HP Fandom is Completely Insane.

[Chovexani]

Yes, this post reveals something about HBP, but the detail is so minor and insignificant I'm not even dignifying it with a spoiler warning.

So, I've dipped my toe back in the HP sites/forums after a self-imposed blackout period (I'm extremely spoiler-phobic, and knew better than to go anywhere near any of the Internets until I'd finished the book), and what do I find on Fandom Wank but a report about a whinefest that is so "OMG, are they for real?" that I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

You know Blaise Zabini? No? Of course you don't. For those lucky (and smart!) people who enjoy the HP series but stay way the hell away from the online HP fandom: Blaise Zabini is a Slytherin student who was mentioned like, once or twice by name in the whole series. To prove just how insignificant this character is, even by the standards of minor, window-dressing extras, we didn't even know Blaise was male until OttP. Well, my stupid, crazy ass fandom apparently ran out of canon to write fanfiction about and fangirl over, so there is a small cottage industry devoted to the portrayal of Blaise as, alternately: a)blonde, elfin bishounen (pretty boy)--IOW, how Draco Malfoy is portrayed in a lot of fanfic b) Italian stud c) whiny emo/goth boi or d) all of the above

There is even a Livejournal community devoted to him, he has so many fangirls (proving, yet again, that there is nothing too trivial/shallow/baseless to create LJ comms over). Well, in HBP we not only get a description of Blaise, we actually get a scene and some dialogue from him. You'd think the fangirls would be happy, ne? But no. Instead, there is a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth because JK Rowling had the audacity to describe Blaise as a snarky, gorgeous, elitist (just like the fans did!)...who just so happens to be black.

Okay, I can understand the disconnect that can happen when a character you've built up a certain way in your head turns out differently in the canon material (for instance, on Xena/Hercules, I always thought Dahak was this cold, blonde, Nordic looking dude...and then on the show he was a nebulous fire-thingy). But there are fans who are literally crying, plugging their fingers in their ears, and pretending that the canon Blaise is false and therefore does not exist. (I'm not even touching the fact that this character, despite having been described by JKR as pants-droppingly gorgeous, is not cute just because he's black).

Between this, and people threatening Internet suicide because JKR literally sunk their ship...God I hate this fandom sometimes. :argh:

[Pithy Cherub]

1. Fear Not,

Welcome to the Reality-Based Canon Community. I have looked very little in fandom as most seem besotted about their view of events and it was kind of like the primary wars here at DU. The book is Jo's to write as she sees fit and my only responsibility is to read it and ascertain a level of enjoyment. Blaise is black so that upset the vainglorious because the art needs to be redone? lol!

My particular fascination actually has less to do with the charaters and more to do with philosophy and the intertwining messages. I had an imposed blackout on everything Potter starting about a month ago to ensure no spoilers. Worked well for me!

With that said, create your own reality. :pals:

:hi: C

[Astarho]

2. That's fandom in general

take a look at Boba Fett, or as he was originally known: bounty hunter.

Or rent Trekkies.

And I expected Dahak to be a three headed monster, which (it's been a while since I've seen that one) I thought he was.

[Mist]

3. My pet peeve is fan fic portraying Snape as sexy - the fans who write

sexySnape fic INSIST on confusing Snape w/Alan Rickman. Snape is never presented by JKR as anything other than extremely unpleasant and fairly homely (not to mention, a crappy teacher).

[Coventina]

4. I blame the casting director of the movies. I never liked Snape until

I saw the first HP movie.

All through the movie I kept wondering, "Why am I attracted to Snape?" Because I didn't recognize that it was ALAN FUCKING RICKMAN!

Casting Alan Rickman and expecting people NOT to fall in love with Snape is just silly! THEIR fault not MINE! :P

Now when I read the books, it's Rickman's Snape that I see, not whatever I used to picture (I can't even REMEMBER what I used to picture!).

*sigh*

[XemaSab]

5. I thought Rowling

picked Rickman for Snape.... both a brilliant casting choice, and a terrible casting choice, all in one.

[Mist]

6. Actually, I love Rickman as Snape--but then I'm able to separate

the actor from the role. I think he does a great Snape. What's all that about "some can't HELP loving Snape after Rickman was cast." :wtf: I hope they spoke in jest!

[XemaSab]

7. Rickman brings a je ne sais quoi

to the role that the written Snape lacks.

[Coventina]

8. Guess what? It's ALL in jest!

Give me a break already and drop the condescending attitude.

Yes, I said I "can't help" loving Snape because Rickman was cast in the role. Newsflash: these are books and movies we're talking about here. I don't *really* love Snape OR Rickman. I AM able to separate fantasy from reality, thank you very much.

I thought in fan discussions such as this, tongue was assumed to be in cheek at all times.

:eyes:

[Mist]

10. Sorry--I spoke (mostly) in jest too--

My reply is late because laptop was in the computer shop. Just to get it all straightened out: I love Rickman in lots of movies--he's sexy, no argument there! But I hate Snape, who truly is a crappy teacher. But, due to the characterization and plotting, I'm actually still withholding an opinion on whether Snape is truly evil. I know he killed DD, but that could have been preplanned by DD. And DD has always said he trusted Snape. FWIW, I can understand why some fan fic portrays a sexy Snape, but the JKR Snape is, if not evil, at least pretty close!

[robbedvoter]

9. JKR only picked Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid.

Rickman and the blond kid as Draco (was cute up to a point) are responsible for some of the most warped views on the book. I don't read fan sites, but you can see on discussion forums like the lexicon someone having a Draco avatar opening a thread: "why are we all disapointed in this book"
Of course, in all fairness, the charm of the actor is irrelevant. I have seen this kind of views on stories that were not made into movies. Whenever a fiction creates an universe, all takes are in.

[TimeChaser]

11. Have you read the JKR interview on Mugglenet?

She's pretty hard on the girls who are in love with Draco only because of Tom Felton.

Personally, the only thing from the movies that gets into my head when I read is that I hear Alan Rickman's voice for Snape, but I still see my own mental image of Snape.

If that made sense...