firecat

Sports writer discovers secret of fanfic

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 14:17:05 GMT

”Let’s Talk About Magic Dick Theory in ‘Dune’” by Brian Phillips

Brian Philips is a writer for The Ringer. His article describes an exciting idea that he unearthed by hanging around university libraries, and now wants to share with the unsuspecting world: “Magic Dick Theory holds that chosen-one narratives [in science fiction & fantasy] are actually about adolescent boys’ relationships with their, um, sexuality. […] essentially, the acquisition of magical powers in these stories is a metaphor for entering sexual maturity, and that one of the functions of these stories is to give readers a spectacularly dramatic framework for processing masturbation.”

He proceeds to give examples: Harry Potter and his wand, Paul Atreides and his worms, while uttering apologies for being the person to bring you this take on SF&F that you “will never be able to un-encounter.”

He goes on to explain that Dune partially subverts the “chosen one” narrative and is critical of it. Then he shares another theory of his: there is a “strange genre of modern stories that I think of as cake narratives…A cake narrative is a story that critiques a thing while also offering you all the pleasures of that thing.”

I’m glad someone informed me that Homer is a modern writer.

…

OK, I t’s not like I think everyone who writes about SF&F should already know about fanfic (or Homer), but there’s something adjacent to male answer syndrome in the way this writer takes personal credit for these theories (the closest he comes to citing other people’s work is to say “spend enough time bumming around university libraries and you’ll eventually come across the argument that…” as if the dust in said libraries agglomerates to the point that it develops sentience and generates theories all by itself, which languish in dark corners until uncovered by intrepid pop-culture journalists.

It makes me want to write an article about how I’ve discovered this amazing secret about sportsball. Who knew?! — sportsball is an elaborate metaphor for male sexuality. (They pat each other’s bums! They jump on top of each other! And have you SEEN the shape of a baseball bat?)

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Snowflake challenge #1

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 17:58:59 GMT

snowflake_challenge is an annual January celebration of fandom, fan works, and getting to know other fans & creators. There are fifteen prompts covering a variety of topics.

Snowflake challenge #1: Update your fandom information

I tweaked my DW profile, and when I went to read what other people say about their fannish interests and activities, I noticed that I feel less settled than others about exactly what I’m doing fannishly. I can say what I *have* done and a little about what I *do* but not so much about wha I *will do*. Maybe that’s because I’ve been doing it for less than five years.

Anyway, I started posting fanfic in spring 2020 and I’ve posted coming up on 1m words at AO3 (firecat ). I’ve been a dabbler (I’ve written in almost 120 fandoms) but I also have some faves — my most-written fandoms and characters have been Lucifer TV, the Loki-centric portions of MCU and other Loki variants, ancient Greek myth, John Constantine, Jack Harkness, Sherlock Holmes, and Star Trek (original series and Next Generation). I’m fond of crossovers. I’ve participated in a lot of exchanges. I tend toward explicit smut and sf/fantasy/horror, but other genres and less explicit works are respectably well represented.

My Dreamwidth journal has lately been mostly fannish stuff but I sometimes post about my life or stuff I’ve come across that made me think.

What are your thoughts about the phenomenon/communities of fandom today?

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Fannish knitting want

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 21:37:55 GMT

OK if anyone can hook me up with a knitting pattern for Okoye's sweater from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, I will love you forever.
( two images )

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Fun with spreadsheets, fanfic edition

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 11:30:50 GMT

The AO3 Automagic App is going to be 2 years old and it's having a birthday party exchange.
https://archiveofourown.org/collections/hAPPy_birthday_flash_exchange_2/profile
I was looking at the profile and I found this:

You can go to https://autoao3.herokuapp.com/export/user/USERNAME_HERE/tagset to export a list of all the fandoms/relationships/freeforms you've ever requested as a .csv!

Or you can use =IMPORTDATA("https://autoao3.herokuapp.com/export/user/USERNAME_HERE/tagset" in Google Sheets to import directly!

When I used the =IMPORTDATA thing I couldn't get it to work right, but importing the downloaded .csv into Google Sheets worked fine.

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Thu, 24 Mar 2022 03:17:13 GMT

This is mostly for moongoddex but I thought a few others might find it amusing too.

Aahz and I named our residence The Cat & Dragon. So we were always on the lookout for art that had both cats and dragons. We discovered Sarah Clemens's art many years ago at a science fiction convention. She has a series featuring a cat and a (more-or-less cat-sized) dragon.

Their names are Magnus & Loki.

Lately I've been enjoying (writing / reading) crossovers between the TV series Ragnarok and Loki and Thor from Norse mythology (or from Marvel, depending). Ragnarok has a character named Magne, who is affiliated with Thor, and a character affiliated with Loki.

Today I ran across Magnus & Loki on Facebook and the association hit me.

This artwork is titled "Magnus & Loki: Pure Evil." If you zoom in you can read the title of the book, which explains why Loki has singed it. The link takes you to one of Sarah Clemens's Magnus & Loki galleries.

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ao3 meme from everywhere

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 12:39:43 GMT

ao3 meme, from everywhere:

How many works do you have on AO3?
149 (one is still in an unrevealed exchange)

What’s your total AO3 word count?
432,270
( Read more... )

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Ficlet: Lucifer TV (Eve/Mazikeen)

Sat, 04 Sep 2021 08:24:54 GMT

Posted for femslashficlets prompt “Linger”

Slow Ride (359 words) by firecat
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Lucifer (TV)
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Eve/Mazikeen (Lucifer TV)
Characters: Eve (Lucifer TV), Mazikeen (Lucifer TV)
Additional Tags: Trust, Bondage, Teasing
Summary:

Eve wants Mazikeen to try it her way this time.

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First Lines Meme

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 08:22:30 GMT

First Lines Meme

Rules: List the first lines of your last 20 stories (if you have less than 20, just list them all!). See if there are any patterns. [I chose to interpret "lines" to mean "sentences".] Choose your favourite opening line. Then tag 10 authors!
tagged by: no one, but came across meme via lirazel
tagging: anyone who wants to do it

Note:
E-rated fics marked with *
Fics with Archive warnings marked with #

Maze was in South Los Angeles when she found her.
(*Remember Me New)
( Read more... )

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Snowflake Challenges 9, 10, 12, 13, 15

Sat, 30 Jan 2021 12:17:35 GMT

Catching up on Snowflake Challenge!

9. https://snowflake-challenge.dreamwidth.org/53756.html
Brag about yourself.
( toot! )

10. https://snowflake-challenge.dreamwidth.org/53981.html
Write a love letter to Fandom in general, to a particular fandom, to a trope, a relationship, a character, creator, episode, or it could be your fandom friends. Share your love and squee as loud as you want to.
( Dear Fandom )

12. https://snowflake-challenge.dreamwidth.org/54402.html
Resurrect an old meme.
( Op, op, op, op )

13. https://snowflake-challenge.dreamwidth.org/54540.html
Tell us about 3 fandom resources you use or enjoy.
( AO3 is the free space )

15. https://snowflake-challenge.dreamwidth.org/55290.html
Talk about Your Snowflake Experience
( \0/ )

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Fandom Snowflake Challenge #11

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 06:07:55 GMT

I plan to do Challenges 9–10 also, but I decided to skip ahead.

https://snowflake-challenge.dreamwidth.org/54255.html
Challenge #11: Create a fanwork.

Depending on how you count, this qualifies as the 50th fandom I've posted a fic for. \o/

The Ghost in the Library (1591 words) by firecat
Fandom: Miss Marple - Agatha Christie
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Jane Marple, Dolly Bantry, Arthur Bantry's grandmother
Additional Tags: Gossington Hall, Ghosts, Libraries, Books, Gender Roles, Likely incorrect use of historical British English
Summary: Jane Marple and Dolly Bantry camp out in Gossington Hall, hoping to meet a ghost.

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Snowflake Challenge #5–#8

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 01:39:51 GMT

Catching up on Snowflake Challenge. #5–#8

5. https://snowflake-challenge.dreamwidth.org/52524.html
Promote a canon/talk about a part of canon that you love.
( Yes I am blathering about Lucifer again )

6. https://snowflake-challenge.dreamwidth.org/52829.html
Rec at least three fanworks that you didn’t create.
( Joe-Stef sez check 'em out )

7. https://snowflake-challenge.dreamwidth.org/53086.html
Create your own challenge.
( short'n'sweet )

8. https://snowflake-challenge.dreamwidth.org/53360.html
In your own space, create a wishlist.
( gimme )

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Look Who's Coming to Dinner (snowflake challenge #3)

Wed, 06 Jan 2021 01:45:46 GMT

https://snowflake-challenge.dreamwidth.org/51997.html

Tell us who, from one of your fandoms, would you most want to have dinner with (or tea, or a random afternoon visit), And why? This could be a creator, an actor, a costumer, a set designer, a director, a character, a composer, anybody! What would you talk about? What are you dying to know?
( Read more... )

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About firecat

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 06:18:45 GMT

Here I am rambling about myself, because Snowflake Challenge invited me to. https://snowflake-challenge.dreamwidth.org/51456.html

Basic facts, mostly cribbed from my DW profile:

Name: firecat or stef
Birth year: 1961
Sign: Scorpio
Physical location: SF Bay Area, California, USA
Cyber locations: At the moment, mostly Dreamwidth, especially ffa; also AO3
( Read more... )

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Alternative fandoms, outsider artists, plus how everything is tied together

Sun, 14 Dec 2014 05:14:07 GMT

I really like Moby-Dick (the novel by Melville).

I'm afraid I don't much care for this guy's artwork style, but he made 552 illustrations for Moby-Dick (one for each page of his edition), which I think is a great project.

http://www.tinhouse.com/books/fiction-poetry/moby-dick-in-pictures.html

He also claims to have "the world's largest personal collection of Nazgul art"

http://everypageofmobydick.blogspot.com/p/the-worlds-largest-personal-collection.html

This is a recent article about him.

http://www.cincinnatimagazine.com/artsmindsblog/wild-weird-world-matt-kish/

While digging around to find out more about this guy, I discovered there is now a biennial "marathon reading of Moby-Dick" in New York City. This happened in 2012 and 2014. In 2013 there wasn't a reading, but there was a "Moby-Dick Not-Marathon," aka a convention. The next marathon will be in 2016. Its Kickstarter campaign is a sight to behold.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/amandabullock/moby-dick-marathon-nyc

I found out about Matt Kish via a pattern by Ann Weaver, "His Mark," in the new (50th!) edition of knitty.com:http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEw14/PATThismark.php

She has published two books of knitting patterns based on Moby-Dick. The paper versions of the books have illustrations by Matt Kish.

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The Tenth Doctor (Who)

Mon, 19 Aug 2013 03:58:46 GMT

I finished watching the David Tennant Doctor Who episodes. Should I put a spoiler cut even though all these shows aired 2006–2010? Might as well.

( spoiler cut )

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Star Trek Into Darkness

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 08:20:25 GMT

I was quite entertained by Star Trek: Into Darkness but it didn't make me gleeful the same way Reboot did. Not that sequels often do that.

( massive spoilers )

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Wed, 02 Jan 2013 03:59:16 GMT

via andrewducker

Plot holes in World War II (what were the writers thinking?)

http://squid314.livejournal.com/275614.html

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Bring on the spoilers

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 03:36:33 GMT

I finally got to watch The Avengers. I liked it, but I wasn't blown away. Maybe partly because I have never read any of the relevant comics.

So I invite those of you who had strong feelings about it to talk about what you loved/hated about it.

Also, where's the best fanfic? :)

(If I were writing Avengers fanfic, I would write it about Loki and one or more of his doubles.)

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Mon, 24 Sep 2012 02:22:42 GMT

In case you don't have enough yaoi K/S in your life (1 image within)...
( Read more... )

(Sent to me by someone who is welcome to identify zirself, or not.)

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Signal-boost: It's time for the Con or Bust auction!

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:02:23 GMT

Originally posted by kate_nepveu at announcing 2012 Con or Bust auction

I am pleased to announce this year's auction to support Con or Bust, which helps fans of color/non-white fans attend SFF conventions. Bidding starts Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 12:01 a.m. EST (GMT -5) and ends Sunday, February 25, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. EST. You may post auction offers and make donations now.

For more details, please see these updated posts explaining how to:

As a reminder, Con or Bust is now helping fans attend all cons of their own choosing, not just WisCon as in the past. (Requests for assistance to attend cons in April, May, and June 2012 will be taken from February 15 through 25; see the "request assistance" link for more details.) Because the demand for assistance is greater than before, please spread the word widely!

More information about Con or Bust.

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firecat goes to the movies

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:26:46 GMT

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows isn't the best movie ever, but I found it very entertaining. I'm not going to pay much attention to the reviews of M. LaSalle of the SF Chronicle in the future. (He gave it 1 star out of 5.)
( spoilers ho )

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How to be a fan of problematic things

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:39:38 GMT

http://www.socialjusticeleague.net/2011/09/how-to-be-a-fan-of-problematic-things/

One could also describe this post as "how to be a fan of things that have problematic elements, without necessarily being a fan of the problematic elements themselves." And/or "how to be a fan of what you're a fan of without attempting to defend it as perfect and without badgering other people to consume it if they have decided they don't want to."

Liking problematic things doesn’t make you an asshole. In fact, you can like really problematic things and still be not only a good person, but a good social justice activist (TM)! After all, most texts have some problematic elements in them, because they’re produced by humans, who are well-known to be imperfect. But it can be surprisingly difficult to own up to the problematic things in the media you like, particularly when you feel strongly about it, as many fans do. We need to find a way to enjoy the media we like without hurting other people and marginalised groups. So with that in mind, here are my suggestions for things we should try our darnedest to do as self-confessed fans of problematic stuff.

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This would convince me to watch Dr Who

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 00:49:16 GMT

http://www.themarysue.com/helen-mirren-doctor-who/

You guys, Helen Mirren just said in an interview that she would like to play the Doctor on Doctor Who. And then I exploded. Wow. Helen Mirren. Doctor Who. With a creamy “wants to play” center.

I don't need that much convincing...it's just that I find the number of episodes daunting compared to the amount of time I spend watching TV by myself...the OH having said he doesn't want to watch Dr Who.

...although come to think of it, he might well watch Helen Mirren do Dr Who.

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Life On Mars

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 04:51:57 GMT

Finished watching the British TV show Life On Mars. Waah! I loved it and didn't want it to end.

(There might be spoilers in the comments.)

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21 questions of Dreamwidth, part 3, questions 14-21

Sun, 15 May 2011 00:11:27 GMT

14. Did you have a gateway fandom? Still in it? Why or why not? Is there a community for it on DW?
OK. I'm sure this has been discussed to death elsewhere, but since it's the first time I have thought about it, I will discuss it to death here too, behind this here cut.
( Read more... )
As far as actively investigating/interacting with media fandom is concerned, Star Trek: Reboot is mostly what did it.

TL;DR: Very late bloomer.

15. What's your current obsession? What about it captures your imagination?
I don't have a positive current obsession right now, and that's a problem. I'm happier when I have one. I expect one will eventually come along; I'm open to it.

16. What are you glad you did but haven't really had a chance to post about?
I'm glad I've done various things, none of which I intend to post about.

17. How many people on your reading list ~~do you know IRL~~ have you met face to face?
About 80.

18. What don't you talk about here, either because it's too personal or because you don't have the energy?
( Read more... )
19. Any questions from the audience?
You can ask me anything any time. If you want to ask anonymously, you can do so by commenting on a public post in my journal. Anonymous comments are screened and I'll get a notification. (I might put up a sticky post to this effect, I suppose.)

20. Yes, but what are your thoughts on yaoi?
I feel vaguely benevolent toward yaoi and I know very little about it.

21. What's your favorite thing about Dreamwidth?
It's full of smart people talking about fascinating things.

Part 1, questions 1-9
Part 2, questions 10-13

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