There's a bit of a song, that's become a bit of a cult theme

[new_kate]

So yeah last week some stuff happened! And I had many feelings about that, including but not limited to several different kinds of butthurt! But all I have to say about it is this:

Out of everything that's been said and done lately, nothing will have a more profound, wide-spread and long-lasting effect on how we perceive fandom and interact with it, or teach us a more important and elegant lesson about the power of anonymity and the power of words, than this:

Pairing Pendragon/Merlin, by anon.

Okay I vented now, back to regularly scheduled porns.

Comments

[new-kate.livejournal.com]

I think the reason why you didn't appreciate the fic so much and I hadn't understood its importance at the time was because we're not in the thick of it all! It's all about pretty unique experiences, and it's written expressly for the insiders, for the people who deal with being BNFs and being awe-struck or unimpressed by BNFs and all the fandom politics that come with it. And the thing is, there's not much written about expressly that. When the fandom was having that discussion last week we all seemed to rely heavily on metaphors - this is like high school, this is like tabloids, this is like being a celebrity yet not at all. But fandom, as it is now, is a thing unlike anything, and it's so great that there's some fiction already for people to read and relate to, and reflect and process how this little world functions.

I think its popularity speaks for itself, it was exactly what fandom needed! And the fact that it was anon makes it so much more powerful, detached from any personalities and politics. Kind of like a legend.

[gilli-ann.livejournal.com]

Thank you. That makes much sense to me and my bewilderment surrounding the mysterious hurrahs for this fic. I think in metaphors and images quite a lot when it comes to ordinary life so I don't need anyone to explain the "real thing" in exact terms to me. I find that boring. Also fandom politics mainly make me sad and impatient.

For what it's worth - and I am competely serious in this - I would rank you very high on the list of BNFs according to my personal definition, which factors in incredibly wonderful fics, fascinating and wide-reaching knowledge, and a generous and kind fandom persona.

[/sucking up to a BNF] ;)

[new-kate.livejournal.com]

Heee Gillian, you're so sweet <3 but no, seriously, it takes a lot more to be a BNF! Most BNF are great writers and a lot are prolific, but BNFs are also kind of centers of fandom, it tends to gravitate to them and organise itself around them, listen to their opinion, rely on them to solve problems and run things and keep up to date with stuff and set the tone of the community and so much more. And I really don't want and can't handle that kind of responsibility and attention, omg I'm even behind on my comments /weeps