “canon”. Whenever a piece of fan fiction is written, it is always detached from this canon, but can be included later if the original author wishes to do so.

Characteristics:

• Fan fiction ranges from short stories to full-length novels.

• Authors use copyrighted characters, settings, or intellectual properties from the original works as a basis for their writing.

• It can be based on various subjects, including novels, movies, comics, musical groups, cartoons, anime, manga, ("anime" in Japan technically means any animated film, and "manga" is any printed cartoon, but people in the rest of the world take them to mean animated films or comics from Japan.) and video games.

Historical Background:

• The term "fan fiction" has been used since 1938, initially referring to amateur-written science fiction.

• In the 1944 Fancyclopedia, it was defined as fiction about fans or professionals, occasionally incorporating famous characters from science fiction stories.

• Before modern copyright laws, authors frequently borrowed characters and plots from other works. Examples include Shakespeare's plays based on earlier fiction.

19th   and 20th Century:

• Notable unauthorized depictions include Bram Stoker's Dracula in translated adaptations and Jane Austen fan fiction like "Old Friends and New Fancies."

• Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle inspired numerous unofficial sequels, such as "The Adventure of the Two Collaborators" by J. M. Barrie.

• The modern phenomenon of fan fiction gained popularity and definition through Star Trek fandom in the 1960s.

• Fanzines like Spockanalia (1967) contained some of the earliest examples of fan fiction.

• Women dominated fan fiction authoring in Star Trek fandom, fulfilling a need for narratives expanding beyond official sources. 

Types of Fan Fiction: Fan fiction is mostly in written format, although the plot and characters it borrows may be in any form. Fan fiction is seen as the consequence of the audience’s need for fictional narratives that go beyond what is shown to them through books or cinema screens or to simply act as a way for the audience to fulfil their fantasies. Fan fiction can vary widely in style, tone, and content.These narratives may include a number of genres and motives  but the most notable of which are crossovers and self-insertion.

1) Crossovers refer to when characters or settings from one storyline are introduced in another, or are completely merged. The most recent notable example is “Godzilla vs. Kong”. Although not a work of fan fiction, the example shows how two previously unrelated characters are allowed to exist in the same storyline with its own theme and characters.

2) Self-insertion is the genre of fan fiction where the author, a fan, places themselves in a storyline as a new character or replaces an existing one. Works of this kind are usually motivated by self-fulfilment since the author simply wants to live out a fantasy, but these works can still have some complexity to them.

3) Fix-it fic are the stories that seek to rectify perceived flaws or unsatisfactory elements in the original work.

4) Canon Compliant are the stories that adhere closely to the established canon of the original work, focusing on filling in gaps or expanding upon existing storylines.

5) Hurt/Comfort is a story where a character undergoes a traumatizing experience and is comforted by another character. It focuses on witnessing suffering and providing relief; excessive focus on suffering may be termed "whump".

6) Alternate Universe (AU) are thetories that explore "what if" scenarios by placing characters in alternative settings, timelines, or realities different from the original work.

7) Metafiction are the stories that self-consciously comment on the nature of fan fiction, fandom, or storytelling itself.

Themes of Fan Fiction: Fan fiction can explore a wide range of themes, including:

• Romance and relationships

• Adventure and action

• Friendship and camaraderie

• Identity and self-discovery

• Social and political commentary

• Exploration of moral and ethical dilemmas

• Psychological exploration of characters

Difference Between Fan Fiction and Science Fiction in Literature and Other Forms of Art: While both fan fiction and science fiction involve imaginative storytelling, they differ in several key aspects:

• Originality: Science fiction typically involves original creations by authors, exploring speculative concepts, technologies, or futures, while fan fiction builds upon existing works.

• Ownership: Fan fiction uses characters and worlds owned by other creators, whereas science fiction authors typically create their own original characters and settings.

• Legality: Fan fiction often operates in a legal gray area, as it involves using copyrighted material without permission, whereas science fiction operates within the bounds of copyright law.

• Audience: Science fiction is aimed at a general audience interested in speculative fiction, while fan fiction is primarily created and consumed by fans of specific works or franchises.

Fan Fiction Popularity and current Status:

Fan fiction's popularity expanded with the emergence of the World Wide Web. Estimates suggest that one-third of all online content about books is fan fiction. Usenet newsgroups, mailing lists, and online fan fiction archives were established, providing platforms for fan discussion and story sharing.

Modern Examples of Literary Fan Fiction:

E. L. James's "Fifty Shades of Grey" originated as fan fiction for the "Twilight" series, with character names changed to avoid copyright issues.Anna Todd's "After," a fan fiction about the band One Direction, secured a book and movie deal with renamed characters.

Japanese Dōjinshi:

Dōjinshi, independently published manga and novels, have been popular in Japan since the 1960s and 1970s. Many dōjinshi are based on existing manga, anime, and video game franchises. The Comiket convention in Tokyo, starting in 1975, became a major event for dōjinshi circles.