Allow Me To Cannibalize A Comment Into A Post. Because That's How I Roll.

[redbrunja]

There was a conversation (on a locked post, so) about fanfic authors having Felicity Smoak (of Arrow) be a fan of various Big Fandoms (Doctor Who, Game of Thrones, etc) and while I think it works better with Felicity* than a lot of other characters, I think it's a ballsier move than most fanficcers realize.

The thing is, name-dropping fandoms (especially a fandom that author loves or that is super-popular currently) is one of the easiest ways to throw a reader out of the story, because you have to deal with the reader's opinion about what that character would like** AND their feelings about the property in question.

I mean, when it works***, it really works, but I think that most writers don't realize what they're risking on what is often not a very important detail.

*I bet Felicity is watching Game of Thrones. But I also suspect she liked the books better.

**Sidebar, playing 'what other media would fictional character X love' is super-fun, imho.

***that time Tony Stark thought about his mother singing Simon & Garfunkle's "America" as a lullaby  and how he thought it was referencing Captain America ALL THE FEELINGS MY GOD.

[+] Finally, based on the conversation that inspired this post, now I’m imagining that Felicity is a total arthouse film and History Channel geek, instead of the more common sci-fi/fantasy nerd.

[+] There is a whole other post regarding writing canonically well-read characters like Rory Gilmore, Blair Waldorf, and Dan Humphrey.

Comments

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Someone wrote once about Tim watching CSI or rather, having it on in the background when he's working bc it's so profoundly easy to figure out that it just sort of frees up his mind, which honestly, I could totally see.

Agreed!

But I'm still flying the flag for team "Robins watching Adventuretime."

Definitely, definitely.

DUDE FOR REAL. just because the new 52 said so doesn't mean we should follow that as a guideline, guys, because spoiler: the new 52 sucks. how about every time there's a ~Robinpile~ fic, Steph is always the one who gets the axe and I'm like mmmhmmm but how about leave out Damian and add Steph, please and thank you?

Now I want to count, and see if Steph or Damian had a longer run. I feel like the answer is Damian, but, like, by a hair.

I came across a couple of GORGEOUS fanarts where the artist was clearly tuning into this 'sons of Bruce Wayne' similarity, which, frankly, Steph doesn't fit for reasons that only tangentially have to do with her being blonde and female but I was SO BITTER about not getting to see Steph in that style. Like, how could you deprive me of the glory of Stephanie in this amazing anime style? And also, btw, she was a Robin.

Honestly, I think I would read a thousand fics about Tim and Damian being annoyed during Wayne Enterprises meetings with Damian being like "ugh, white people" the entire time.

I'd read that. Also, I really, really like point 3 on this post (http://dreamrabbit.tumblr.com/post/28362649031/are-stephanie-brown-and-cassandra-cain-really-toxic).

Also, other people share your opinion on Tim's characterization in the new 52 (http://jaybirdtodds.tumblr.com/post/54635597786/kai-chu-just-saying).