In an age where reading has transitioned from hardcover books to digital screens, one must confront the question—does fanfiction count as reading? Fanfiction refers to fictional stories written by fans, drawing inspiration from original works of literature, films, or television shows. It's an immensely popular form of online writing that lives primarily on websites like FanFiction.Net, AO3 (Archive of Our Own), and Wattpad, among others. But does immersing oneself in these narratives equate to the traditional act of reading? Here, we explore different aspects that shed light on whether fanfiction constitutes viable reading material.
2. The Literary Merit of Fanfiction:
Fanfiction, like any other form of literature, can be of varying literary quality. On one hand, there are stories that match, if not exceed, the writing and storytelling standards of published literary works. They explore intricate plotlines, character developments, and thematic nuances, and when well-written, they exhibit proficiency in language and style comparable to published authors. On the other hand, there are also fanfics that lack quality and coherence, serving as mere wish fulfilment. Despite this disparity, digesting fanfiction stories, regardless of their quality, involves engaging textual content, which is the essence of reading.
3. Fanfiction Platforms:
FanFiction.Net, AO3, and Wattpad are the top websites where fanfic thrives. FanFiction.Net, one of the oldest platforms, is home to millions of stories in various genres, while AO3 offers a more fan-friendly interface and regulations, making it popular amongst fanfic enthusiasts. Wattpad takes it up a notch by enabling aspiring authors to self-publish their works and interact directly with readers. This diversification of platforms promotes a vibrant reading culture.
4. Self-determined Reading:
Fanfiction fosters self-directed reading habits. Readers decide what they read based on their interests, whether it's a continuation of their favourite storyline, shipping favourite characters, or exploring alternative universes. Encouraging autonomous reading is pivotal in promoting lifelong literacy habits, making fanfics a potent tool in fostering reading habits among its audience.
5. Relevance/Accessibility:
Fanfiction's appeal lies largely in its relevance and accessibility. The digital nature of the medium allows for instantaneous access, regardless of geographic location or time. This, coupled with content that mirrors pop culture and contemporary issues, makes it highly engaging for a modern audience.
6. Expanding the Definition of Reading:
Traditionalists might argue that reading should only include established literature. However, the definition of reading has expanded with the evolution of digital media. Consuming text in any form, be it physical books, e-books, articles, blogs, or fanfiction, requires a vital cognitive process, hence can be counted as reading.
7. Learning Language and Style Through Fanfiction:
By exploring the realm of fanfiction, readers can glean universal lessons about language, style, and storytelling. Additionally, by reading different fanfics, one can expose themselves to a rich diversity of narratives and dialects, fostering a more comprehensive understanding of language.
8. Community Interaction:
Unlike solitary reading, fanfiction platforms foster a sense of community. By allowing reader comments and voting, these platforms foster interaction, leading to debates and deeper engagement with the text. This active interaction amplifies the reading experience.
9. Impact on Critical Thinking:
Fanfiction often encourages readers to hypothesize and conceptualize alternative storylines or character developments, thereby stimulating their creative and critical thinking skills. This increased active engagement with the text strengthens the cognitive processes linked to reading.
10. Emotional Engagement:
Fanfiction often taps into a reader's emotional investment in the original work, using it to deliver narratives that create empathy, elation, sadness, suspense, or various other complex emotions. This level of emotional engagement often deeply enriches the reading experience.
11. Expanding Vocabulary:
Just like any other reading material, fanfic, especially well-written works, have the potential to expand a reader's vocabulary and comprehension skills. This, too, reinforces the argument for fanfiction being counted as legitimate reading.
12. Promoting Diversity:
Fanfiction is perhaps one of the most diverse forms of literature, with stories representing a wide range of identities, perspectives, and experiences. Such representation helps readers develop a broader understanding of the world, one more reading benefit that fanfiction provides.
Common Questions:
Q1: Does reading fanfiction improve language skills?
A: Like any form of reading, fanfiction can indeed contribute to improving language skills, especially if the work is well-written.
Q2: Can I cite fanfiction in a research paper or academic work?
A: Citing fanfiction in academic work is not typical and is usually not accepted due to it being unsanctioned derivative works. However, it can be used in the context of cultural or media studies.
Q3: Can fanfiction be considered as literature?
A: This is subjective and depends on how one defines literature. Some argue that fanfiction's lack of originality disqualifies it, while others contend that its narrative and language use qualify it as a form of literature.
References:
1. Fanfiction and the Author: How Fanfic Changes Popular Cultural Texts, by Judith May Fathallah
2. Transmedia Storytelling and the Creation of a Convergence Culture, by Henry Jenkins
3. 'Blessed are the Fanfiction Writers': Literacy Analysis in a Digital Age, by Meghan Tifft, Kirk Branch, Sara Elizabeth Webb
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