"Fifty Shades of Grey," a name that brought forth an uproar in popular culture, ironically started as a humble Twilight fanfiction. Written under the pseudonym Snowqueens Icedragon, E.L. James delivered her depiction of the Edward-Bella relationship with an explicit twist, which resulted in the unexpected birth of the "Fifty Shades of Grey" series.

The introduction and acceptance of explicit fanfiction into mainstream writing faced quite a backlash. Many critics found it to be a distasteful representation of fanfiction itself. Despite the criticism, the cultural influence of Fifty Shades proved its substantial impact on mainstream media. Over the course of this article, the various prospects of Fifty Shades stunningly coinciding with Twilight fanfiction will be examined.

The Fanfiction Foundation

Fifty Shades of Grey started its journey as a Twilight fanfiction titled "Master of the Universe" on fanfiction.net, a popular site for those who love to become creative with their favourite characters. The essence of fanfiction is that it grounds itself in a pre-existing universe while exploring new angles and alternate hypotheses. James manipulated this platform to introduce an explicit tone to the Edward-Bella narrative and gave birth to Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele - the mirror images of Edward and Bella.

Critics often argue that exploiting an established universe for creating adult content is a violation of the fanfiction spirit. In the case of Fifty Shades, the controversy it courted projected fanfiction into the spotlight, revealing how flexible and versatile fan-created narratives could be.

Character Transformation: Edward to Christian

Edward Cullen and Christian Grey share a similar characterization in countless ways. They are both incredibly wealthy, mysterious, and possess an irresistible charm that the female protagonist finds hard to resist. Their elusive pasts, control issues, and constant mood swings are also quite similar.

However, there's a significant shift in the ethical grounding of the character when we move from Edward to Christian. Edward Cullen's character is heavily influenced by his vampire subconscious, which provides a supernatural excuse for his harsh demeanor. Christian Grey, on the other hand, does not possess such an excuse, making his controlling tendencies look more problematic to some readers.

Anastasia Steele: Bella Swan reconsidered

In Bella Swan, we find a young girl who is shy, quiet, and awkward. On the contrary, Anastasia Steele appears more outspoken and more willing to stand up for herself. This adaptation invites critique as Anastasia, much like her fanfiction predecessor, conforms to the stereotype of the vulnerable female seeking validation from the male antagonist.

However, Anastasia does represent a stronger version of Bella Swan. She possesses assertiveness and a personality that the original character seemed to somewhat lack. This forms a delicate balance between keeping the essence from the original character intact while introducing definitive improvements that helped in making the story more appealing.

The Contention of Copyrights

When Fifty Shades transformed from fanfiction and entered the publishing arena, it instigated a debate concerning intellectual copyrights. Critics pointed out that changing the names of central characters doesn't change the fact that it still borrowed heavily from the Twilight universe, and therefore infringed on copyright laws.

This contention also put fanfiction under the microscope, contemplating whether fan-made narratives should be considered an infringement or a transformative act. Ultimately, the Fifty Shades controversy highlighted the need for a more definitive copyright framework for fanfiction.

Fiction to Film

Both Twilight and Fifty Shades not only dominated the bookshelves but held their sway in the movie world too. However, much like their book counterparts, both the film series had a notable divide in their receptions. While Twilight is popularly acclaimed for its beautiful rendition of the supernatural romance, Fifty Shades was criticized from a feminist perspective over its representation of abusive relationships.

The Fanfiction Culture

Fifty Shades catapulted the world of fanfiction into the mainstream, forcing audiences to reconsider their preconceived notions about this subculture. It brought forth the potential of fanfiction writers and opened up a new dimension of possibilities for these enthusiastic writers who had the potential to switch from being fans to published authors.

The growing popularity of fanfiction post Fifty Shades begs the question - is this an anomaly or the start of a trend?

Humble Beginnings to Cultural Phenomenon

The journey of Fifty Shades from fanfiction to a multi-million dollar franchise speaks volumes about the irresistible appeal of this shade of storytelling that resonates with readers across the globe. In retrospect, it throws light on our society's fascination with fantasy characters and how they can be reinvented, reimagined, and remodeled to fit new narratives that still manage to captivate an audience. The tale of Fifty Shades is a testament to the power of good storytelling and the influence of compelling characters.

Common Questions and Answers:

Q: Is Fifty Shades of Grey based on Twilight?
A: Yes, it started as a Twilight fanfiction when it was first published online.

Q: Why is Fifty Shades of Grey a fanfic?
A: It originally began as a blend of alternate character interpretation and changed narrative, using the characters from Twilight as a foundation.

Q: Why was the Twilight name omitted from Fifty Shades?
A: As the fanfiction morphed into a stand-alone publication, changes were necessary to avoid copyright infringement issues.

References:
1. "'Fifty Shades of Grey' and the Fanfiction Phenomenon" - Entertainment Weekly
2. "The Fanfiction Roots of 'Fifty Shades' and 'Twilight'" - Time Magazine
3. "The Legal Ramifications of 'Fifty Shades of Grey'" - The New Yorker

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