Mini Meta 2012
2012-01-25 06:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rodoI've been working on these longer than it seems, but here all three prompts are, all on one post:
I. Usage of other languages in your English fic (foreign characters, emphasis) - getting it wrong/right
My opinions on the whole thing are very complicated and different on a case to case basis, so I’m trying to boil them down to a few (seven) general rules regarding what I like when it comes to it:
II. What makes THE movie fandom (big, e.g. XMFC, Inception, Avengers)
Go figure that I get stuck with a question I asked because I don’t quite know the answer, but I’d very much like to know it. You see, I watched The Three Musketeers last year, and I loved it. It was all I ever wanted in a Musketeer movie, plus airships. But for some reason, nobody picked it up, despite its ridiculousness, adventures and three guys sharing a house. So, what do the above mentioned have that makes them more fandomy than others? I’m partly guessing, since I haven’t watched all of them, but:
As far as I can tell, XMFC and Inception hit five of these points, the Avengers franchise all six. The Three Musketeers hits three (unless there is a fandom I don’t know of). Of course, there are exceptions, (Pirates of the Caribbean hits four, as do the Sherlock Holmes movies), but mostly I think that’s what makes the big movies fandoms of the day.
III. Do you ever come across statements in fic that seem wrong to you, but aren't easily verifiable? E.g. "it took them x hours to walk the y miles" (what? I know they're in good shape, but surely...). If yes, have you ever addressed the author on it?
I come across something like this every now and again, I suppose everyone does. Sometimes it’s a bit of characterisation, stereotyping or other such things that irk me and that are subjective to a certain degree, other times I do find proof that the info is wrong after an obsessive amount of googling. And sometimes I am really convinced that something is wrong because my brain tells me I know for a fact that Memphis in Egypt does not have a university where you can study archaeology because it hasn’t been inhabited in forever.
However, I only bring it up if I have verified it nowadays (yes, even the Memphis thing). The reason is an embarrassing incident that happened approximately a hundred internet years ago back when I was a wee newbie into Weiß Kreuz. I corrected someone’s use of fangirl German, telling her that a word was not a proper German curseword – and then she replied to me that yes, it is a proper German curseword where she lives, providing citations and all.
And thus I proved that if you do bring it up, chances are you’re wrong.
I. Usage of other languages in your English fic (foreign characters, emphasis) - getting it wrong/right
My opinions on the whole thing are very complicated and different on a case to case basis, so I’m trying to boil them down to a few (seven) general rules regarding what I like when it comes to it:
- Make sure the text is understandable without translation (at the bottom or elsewhere) or knowledge of the language.
- Make sure what you use is correct. If possible, have a native speaker look over it.
- Pay attention to how foreigners speak. Sometimes the odd misplaced word, phrase or sentence structure in English says more than a “ja” at the end of a sentence.
- Go beyond the simplest words, curses and endearments. Example: my prof used “nan to iu” a lot when speaking German.
- Keep the squiggly marks and odd letters, no matter how difficult to find. They’re there for a reason.
- If you use a transcription, decide on one and stick with it. If you’re transcribing Chinese, please, for the love of all that is good, use Pinyin.
- I actually like it if you forego transcriptions altogether. People won’t know what it means or how it is pronounced either way.
II. What makes THE movie fandom (big, e.g. XMFC, Inception, Avengers)
Go figure that I get stuck with a question I asked because I don’t quite know the answer, but I’d very much like to know it. You see, I watched The Three Musketeers last year, and I loved it. It was all I ever wanted in a Musketeer movie, plus airships. But for some reason, nobody picked it up, despite its ridiculousness, adventures and three guys sharing a house. So, what do the above mentioned have that makes them more fandomy than others? I’m partly guessing, since I haven’t watched all of them, but:
- Contemporary American setting, or close enough.
- Established fandom for pre-existing versions of the material.
- Famous actors to draw in a fanbase.
- Science fiction or fantasy setting.
- At least two possible popular slash pairings.
- Focused on plot, not characterisation.
As far as I can tell, XMFC and Inception hit five of these points, the Avengers franchise all six. The Three Musketeers hits three (unless there is a fandom I don’t know of). Of course, there are exceptions, (Pirates of the Caribbean hits four, as do the Sherlock Holmes movies), but mostly I think that’s what makes the big movies fandoms of the day.
III. Do you ever come across statements in fic that seem wrong to you, but aren't easily verifiable? E.g. "it took them x hours to walk the y miles" (what? I know they're in good shape, but surely...). If yes, have you ever addressed the author on it?
I come across something like this every now and again, I suppose everyone does. Sometimes it’s a bit of characterisation, stereotyping or other such things that irk me and that are subjective to a certain degree, other times I do find proof that the info is wrong after an obsessive amount of googling. And sometimes I am really convinced that something is wrong because my brain tells me I know for a fact that Memphis in Egypt does not have a university where you can study archaeology because it hasn’t been inhabited in forever.
However, I only bring it up if I have verified it nowadays (yes, even the Memphis thing). The reason is an embarrassing incident that happened approximately a hundred internet years ago back when I was a wee newbie into Weiß Kreuz. I corrected someone’s use of fangirl German, telling her that a word was not a proper German curseword – and then she replied to me that yes, it is a proper German curseword where she lives, providing citations and all.
And thus I proved that if you do bring it up, chances are you’re wrong.
no subject
Date: 2012-01-25 08:53 am (UTC)II. Oh, The Three Musketeers! I didn't even make an attempt at finding a fandom for the new film as I've never had much success for other versions. Maybe I wasn't the only one who thought like that?
When I watched Inception I didn't expect the movie fandom would grow that big, or that big with Arthur/Eames as the most popular pairing. The movie has several things that appeal to me: the science fiction elements, interesting characters I want to know more about, delicious character dynamics and conflict potential, gorgeous actors. Yes, definitely some points from your list of reasons there. *g*
All in all I adored it and would have loved to make it my Next Big Thing fandom-wise, but the lack of reading material made me turn to other fandoms soon.
So I guess I'm the wrong person to be much help with this question.
III. *nod nod* Same for me.
But then (in the current fandome climate) I often keep quiet even when I know for sure that a statement/information/procedure in a fic is wrong and easily verified. There's the safe space thing again, and sometimes also a hint of resignation. Because the same wrong information gets mentioned in so many fics I come across, for example, and I wouldn't know where to start. *g*
no subject
Date: 2012-01-25 07:05 pm (UTC)II. I wouldn't say you're the wrong person. Part of my problem there is that I don't get the popular fandoms these last few years. I find the movies mildly enjoyable at best, but not "OMG I need fic", and in the case of Inception, I didn't even manage to watch past the first ten minutes because it bored me. So my perspective is that of a bemused outsider wondering what it is about them that's so great.
III. Yeah, sometimes the potential fallout isn't worth it. I haven't had the best experiences with correcting someone's German when I was right either. One time, the offending bits and my comment mysteriously disappeared, another time I was getting a flame back. And that was before the current climate change, when concrit was still more valued.
Have you tried anon memes? They've been a blessing for me.
no subject
Date: 2012-01-25 07:37 pm (UTC)II. *g* I was head over heels in love with Inception, went to the cinema five times and pre-ordered the DVD. But even if it had turned out to be boring for me, it had Ken Watanabe! ♥ ♥ ♥ I mean, I watched Last Samurai because of him! And Ken Watanabe plus Ellen Page, Michael Caine and Cillian Murphy? I was in heaven! Didn't hurt that I liked Tom Hardy and Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, as well.
But I still don't get Inception fandom, because for me it's all about Saitou (Ken), Robert (Cillian) and Dom Cobb (DiCaprio). *shrug*
I often miss being part of a popular fandom. HP was glorious! So much to read.
I find the movies mildly enjoyable at best, but not "OMG I need fic"
Yes, that kind of fits with my usual reaction. I don't crave fic for things I only find mildly enjoyable, I have to love the source and/or the characters. For example, I've recently watched Thor and Captain America. No fic cravings there.
III. I don't really see the point in anon memes. Or I simply don't get them. How would they help me?
no subject
Date: 2012-01-25 09:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-01-26 08:15 pm (UTC)