The Fanfiction Reader: Exploring the Diversity and Dynamics of Fan-Made Folklore

# [PDF] The Fanfiction Reader: Folk Tales for the Digital Age - Introduction - What is fanfiction and why is it popular? - What is the purpose and scope of the book? - Who is the author and what are her credentials? - Chapter 1: Fanfiction as Folklore - How fanfiction relates to traditional folklore genres and practices - How fanfiction challenges and expands the notions of authorship, originality, and creativity - How fanfiction reflects and shapes contemporary culture and identity - Chapter 2: The Fanfiction Archive - How fanfiction is collected, organized, and preserved online - How fanfiction communities develop norms, values, and expectations for their members - How fanfiction archives function as sites of learning, collaboration, and critique - Chapter 3: The Fanfiction Genres - How fanfiction writers use and adapt various genres and conventions to tell their stories - How fanfiction genres reflect and respond to different fandoms, media, and audiences - How fanfiction genres explore themes such as romance, sexuality, gender, power, and morality - Chapter 4: The Fanfiction Aesthetics - How fanfiction writers craft their stories using language, style, and structure - How fanfiction writers balance fidelity and creativity in their interpretations of canon - How fanfiction writers engage with feedback, reviews, and ratings from their readers - Chapter 5: The Fanfiction Politics - How fanfiction writers address social issues and controversies in their stories - How fanfiction writers challenge and subvert dominant narratives and representations in mainstream media - How fanfiction writers negotiate their rights and responsibilities as creators and consumers of media - Conclusion - What are the main insights and contributions of the book? - What are the limitations and challenges of studying fanfiction? - What are the implications and directions for future research on fanfiction? - FAQs - Where can I find the book online? - Who is the intended audience of the book? - What are some examples of fanfiction stories discussed in the book? - How can I write my own fanfiction stories? - How can I join a fanfiction community? Now I'm going to start writing based on this outline. Please wait for a few minutes while I generate the article. Thank you for your patience.? OK, I'm continuing to write the article. Here is the first part of the article: # [PDF] The Fanfiction Reader: Folk Tales for the Digital Age ## Introduction Fanfiction is a genre of amateur fiction writing that takes as its basis a canon of original material. This original material is most often popular books, television shows and movies but can expand to almost anything, from the lives of celebrities to the travels of inanimate objects like the Mars rover. Fanfiction writers, or fanfic writers, use the characters, settings, plots, and themes of their chosen canon to create new stories that are published online for free. Fanfiction readers, or fanfic readers, consume these stories and interact with the writers and other readers through comments, reviews, ratings, and recommendations. Fanfiction is one of the most popular and prolific forms of online creative expression, with millions of stories available on various websites and platforms. Fanfiction is also one of the most diverse and inclusive forms of storytelling, with stories that cater to different tastes, preferences, identities, and experiences. Fanfiction is a form of folk art that reflects and shapes contemporary culture and society. The Fanfiction Reader: Folk Tales for the Digital Age is a book that explores the phenomenon of fanfiction from various perspectives and disciplines. The book aims to provide an accessible and comprehensive introduction to fanfiction as a form of folklore, as a cultural archive, as a creative genre, as a literary aesthetic, and as a social practice. The book also aims to showcase the richness and diversity of fanfiction stories and communities across different fandoms, media, and platforms. The author of the book is Francesca Coppa, a professor of English and director of film studies at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania. She is also a co-founder of the Organization for Transformative Works (OTW), a non-profit organization that advocates for the rights and interests of fan creators and consumers. She is an expert on fan studies, digital media, and popular culture. She is also a fanfic writer and reader herself. If you are interested in learning more about fanfiction, or if you are already a fanfic writer or reader who wants to deepen your understanding and appreciation of this form of storytelling, this book is for you. In this article, we will give you an overview of each chapter of the book and some FAQs that you might have. ## Chapter 1: Fanfiction as Folklore In this chapter, Coppa argues that fanfiction can be understood as a form of folklore: a body of expressive culture that is created and shared by ordinary people within specific groups or communities. She traces the historical roots and parallels of fanfiction to traditional folklore genres and practices such as oral storytelling, legends, myths, fairy tales, ballads, folk songs, folk art, and folk drama. She shows how fanfiction shares many features and functions with these forms of folklore, such as: - Being based on existing stories or characters that are familiar and meaningful to the community - Being transmitted and preserved through oral or written means - Being flexible and adaptable to different contexts and audiences - Being collaborative and participatory in nature - Being expressive and performative in style - Being reflective and responsive to the values, beliefs, norms, and experiences of the community Coppa also discusses how fanfiction challenges and expands the notions of authorship, originality, and creativity that are dominant in modern Western culture. She argues that fanfiction writers do not simply copy or imitate their sources but rather transform them into new works that are original in their own right. She also argues that fanfiction writers do not claim ownership or authority over their sources but rather acknowledge their debt and respect to the original creators. She also argues that fanfiction writers do not work in isolation but rather collaborate with other writers and readers who contribute to the creation and interpretation of their stories. Coppa also discusses how fanfiction reflects and shapes contemporary culture and identity. She argues that fanfiction writers use their stories to explore various aspects of their personal and social identities such as gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, class, religion, politics, etc. She also argues that fanfiction writers use their stories to comment on various issues and events that affect their lives such as media representation, censorship, OK, I'm continuing to write the article. Here is the second part of the article: ## Chapter 2: The Fanfiction Archive In this chapter, Coppa examines how fanfiction is collected, organized, and preserved online. She describes the various websites and platforms that host fanfiction stories and communities, such as FanFiction.Net, Archive of Our Own (AO3), Wattpad, Tumblr, LiveJournal, etc. She analyzes the different features and functions of these websites and platforms, such as: - The search and browse options that allow users to find stories based on various criteria such as fandom, genre, rating, pairing, character, tag, etc. - The upload and edit options that allow users to publish and update their stories with various formatting and metadata options - The comment and review options that allow users to give and receive feedback on their stories - The rating and recommendation options that allow users to express their preferences and opinions on their stories - The bookmark and subscription options that allow users to save and follow their favorite stories and authors - The kudos and hit options that allow users to show their appreciation and popularity of their stories Coppa also discusses how fanfiction communities develop norms, values, and expectations for their members. She explains the various terms and concepts that are used by fanfiction writers and readers to communicate and interact with each other, such as: - Canon: The original source material that fanfiction is based on - Fanon: The accepted or common interpretations or additions to canon by fanfiction writers and readers - AU: Alternate Universe, a type of fanfiction that changes or diverges from canon in significant ways - Crossover: A type of fanfiction that combines characters or elements from different fandoms or media - Ship: A romantic relationship between two or more characters - OTP: One True Pairing, the preferred or ideal ship for a fan - Fluff: A type of fanfiction that focuses on light-hearted or cute scenes between characters - Angst: A type of fanfiction that focuses on dark or emotional scenes between characters - Smut: A type of fanfiction that focuses on explicit or erotic scenes between characters - Crack: A type of fanfiction that is absurd or humorous in nature - Mary Sue/Gary Stu: A type of original character that is overly perfect or idealized - Beta: A person who helps a fanfiction writer with editing or proofreading their story Coppa also discusses how fanfiction archives function as sites of learning, collaboration, and critique. She argues that fanfiction writers and readers use these sites to improve their writing and reading skills, to share their knowledge and expertise on various topics and media, to collaborate with other writers and readers on various projects and challenges, and to critique the mainstream media and culture that they consume. ## Chapter 3: The Fanfiction Genres In this chapter, Coppa explores how fanfiction writers use and adapt various genres and conventions to tell their stories. She defines genre as a set of expectations and rules that guide the production and reception of a text. She identifies four main types of genres that are used in fanfiction: - Fandom genres: These are genres that are specific to a particular fandom or media. They are based on the characteristics and conventions of the original source material. For example, some fandom genres are Harry Potter (based on the Harry Potter books), Supernatural (based on the Supernatural TV show), Marvel Cinematic Universe (based on the Marvel movies), etc. - Fanfic genres: These are genres that are common across different fandoms or media. They are based on the preferences and interests of the fanfiction writers and readers. For example, some fanfic genres are slash (based on romantic relationships between same-sex characters), hurt/comfort (based on scenes where one character is injured or distressed and another character provides comfort or care), fix-it (based on scenes where a problem or mistake in canon is corrected or avoided), etc. OK, I'm continuing to write the article. Here is the third part of the article: - Literary genres: These are genres that are derived from the traditional categories and classifications of literature. They are based on the form and content of the text. For example, some literary genres are poetry (based on the use of rhythm, rhyme, and imagery), drama (based on the use of dialogue and action), horror (based on the use of fear and suspense), fantasy (based on the use of magic and supernatural elements), etc. - Hybrid genres: These are genres that combine or mix elements from different fandom, fanfic, or literary genres. They are based on the creativity and experimentation of the fanfiction writers and readers. For example, some hybrid genres are fusion (based on the blending of two or more fandoms or media), parody (based on the imitation and mockery of a genre or text), steampunk (based on the combination of historical and futuristic elements), etc. Coppa also discusses how fanfiction genres reflect and respond to different fandoms, media, and audiences. She argues that fanfiction writers choose and adapt genres based on their affinity and familiarity with their chosen fandom or media, their awareness and appreciation of their intended audience, and their purpose and message for their story. She also argues that fanfiction genres explore themes such as romance, sexuality, gender, power, and morality that are relevant and important to the fanfiction writers and readers. Coppa also discusses how fanfiction genres challenge and subvert the dominant genres and conventions of mainstream media and culture. She argues that fanfiction writers use genres to question and critique the assumptions and expectations that underlie the original source material, to offer alternative or marginalized perspectives and representations that are missing or ignored in the mainstream media, and to create new possibilities and meanings that are not limited by the constraints of the mainstream media. ## Chapter 4: The Fanfiction Aesthetics In this chapter, Coppa analyzes how fanfiction writers craft their stories using language, style, and structure. She defines aesthetics as a set of principles and practices that guide the creation and evaluation of a text. She identifies three main aspects of aesthetics that are used in fanfiction: - Language: This is the choice and use of words, sentences, grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc. in a text. Coppa discusses how fanfiction writers use language to convey their tone, voice, mood, emotion, etc. in their stories. She also discusses how fanfiction writers use language to create coherence, consistency, clarity, etc. in their stories. She also discusses how fanfiction writers use language to show their respect for or deviation from canon in their stories. - Style: This is the choice and use of literary devices, techniques, tropes, etc. in a text. Coppa discusses how fanfiction writers use style to create imagery, symbolism, metaphor, irony, etc. in their stories. She also discusses how fanfiction writers use style to create humor, drama, suspense, etc. in their stories. She also discusses how fanfiction writers use style to show their creativity or originality in their stories. - Structure: This is the choice and use of plot, character, setting, point of view, OK, I'm continuing to write the article. Here is the fourth part of the article: - Structure: This is the choice and use of plot, character, setting, point of view, dialogue, etc. in a text. Coppa discusses how fanfiction writers use structure to create sequence, causality, conflict, resolution, etc. in their stories. She also discusses how fanfiction writers use structure to create characterization, development, motivation, etc. in their stories. She also discusses how fanfiction writers use structure to show their fidelity or creativity in their stories. Coppa also discusses how fanfiction writers balance fidelity and creativity in their interpretations of canon. She argues that fanfiction writers do not simply reproduce or rewrite canon but rather reinterpret and reimagine canon in their own ways. She also argues that fanfiction writers do not disregard or disrespect canon but rather acknowledge and appreciate canon as their source of inspiration and influence. Coppa also discusses how fanfiction writers engage with feedback, reviews, and ratings from their readers. She argues that fanfiction writers value and seek feedback from their readers as a way to improve their writing skills, to gauge their audience's reactions and preferences, and to establish a rapport and relationship with their readers. She also argues that fanfiction writers respond and adapt to feedback from their readers as a way to revise and update their stories, to address their reader's questions and concerns, and to satisfy their reader's expectations and requests. ## Chapter 5: The Fanfiction Politics In this chapter, Coppa examines how fanfiction writers address social issues and controversies in their stories. She defines politics as a set of beliefs and actions that relate to the distribution and exercise of power in society. She identifies three main types of politics that are used in fanfiction: - Personal politics: These are politics that relate to the individual identity and experience of the fanfiction writer or reader. Coppa discusses how fanfiction writers use their stories to express their personal views and values on various topics such as gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, class, religion, etc. She also discusses how fanfiction writers use their stories to explore their personal fantasies and desires on various topics such as romance, sex, violence, etc. - Fandom politics: These are politics that relate to the collective identity and experience of the fanfiction community or fandom. Coppa discusses how fanfiction writers use their stories to comment on and critique various aspects of their fandom or media such as representation, diversity, quality, etc. She also discusses how fanfiction writers use their stories to support and celebrate various aspects of their fandom or media such as characters, ships, themes, etc. - Media politics: These are politics that relate to the broader context and impact of the mainstream media and culture on society. Coppa discusses how fanfiction writers use their stories to challenge and subvert various aspects of the mainstream media and culture such as narratives, OK, I'm continuing to write the article. Here is the fifth and final part of the article: - Media politics: These are politics that relate to the broader context and impact of the mainstream media and culture on society. Coppa discusses how fanfiction writers use their stories to challenge and subvert various aspects of the mainstream media and culture such as narratives, representations, ideologies, etc. She also discusses how fanfiction writers use their stories to negotiate and assert their rights and responsibilities as creators and consumers of media such as copyright, fair use, censorship, etc. Coppa also discusses how fanfiction writers face various challenges and risks in their political engagement. She argues that fanfiction writers may encounter opposition and hostility from various sources such as the original creators or owners of the source material, the mainstream media or critics, the legal system or authorities, etc. She also argues that fanfiction writers may experience internal conflicts and dilemmas within themselves or their communities such as ethical, moral, or personal issues, etc. Coppa also discusses how fanfiction writers contribute to various changes and benefits in their political engagement. She argues that fanfiction writers may influence and inspire various sources such as the original creators or owners of the source material, the mainstream media or critics, the legal system or authorities, etc. She also argues that fanfiction writers may create and foster various outcomes and values within themselves or their communities such as awareness, empowerment, solidarity, etc. ## Conclusion In this article, we have given you an overview of each chapter of The Fanfiction Reader: Folk Tales for the Digital Age by Francesca Coppa. We hope that you have learned something new and interesting about fanfiction as a form of folklore, as a cultural archive, as a creative genre, as a literary aesthetic, and as a social practice. We also hope that you have gained a deeper understanding and appreciation of fanfiction as a form of storytelling that reflects and shapes contemporary culture and society. If you want to read more about fanfiction, we recommend that you check out the book itself. You can find it online in PDF format here: https://www.fulcrum.org/epubs/9s161620r?locale=en#/6/2[Cover]-0:0 The book is intended for anyone who is interested in fanfiction, whether they are fanfic writers or readers themselves, or