I’m trying my best to respond to everyone who has been taking part in the “Why Fanfiction Is Important” discussion! I want this to be positive. If you have taken offense, please allow me to talk with you! That is always far, far from my intention.

I also want to again say how humbled and thrilled I am by the positive response. I’m so happy it’s resonating with many people!

Please, feel free to reblog with your thoughts, that’s your right and the joy of Tumblr, but it would also be interesting and constructive if you e-mailed me! The reaction really shows that this is an important discussion to be had. Please, please feel free to e-mail me! Thanks!

cathy [at] cathyboy.com

I just wanted to make a quick post to acknowledge the great response to my piece from yesterday, Why Fanfiction Is Important. I’m really humbled and pleased by how many people it’s resonated with. The few comments that have been sent to me were wonderful and positive. I’m excited by everyone’s energy, and hope the topic continues to be discussed. Thanks everyone!

This is from merlinconfessions. This image is a good segue into something I’ve been wanting to talk about for a while.

Fandom is easy to make fun of. It’s easy to write off. And it’s easy for people to feel ashamed of. But it’s incredibly important.

Fanfiction is a revolt against the entertainment industry. It attacks the heteronormative barrier that television, music, and movies have created. It re-appropriates stories people love and gives the plots the open-minded consciousness of its viewers. It transforms the hegemonic, and therefore destructive, characters, into people who the fans want them to be.

Slash fiction is largely denigrated because it re-appropriates the heteronormative images and straight male sexuality we are constantly pummeled with, and it queers it. Slash creates appeal to straight women, gay men, gay women, queer folks, trans folks, the list could go on. It essentially denies the heteronormative sexual status quo, and that is dangerous.

But keep being dangerous. Keep queering what you consume. Reclaim it. It’s your right. Change isn’t fought for only at rallies and in voting booths. It’s important to recognize what you do in daily life is just as important, and denying heteronormativity, and gendering, and racism, ageism, sexism, sizism, all of these things that are omnipresent in our media can be stripped away in fanfiction. And you should do it.

 If you’d like to talk, or have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Look at this Russian Merthur comic I found on DA by youichi-hima. Look at it. Look at that last panel. This is all I want in art, I’m in tears, this is everything I have ever desired

oh hey did a new season of Merlin start, are all my new followers going to be inaugurated into the world of Merthur = Merlin & Arthur

yes