Gan Xingba (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} ganxingba) wrote,@ 2008-01-24 00:00:00 |
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The "Organization for Transformative Works" is Silly
So, there's this thing called the Organization for Transformative Works. They want to apparently archive and legitimize fan works. All right, fine. People have tried before, but that doesn't bug me. They also want to create a history of fandom. Again, no problem. However, from there, it gets odd. This is the second thing on their list of values (on their "About" page here):
2. We value our identity as a predominantly female community with a rich history of creativity and commentary.
Come again?
The OTW represents a practice of transformative fanwork historically rooted in a primarily female culture.
That so? Rooted in female culture? I find that odd, considering they view fan fiction, fan art and fan videos as "transformative works," which sounds pretty pretentious by the way. Like, Edith Wharton came up with that title pretentious. At any rate, I happen to have taken part in two of those aspects of fandom. I know a bit about it, particularly the fanvid part, and I can say with absolute confidence that a statement of it being "predominantly female" is ludicrous. There are as many male FMV makers as female. They've contributed as much to the history of fandom as females. For example, this little AMV, which gained fame before Youtube even existed, or of course the king of fandubs, LittleKuriboh, who blew open a whole new medium for fanworks.
Predominantly female? Rooted in female culture? Yeah, sure, if you exclude all parts of fandom outside of romantic fan fiction. Otherwise, the claim is ridiculous.
There, rant over. Continue with your regularly scheduled internets.
So, there's this thing called the Organization for Transformative Works. They want to apparently archive and legitimize fan works. All right, fine. People have tried before, but that doesn't bug me. They also want to create a history of fandom. Again, no problem. However, from there, it gets odd. This is the second thing on their list of values (on their "About" page here):
2. We value our identity as a predominantly female community with a rich history of creativity and commentary.
Come again?
The OTW represents a practice of transformative fanwork historically rooted in a primarily female culture.
That so? Rooted in female culture? I find that odd, considering they view fan fiction, fan art and fan videos as "transformative works," which sounds pretty pretentious by the way. Like, Edith Wharton came up with that title pretentious. At any rate, I happen to have taken part in two of those aspects of fandom. I know a bit about it, particularly the fanvid part, and I can say with absolute confidence that a statement of it being "predominantly female" is ludicrous. There are as many male FMV makers as female. They've contributed as much to the history of fandom as females. For example, this little AMV, which gained fame before Youtube even existed, or of course the king of fandubs, LittleKuriboh, who blew open a whole new medium for fanworks.
Predominantly female? Rooted in female culture? Yeah, sure, if you exclude all parts of fandom outside of romantic fan fiction. Otherwise, the claim is ridiculous.
There, rant over. Continue with your regularly scheduled internets.
