meta rec - I probably shouldn't post about this, but... (Merlin fandom)

I probably shouldn't post about this, but . . . by linaerys regarding the Merlin fandom in response to thingswithwings post on Merlin (linked in entry).



This is pretty much a lot of what I wanted to say on the subject after reading thingswithwings's post, but a.) I am not even in the Merlin fandom and have only watched a little of the show, so authority, see I have none and b.) I'm not terribly objective since I was in comments there and being sane, I'm not going to post on something when my feelings are hurt or blah blah whineycakes.

It's more--I'm not sure I have the right to take it personally when I think there was actual escalation involved, and I'm not entirely sure I'm not to blame for getting frustrated with the concept that seemed to be running through the essay and much more specifically in comments regarding a social obligation not to be fannish on source text that's problematic. So, yeah. I'm still reading through it to make sure I didn't misinterpret, but it's still bothering me, because a.) really, no, fans are not now responsible for the creators actions and b.) I'm not comfortable fans themselves be judged by what they are fannish about. I know there are exceptions to this--I can think of several off the top of my head I'd find problematic, like fangirling Nazis, because it's not a good post unless I can Godwin it--but I'm also extremely wary of skating toward your kink is not okay.

Like I said, linaerys said it far better and more clearly than I can.

Comments

[seperis.livejournal.com]

I haven't even seen enough Merlin to make a judgment call. What I have seen, so far, isn't all that different from pretty much all shows in that category, so yeah. I probably need to see the rest to be sure, but so far, I haven't seen anything dramatically worse than SGA, SV, or pretty much half the shows out right now.

I know my issues are not the deep thoughts about social obligation and morality as it affects the world we live in through our magic Tv screen, but I truly felt the rant was more about stopping people from watching Merlin because it would impact SGA than actually having much relevant discussion behind it.

Oh yeah. I was sympathetic to the leaving-SGA thing, because I hate it when that happens in a fandom I'm in, but I'm not sure going the "this show is immoral so stay in SGA" is quite the way to go about convincing people.

[fanaddict.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't think Merlin is a stand out in regard to gender and race, but that's both in good and bad terms - it simply exists alongside many other similar genre shows. I will say I was very happy with the color-blind casting of Guinevere, but that's the only stand out thing.

I absolutely understand that feeling about people leaving a favorite show for the new shiny of the moment. I think I've just been in fandom long enough to have seen it enough times that I know that a) it's always going to happen eventually whether because the show ends or it goes in directions that fans don't care for; and b) there will always be a group of loyal fans that will continue to love and write in a fandom after others have flitted away. Fandoms rarely die, they just retire to a more restful spot out of the sun. There's still a Trek fandom, a due South fandom, a Sentinel fandom, etc - as long as there is source material to pimp out to possible converts, the fandom lives. Unless of course the show or actors leave the fans with such extreme bitterness that there's no one left to pimp them...