Why *is* it that Life on Mars fandom produces about ten times the crack as, say, Farscape and Highlander fandom combined? (And so much less angst than you'd think, considering the hyper-angsty premise?)
>When you talk about trends. It might be phrasing, but it often does come across as, "oh, those crazy LoM fen, look at them now." A type of anthropological study. In some ways, it does seem like you're divorcing yourself from the fandom and looking from the outside in, which I don't think is right. You're one of us.
Well, I *am* an anthropologist, too. So, there. *g*
(No, seriously. Okay, I stopped studying it after a while, but even so, I'm still doing a lot of cultural studies stuff in American studies - essentially modern anthropology - and I'm an archaeologist, which is the anthropology of the past, sort of. So, yeah, I do have some of that mindset, naturally. Mind you, I always had. Comes with being an outsider while growing up. You never really lose the outside perspective thing.)
But also:
Of course I'm a fan (and a LoM fan, too). I'm also... female, German, a European, a goldsmith, an archaeologist, a human being, a thirtysomething... Does that mean it's impossible/wrong for me to make general statements about thirtysomethings, humans, archaeologists, goldsmiths, Europeans, Germans, or women? Is it impossible to observe something about a group you're a part of?
>Well, you often say you're highly uncomfortable about the fact many LoMfans wax lyrical about the ending, but, let's face it, many more hardcore fans have a level of criticism about it
Do you remember the immediate reactions, back in April/May? That was some truly widespread blissful squeeing I observed there. Now, maybe all or most or at least many of the people who were so happy back then have backtracked a bit now... maybe. Or maybe critical viewpoints have become more visible now because we, the critics, are the only people who just won't shut up about it. From what I see in discussions, the latter seems the most likely option to me.
But if you can point me to some people whose squee is mixed with criticism, please do so - I'd love to be proved wrong on this, as, yes, it still does make me uncomfortable.
As for interpretations... I've read a lot of interpretations of 2.08 by people who like it and who see something quite different in it from what was there/what we saw/what MG says etc. Very few of them I found undisturbing. I *know* that most of the people who cheer do not see it as a suicide (etc.) - but that is exactly what I find so disturbing. Or, well, it's one part of what I find disturbing - it's a humungous, complex mass of disturbingness, which can't be reduced to just one factor.
>I do think you notice the crack more because it's not your style
Hm. But by that rule I would have to notice it in other fandoms, too.
(And, just to emphasise that once more: I do not *mind* that there is loads of crack in LoM fandom. In fact, I kind of like that; it's an outgrowth of the kind of AU 'headspace' (as you so nicely put it) that I *adore* about fandom and that I think fandom is all about. And some of it even works for me. I was merely making an observation about relative amounts, not a value judgment.)
I thought you were. You read like an anthropologist. :D
And of course I remember the immediate reactions, I was one of those disturbingly happy people! Not for very long. 5 hours? 6? Even then I thought it was flawed.
But if you can point me to some people whose squee is mixed with criticism, please do so - I'd love to be proved wrong on this, as, yes, it still does make me uncomfortable.
That's me, isn't it?
As to your parenthetical thought; it sort of did read as a value judgement, which is why I was a bit taken aback. And I am not a great perpetrator of crack by any means, but I do get defensive on behalf of others. ;)
Having said that, I still don't think there's a disproportionate amount of crack, but then, my first major LJ fandom was due South fandom, where... if you thought LoM fan fic was cracky, give dS a whirl. (Once again, the show was quite cracktastic itself.)
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Re: I wasn't actually generalising.
Date: 2008-02-20 02:26 pm (UTC)Well, I *am* an anthropologist, too. So, there. *g*
(No, seriously. Okay, I stopped studying it after a while, but even so, I'm still doing a lot of cultural studies stuff in American studies - essentially modern anthropology - and I'm an archaeologist, which is the anthropology of the past, sort of. So, yeah, I do have some of that mindset, naturally. Mind you, I always had. Comes with being an outsider while growing up. You never really lose the outside perspective thing.)
But also:
Of course I'm a fan (and a LoM fan, too). I'm also... female, German, a European, a goldsmith, an archaeologist, a human being, a thirtysomething... Does that mean it's impossible/wrong for me to make general statements about thirtysomethings, humans, archaeologists, goldsmiths, Europeans, Germans, or women? Is it impossible to observe something about a group you're a part of?
>Well, you often say you're highly uncomfortable about the fact many LoMfans wax lyrical about the ending, but, let's face it, many more hardcore fans have a level of criticism about it
Do you remember the immediate reactions, back in April/May? That was some truly widespread blissful squeeing I observed there. Now, maybe all or most or at least many of the people who were so happy back then have backtracked a bit now... maybe. Or maybe critical viewpoints have become more visible now because we, the critics, are the only people who just won't shut up about it. From what I see in discussions, the latter seems the most likely option to me.
But if you can point me to some people whose squee is mixed with criticism, please do so - I'd love to be proved wrong on this, as, yes, it still does make me uncomfortable.
As for interpretations... I've read a lot of interpretations of 2.08 by people who like it and who see something quite different in it from what was there/what we saw/what MG says etc. Very few of them I found undisturbing. I *know* that most of the people who cheer do not see it as a suicide (etc.) - but that is exactly what I find so disturbing. Or, well, it's one part of what I find disturbing - it's a humungous, complex mass of disturbingness, which can't be reduced to just one factor.
>I do think you notice the crack more because it's not your style
Hm. But by that rule I would have to notice it in other fandoms, too.
(And, just to emphasise that once more: I do not *mind* that there is loads of crack in LoM fandom. In fact, I kind of like that; it's an outgrowth of the kind of AU 'headspace' (as you so nicely put it) that I *adore* about fandom and that I think fandom is all about. And some of it even works for me. I was merely making an observation about relative amounts, not a value judgment.)
I feel like everything is clearer now...
Date: 2008-02-20 02:34 pm (UTC)And of course I remember the immediate reactions, I was one of those disturbingly happy people! Not for very long. 5 hours? 6? Even then I thought it was flawed.
But if you can point me to some people whose squee is mixed with criticism, please do so - I'd love to be proved wrong on this, as, yes, it still does make me uncomfortable.
That's me, isn't it?
As to your parenthetical thought; it sort of did read as a value judgement, which is why I was a bit taken aback. And I am not a great perpetrator of crack by any means, but I do get defensive on behalf of others. ;)
Having said that, I still don't think there's a disproportionate amount of crack, but then, my first major LJ fandom was due South fandom, where... if you thought LoM fan fic was cracky, give dS a whirl. (Once again, the show was quite cracktastic itself.)
Not intended to sound confrontational, btw.
Date: 2008-02-20 02:39 pm (UTC)Re: I wasn't actually generalising.
Date: 2008-02-21 12:21 am (UTC)*G* I studied anthropology as an undergraduate.
Do you think "Jumping Off" might be a haven for those who studied in the more analytical disciplines?