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blamebramptonI was raised to be quite broadminded. So much so that I often find myself arguing against myself until I am nearly convinced of something I don't actually believe. Or, as in this case, I actually DO believe both sides of the argument. Which brings us to today's topic:
ELITE ARCHIVES: GOOD FANDOM SERVICE OR SATAN'S BASTARD SPAWN?
By 'Elite Archives', I mean fic archives or communities that list fics that have been selected by a group of moderators, and which selections are made using particular criteria.
Some have invited authors, who are able to post any of their stories, others choose specific stories.
In the brief Pro Elite Archives case, they're a brilliant one-stop shop for good-quality fics in particular fandoms or pairings. You can be certain that anything posted there will be of a certain standard and that it will be, at a base level, *good*, regardless of whether or not it is to your specific taste.
These archives expose the work of excellent writers to a far broader audience than most could find on their own, and they also encourage writers whose work is given the stamp of approval. For people who are new to the fandom, they are a wonderful place to start, and for people within it they are a place to 'show our best'.
For the brief Anti case, Elite Archives focus on the best of fandom, according to *particular criteria*. Often this comes down to the personal tastes of a small group of people. While those tastes are almost certainly educated, and the mods that I know try to work against personal prejudices, it's impossible to not draw lines.
Drawing lines inevitably leads to hurt feelings, and accusations of bias against the mods, and of Princess Tantypantsdom against people who complain about being 'left out'. Then people who feel they have been hard done by strike back, and their friends take sides, and before you know it things look like one of those unfortunate Christmas dinners where you end up hiding in the stables.
To rebut the Pro case: how do you decide on that standard? There are only a small number of writers in fandom that I would describe as very good. There are more, but also a fairly small number, that I would describe as very bad. There are a lot who are average, and that's not an insult. Most of us are average writers at some point in our lives, just as we're average at sports we're learning. Then there is the group that makes the whole process incredibly difficult, the group of writers who are good, entertaining and competent, but not very good.
It's the difference between Trilby, which is a rollicking good novel, and Emma, which is brilliant. The difference between Disney's The Little Mermaid and Hans Christian Andersen's. In both cases the former is still enjoyable, but it's just not as good as the latter. However, people often enjoy the former more. Yet a truly Elite Archive would probably miss out on these. And so would its audience.
To rebut the Anti case: Elite is not a dirty word. Yes it's sad that some people might have their feelings hurt by not being included in a particular archive, but at the same time it acts as an incentive to learn about and improve their craft, while inclusion for inclusion's sake leads to a fandom that promotes mediocrity, and we have enough of that in politics these days.
In conclusion:
Buggered if I know, you tell me what YOU think.
ELITE ARCHIVES: GOOD FANDOM SERVICE OR SATAN'S BASTARD SPAWN?
By 'Elite Archives', I mean fic archives or communities that list fics that have been selected by a group of moderators, and which selections are made using particular criteria.
Some have invited authors, who are able to post any of their stories, others choose specific stories.
In the brief Pro Elite Archives case, they're a brilliant one-stop shop for good-quality fics in particular fandoms or pairings. You can be certain that anything posted there will be of a certain standard and that it will be, at a base level, *good*, regardless of whether or not it is to your specific taste.
These archives expose the work of excellent writers to a far broader audience than most could find on their own, and they also encourage writers whose work is given the stamp of approval. For people who are new to the fandom, they are a wonderful place to start, and for people within it they are a place to 'show our best'.
For the brief Anti case, Elite Archives focus on the best of fandom, according to *particular criteria*. Often this comes down to the personal tastes of a small group of people. While those tastes are almost certainly educated, and the mods that I know try to work against personal prejudices, it's impossible to not draw lines.
Drawing lines inevitably leads to hurt feelings, and accusations of bias against the mods, and of Princess Tantypantsdom against people who complain about being 'left out'. Then people who feel they have been hard done by strike back, and their friends take sides, and before you know it things look like one of those unfortunate Christmas dinners where you end up hiding in the stables.
To rebut the Pro case: how do you decide on that standard? There are only a small number of writers in fandom that I would describe as very good. There are more, but also a fairly small number, that I would describe as very bad. There are a lot who are average, and that's not an insult. Most of us are average writers at some point in our lives, just as we're average at sports we're learning. Then there is the group that makes the whole process incredibly difficult, the group of writers who are good, entertaining and competent, but not very good.
It's the difference between Trilby, which is a rollicking good novel, and Emma, which is brilliant. The difference between Disney's The Little Mermaid and Hans Christian Andersen's. In both cases the former is still enjoyable, but it's just not as good as the latter. However, people often enjoy the former more. Yet a truly Elite Archive would probably miss out on these. And so would its audience.
To rebut the Anti case: Elite is not a dirty word. Yes it's sad that some people might have their feelings hurt by not being included in a particular archive, but at the same time it acts as an incentive to learn about and improve their craft, while inclusion for inclusion's sake leads to a fandom that promotes mediocrity, and we have enough of that in politics these days.
In conclusion:
Buggered if I know, you tell me what YOU think.
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no subject
Date: 2008-10-15 04:01 pm (UTC)I'll probably regret writing this but I can understand why they exist and your points explain the reasons why very well.
Another LJ post covered this recently and the crux of that was what was bothersome is when one of these elite groups lists these as the best of the best, but it is based on select authors and friends.
So, for me, it is all in the disclaimer that these elite groups use. How were the stories chosen or how were the authors chosen. Otherwise, it does look like a clique. In addition, I've found that some of the authors have one or two great stories and the rest are ho hum. And, seriously, an h/d elite community that doesn't have
1. List the criteria it takes to be selected.
2. List the biases upfront. As a writer who writes creature fics, mpreg, bondage, etc... I often notice these are "no no's" for these groups even when they aren't listed. But the casual reader probably would not.
Do folks get their feelings hurt. Absolutely. And as the other poster who wrote about this mentioned, I'm not sure the good outweighs the bad. Especially, when those Little Mermaid writers are consistently writing very good stories that are wildly popular. If these groups are formed to direct new folks to the best, then somehow I think they are doing a disservice by not listing some of the most popular writers.
Hmmm, er, yeah, I'm done.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-15 04:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-15 04:36 pm (UTC)I have two authors in mind that would probably not make some of the elite groups. They happen to write more fluffy stories than others. They are the best of the best in this genre, but it is a genre that is often frowned upon by the "elite" yet is probably the most read genre.
I can also think of a few authors who are incredible darkfic writers, but again, would not make these lists.
Popularity was probably the wrong word to use.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-15 04:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-15 06:43 pm (UTC)I'm too cool for them. I know it; you know it. They couldn't stand the heat.
:D
There's only one comm I've ever been interested in joining, and to be frank, it'd have to pull its socks up and make itself interesting to tempt me to post outside my f-lock.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-15 07:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-15 10:52 pm (UTC)