Much as I respect academia and all, I'm not sure I can face fandom if it continues on a path where squee is measured in academic potential of a fic.
That would bother me too, except I don't think that fandom's really going in that direction. There will be bouts of academic meta from time to time, spurned on by certain fics or whatever, but I don't think we are in any danger of being over-run by meta-textual analysis. For one thing, all of us aren't academics, and even those who are did presumably get into fandom for the fun of it.
I just see this one particular instance as an opportunity for those people to combine their professional know-how with their hobby. It's something different from what's usually going on, and therefore an attractive prospect. But at its heart fandom is all about the love for the story and the characters. I refuse to believe that one fic is going to change all that.
no subject
That would bother me too, except I don't think that fandom's really going in that direction. There will be bouts of academic meta from time to time, spurned on by certain fics or whatever, but I don't think we are in any danger of being over-run by meta-textual analysis. For one thing, all of us aren't academics, and even those who are did presumably get into fandom for the fun of it.
I just see this one particular instance as an opportunity for those people to combine their professional know-how with their hobby. It's something different from what's usually going on, and therefore an attractive prospect. But at its heart fandom is all about the love for the story and the characters. I refuse to believe that one fic is going to change all that.
(and now I'm the one who's not making sense)