musings on dying fandom outlets.
So, I have to say that 
knopflergroupie has inspired the majority of this post. It's something that I've thought a lot about, but she basically put it into words better than I have. And while I think our view points are a little different, she definitely has an excellent point. I've even touched on it a bit here and there, but it was mostly when I was full of whining wank, so I'd actually like to talk about it when I'm not writing as much and feeling the sadness.
Fandom, as a whole these days (and really I think, since the advent of tumblr) has slipped away from using words to express itself, and is now using more visual mediums - picspams, gifs, single screencaps, etc. And while the appeal for the viewer is an aesthetically pleasing quick glance, and the appeal for a creator is a slap of a color texture in photoshop, where's the actual effort? Let me backtrack just a little, because sometimes, making a picspam isn't as easy as creating a few duplicate layers and alternating screen with soft light. (Which is the only way I know how to make anything look decent.) And I have no knowledge of how to make a gif. But when you factor in the time and effort it takes to say, color one screen cap and toss it on tumblr, then get 74 reblogs, versus days, weeks, or even months to write a fic that's a decent length, who gets the real sense of gratification? It used to be someone who actually put a good chunk of time into what they were doing. Now it's all about seeing those numbers rise on tumblr.
Tumblr, as it is and for the most part, lacks a sense of actual community. Sure I have 'followers' (oh my gosh five hundred which proves the 'it's all about the numbers point I made. Because that makes me giddy as hell.) but it's only as personable as finding the reblog button on some of the more complicated layouts. With fic, you can be compelled to leave a comment expressing the moments you loved or the characterization someone captured. With a reblog, all you're really saying is 'this interests me'. But that doesn't mean I know why. I have no clue if you'd like to see that same thing again. And the comments people do leave on tumblr posts? Let me tell you, as enlightening as 'congratulations on your face' is (and true in Liz Mitchell's case) there's no 'Hey, great coloring!' or 'Way to really organize that picspam!'.
You get my point?
That isn't to say that I don't thoroughly enjoy tumblr. I love looking at things that have been well done, yet I'm just as guilty of not leaving encouraging comments. Why should I? I'm more compelled to leave a comment when I know thought and purpose have gone into something. I'm a writer at heart, not a graphics person. I will leave feedback on a fic that I think is well crafted. But a picspam is only half the work. And unless you're really into it, there's not much thought - picspams for challenges not included, because at least then you have to plan out what you're going to do.
I haven't shied away from tumblr. And this post isn't a place to declare loyalty to one medium over another. It's just an observation on evolution. One that I sincerely picked up on the first day I looked for Firefly fanfic, because there is none. And why should there be? The show ended eight years ago. There are the random one or two short ficlets, but as far as long (or even medium length) fic is concerned, it stopped being written sometime in 2010 as far as I can tell. If you're trying to decide whether or not a fandom is active based off of LJ alone, you'd think Firefly was dust in the wind. But then you go somewhere like tumblr and there's fanart galore. And for me, if the way a fandom is going to be kept alive and remembered and celebrated is through a picture with some text slapped on, so be it. Fandom tastes have evolved, and I'm just adapting. You have to, otherwise you'll just be pissed off with nowhere to go to celebrate shows that are off the air. It's becoming more apparent with LOST, with Battlestar Galactica - people remember these shows through gifs of their favorite moments. Picspams of the hilarity that is Laura Roslin's hair in the miniseries. Screencaps showcasing the poignant moments of Jack's death. And personally, I have a hard time finding fault with that.
Being a writer and knowing that fic is going the way of the CD in favor of new, instant fixes, hurts a little, I won't lie. I have an additional story I want to tell, who's going to be here to read it? If the answer is no one, then what do I do? What becomes my outlet? I've had an easier time keeping characters that I love alive via role play which is strictly writing, but what if that isn't everyone's favorite creative option?
The bottom line is, people want instant fandom gratification, and we're all going to have to roll with it. There will never be a dry well when it comes to people who would rather read words and appreciate a plot, but writers may start having to dig a little deeper to compete.
EDIT: I've decided to make this post public. Feel free to share the link or invite your friends to weigh in. I'm really interested in how people feel as a whole about this topic.
knopflergroupie has inspired the majority of this post. It's something that I've thought a lot about, but she basically put it into words better than I have. And while I think our view points are a little different, she definitely has an excellent point. I've even touched on it a bit here and there, but it was mostly when I was full of whining wank, so I'd actually like to talk about it when I'm not writing as much and feeling the sadness.Fandom, as a whole these days (and really I think, since the advent of tumblr) has slipped away from using words to express itself, and is now using more visual mediums - picspams, gifs, single screencaps, etc. And while the appeal for the viewer is an aesthetically pleasing quick glance, and the appeal for a creator is a slap of a color texture in photoshop, where's the actual effort? Let me backtrack just a little, because sometimes, making a picspam isn't as easy as creating a few duplicate layers and alternating screen with soft light. (Which is the only way I know how to make anything look decent.) And I have no knowledge of how to make a gif. But when you factor in the time and effort it takes to say, color one screen cap and toss it on tumblr, then get 74 reblogs, versus days, weeks, or even months to write a fic that's a decent length, who gets the real sense of gratification? It used to be someone who actually put a good chunk of time into what they were doing. Now it's all about seeing those numbers rise on tumblr.
Tumblr, as it is and for the most part, lacks a sense of actual community. Sure I have 'followers' (oh my gosh five hundred which proves the 'it's all about the numbers point I made. Because that makes me giddy as hell.) but it's only as personable as finding the reblog button on some of the more complicated layouts. With fic, you can be compelled to leave a comment expressing the moments you loved or the characterization someone captured. With a reblog, all you're really saying is 'this interests me'. But that doesn't mean I know why. I have no clue if you'd like to see that same thing again. And the comments people do leave on tumblr posts? Let me tell you, as enlightening as 'congratulations on your face' is (and true in Liz Mitchell's case) there's no 'Hey, great coloring!' or 'Way to really organize that picspam!'.
You get my point?
That isn't to say that I don't thoroughly enjoy tumblr. I love looking at things that have been well done, yet I'm just as guilty of not leaving encouraging comments. Why should I? I'm more compelled to leave a comment when I know thought and purpose have gone into something. I'm a writer at heart, not a graphics person. I will leave feedback on a fic that I think is well crafted. But a picspam is only half the work. And unless you're really into it, there's not much thought - picspams for challenges not included, because at least then you have to plan out what you're going to do.
I haven't shied away from tumblr. And this post isn't a place to declare loyalty to one medium over another. It's just an observation on evolution. One that I sincerely picked up on the first day I looked for Firefly fanfic, because there is none. And why should there be? The show ended eight years ago. There are the random one or two short ficlets, but as far as long (or even medium length) fic is concerned, it stopped being written sometime in 2010 as far as I can tell. If you're trying to decide whether or not a fandom is active based off of LJ alone, you'd think Firefly was dust in the wind. But then you go somewhere like tumblr and there's fanart galore. And for me, if the way a fandom is going to be kept alive and remembered and celebrated is through a picture with some text slapped on, so be it. Fandom tastes have evolved, and I'm just adapting. You have to, otherwise you'll just be pissed off with nowhere to go to celebrate shows that are off the air. It's becoming more apparent with LOST, with Battlestar Galactica - people remember these shows through gifs of their favorite moments. Picspams of the hilarity that is Laura Roslin's hair in the miniseries. Screencaps showcasing the poignant moments of Jack's death. And personally, I have a hard time finding fault with that.
Being a writer and knowing that fic is going the way of the CD in favor of new, instant fixes, hurts a little, I won't lie. I have an additional story I want to tell, who's going to be here to read it? If the answer is no one, then what do I do? What becomes my outlet? I've had an easier time keeping characters that I love alive via role play which is strictly writing, but what if that isn't everyone's favorite creative option?
The bottom line is, people want instant fandom gratification, and we're all going to have to roll with it. There will never be a dry well when it comes to people who would rather read words and appreciate a plot, but writers may start having to dig a little deeper to compete.
EDIT: I've decided to make this post public. Feel free to share the link or invite your friends to weigh in. I'm really interested in how people feel as a whole about this topic.