sorta a bookmarking post while I think about this

[asimplechord]

I'm reading The Audience As Editor in Fan Fiction and Fan Communities in the Age of the Internet right now, and this bit caught my eye:

[...]beta reading represents a further refutation of the idea that individuals or groups can claim sole intellectual ownership over the texts and images that combine to form a shared frame of reference for a diverse and international community.

So as cheerleaders, aides, and editors, we are turning storytelling back into a folkloric, community-owned endeavor?

Gotta think about this.

Opinions?

Comments

[angela-snape.livejournal.com]

That's an interesting take on things.

I do not write fanfiction - I am not sure I ever will, but I won't say never at this point in time. I have, however, recently started beta-ing for a couple of writers here, and while I am pleased when I see that an author has taken into account my plot-related suggestions, I don't feel ownership over the story itself.

I see the role of the beta as editor and sounding board, but not really part of the creative team, per se.

[asimplechord.livejournal.com]

It's not that I think we have the same... dunno... right to feel possessive? about a fic that we beta as the author does. (Although I do look at stuff I've beta'd and thought, "Jeez, how did I miss that? My name is up there as beta, people'll think I'm stupid that I missed that mistake." So in that sense, I suppose I'm protective and possessive.) More that the act of creation has become a community-based one, rather than an individual one. Sorta like telling stories around a camp fire, keeping old tales alive, and the story becomes community property that way. Like old myths and fairy tales being told, you know? Only the original characters here still technically belong to the media company/publisher/etc.

[angela-snape.livejournal.com]

I wasn't disagreeing with you - I think the comparison to old-time storytelling is a good one. The beta, in my opinion, is a part of the creation process, but not the originator of the story - that's the fic writer. Of course, the (original) characters in FF belong to the person that created them...

and I do agree about being possessive of stories I've beta'd - if I went back & read it and there were glaring plot holes or SPAG errors I'd be embarrassed about missing them.

[angela-snape.livejournal.com]

Of course, looking back at my OC, I can't help but wonder if I've gone & contradicted myself...

Can I be possesive about a story without taking ownership for it?? *facepalm*