My essay: When Worlds Collide: Harry Potter Crossover Fanfiction

[thrihyrne]

I'd been holding off of posting my paper as it's under consideration for the inaugural edition of Distraction, an online journal focusing on critical studies on fan fiction. Due to a variety of factors, however, that edition has been pushed back and won't happen until after Lumos, so I've been given the okay to put it out in the public. So without further ado, here's my paper as it will be presented on Friday. If I get any feedback at the conference I may modify it a bit. My thanks to llembas for editing it for me a couple of months ago. I didn't code it; it's saved as a pdf. Go here to my non-adult HP page for the link and brief commentary.

Read and ruminate, should you be interested!

Comments

[wolfiekins.livejournal.com]

Fascinating! Thanks so much for sharing with those of us unable to attend LUMOS! A wonderfully in-depth look at a much-maligned form of fanfic. And it seems rather fitting that yours is the only presentation concerning crossovers...I wish I could be present to see it in person; I'll have to wait for the DVD set, I reckon! *g*

One of the very first fics Auntie recced was a Star Wars/HP x-over wherein Snape meets with Palpatine. Sounds ludicrous, but it was so well-written it gave me the chills. Of course, I was intimately familiar with both fandoms, so I believe that enhanced my enjoyment of the fic.

Having written one x-over and being faced with doing another for a challenge, I can say I expect little to no readership for the Buffy/Harry fic due in October. Why write it then? Because the challenge of doing so is irresistible, and I'm eager to attempt to create a believable scenario where the two fandoms can interact. Why will very few (if any) read it? Well, take the HP fandom, then, further reduce that number of fans to those who also LIKE and KNOW BTVS; further reduce that number of readers to those who might want to READ such an x-over, and you're left with a VERY small potential audience. And then factor in the difficulties in posting x-over stories...

Obviously you're familiar with my HP/Trek x-over. I think that WaTE is somewhat unique in that in only projects HP characters into a Trek themed future. Still, it demanded that a reader be at least vaguely familiar with TREKDOM. Despite this, I believe the TREK elements actually drove away potential readers. One of the few commenters of the fic indicated that while they enjoyed the creative elements required to juxtapose the two fandoms, they couldn't help but giggle at the TREK elements. (Perhaps another possible topic entirely: the perceived silliness by many of the entire TREK fandom)

An excellent essay, luv. Again, I'm sorry I won't be present to take in the questions and/or discussions. Most impressive work, per usual!

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

And it seems rather fitting that yours is the only presentation concerning crossovers...I wish I could be present to see it in person; I'll have to wait for the DVD set, I reckon! *g*

LOL! Yes, well, I suppose if one is looking at how many aspects of HP fandom and education and scholarship there are to contemplate, crossover fanfiction is only a small sliver. Representative of how it is within the fanfiction enclave as a whole!

Of course, I was intimately familiar with both fandoms, so I believe that enhanced my enjoyment of the fic.

Well, that's what I found interesting in some of the responses; even people who loved two different fandoms might not read a crossover that put them together. I'm glad that you enjoyed the one you read!

(Perhaps another possible topic entirely: the perceived silliness by many of the entire TREK fandom)

::cough:: Looks like an essay *you* could write! ::cough::

Thanks for your comments!

I can say I expect little to no readership for the Buffy/Harry fic due in October.

Buffy/HP is the biggest combo, though; and seeing as how crossovers were listed as a whole section in that particular fqf says something, I think. I bet you'll be surprised at your readership!! But your points reinforce what comments I got: writers write crossovers because they want them, not for the potential readership.