Criticism and Authority in Fandom

[branchandroot]

Read this essay in its new home.

Comments

[minisinoo.livejournal.com]

Excellent post. I've often thought about this matter, and the issue of authority. In RL, I'm both a professional (fiction) author as well as an academic, and so, when I critique a student's story at a workshop, or critique a student's paper for class, the authority is there, bestowed either by my publishing record or my Ph.D. In fanfic, neither of those apply.

The closest authority I've found in fandom is 1) showing I can do it myself (which boils down to winning awards for fiction and being recognized as competent), and 2) critique that explains not just what's wrong, but how it's wrong and how to fix it (from experience teaching writing). But both those things only take one so far, as you note, and some folks simply aren't interested in what I have to say. Over the years, it's led me to be quite cagey in what I review/respond to in critical fashion. I will only give critique if asked for it, because then the person with the story has granted me the authority to comment on it. But again, that's a specific situation.

So very interesting thoughts. Thank you.

[branchandroot]

Delighted I could spark some good thoughts.

I will only give critique if asked for it

*rueful* That's certainly the policy I've wound up adopting as safest. Anything else seems to lead quickly to acrimony. The classroom is so much easier.