On reviewing...

[heidi]

Fascinating article in Salon today on the harshness of book reviews, which makes me think that:
(a) LiveJournals and concrit - and even flames - of fanfics aren't so far removed from the Real World;
(b) Sometimes, being caustic just because you can, doesn't mean you should; and
(c) It's very important to be able to take constructive criticism, especially if you can mentally separate it from the source (if you don't actually like or, say, share a ship with said source).

These were the two bits I found most interesting:


Charles McGrath observes that fellow novelists can be too easy on a colleague's work as often as -- if not more often than -- they are too harsh. "Some novelists have a guild mentality. They won't say anything bad about other writers who are in the guild, so what you get is bland and wishy-washy prose. But another issue is that reviewing and writing novels are two different skills. Just because you write a great novel doesn't mean you can write a good review."

Andrew Hultkrans, editor in chief of BookForum magazine, notes that "young novelists have a tendency to deliver timid, on-the-fence reviews. They're scared of karmic payback, or they're so empathetic to the difficulties of writing a novel they can't bring themselves to criticize other novelists."


McGrath later says something which I think should be food for thought around here - not just now, but 18 months ago. Or 10 months ago. He said, "People say the discourse about books in this country often seems to be lacking in urgency. I think that's true to some extent. When I first came to New York, people really argued about books. I saw relationships break up over books. I miss that."

I think I'm the antithesis of this. Apart from the fact that I did marry my husband for his library (no, not really!) why is it that people think that disagreement about one thing - not even one personal thing - can or should have an impact on interpersonal relationships? Why does someone's take on a book (say, for example, regarding SHIPs) prevent others from befriending that person, or listening to what he or she has to say?

I don't have anyone in particular in mind with the prior paragraph, but it's something I know has happened time and again in various corners of this fandom. And I'm curious as to why. But that might be because my mindset is still "Hey! You over there! Why don't you like us?" or at least "Why won't you talk to us about Something Completely Different?"

Comments

[ex-mahoney365.livejournal.com]

>>>why is it that people think
that disagreement about one thing - not even one personal thing - can or should have an impact on interpersonal relationships? Why does
someone's take on a book (say, for example, regarding SHIPs) prevent others from befriending that person, or listening to what he or she
has to say? <<<

I wonder this myself. I do get that people will gravitate towards other people with similar interests, but I don't get why differences of opinion on particular topics rankle some people so much. A difference of opinion is not, in fact, necessarily a personal slight requiring much venom spewed in response....

It's very interesting to see how that plays out in the Real World of book reviews. Them thar professional writers are just as tetchy as fanfic hobbyists, eh? :P

*ponders*

[anya-writer.livejournal.com]

Hmm...while most of my close friends come from my preferred ship, shipping has not really been an issue when it comes to friendship or reading fics. I have read fics that feature ships which are different from my preferred one but it does not lessen my appreciation for them. I like well-written fics.

I also have close friends who prefer other ships and I have no intention of "converting" them to mine. To each his own. We just have a lot of fun talking of things in and beyond the HP fandom.

I think that keeping an open mind towards everything and everyone is important to me. We are individuals, not clones. And I appreciate the diversity because it helps me to understand the different backgrounds which we come from. It's very interesting, really. I've met a lot of lovely, lovely people in the short time I've been in the fandom.

Anya

[eleveninches.livejournal.com]

Heidi, you're the coolest. ;)

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

: feels loffed

[rhiannon333.livejournal.com]

Excellent points as always Heidi. I too married my husband for his library - well, the half consisting of the books I liked! The overlap of our duplicate books, some 1200 in all, we sold off at a wild party we called The Book Sale. You should have heard all our friends and their conflicting opinions at that party! Which was an absolute blast! Both English lit graduates, with strong views, husband and I only sometimes see eye to eye on books we like, diverging most radically on some post-modernist texts, yet we debate and disagree with no flow-on disharmony. Equally we debate literature, films etc amongst our friends with glee. No hard feelings. I have always found it bizarre in fandom that ship preferences would ever be so significant to people's appreciation for the writing, let alone form the basis of personal attack on the writer. However I can understand reviewers' reluctance to be tough on others, and indeed feel constrained from publicly offering constructive criticism myself. In private email, yes. But public criticism, however well-balanced, brings in a whole dimension of fandom politics and fan-reaction which seems far from conducive to being helpful for the writer, which is the purpose. Even privately delivered con crit may not be well accepted, and I understand that it may take some people time to accustom themselves to receiving such feedback. And by this I do not mean the over-the-top blast of the critic quoted in the Salon article. Inappropriate and out of proportion - poorly considered criticism. I am with your mindset about valuing and encouraging difference of opinion, but always balanced with positives and expressed appropriately. Not everyone can write creatively, and not everyone can critique constructively; and tolerance and acceptance are sometimes lacking . Skills we can all work on improving!

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

I have always found it bizarre in fandom that ship preferences would ever be so significant to people's appreciation for the writing, let alone form the basis of personal attack on the writer.

Someone said on HPfGU on Tuesday that if JKR had Hermione and Draco (even a redeemend draco!) get together in the books, he'd have a bookburning party.

: goggles

I just don't understand that mindset. I've heard it in other ways too - if Harry and Ginny don't get together, I know at least one person has sworn off reading the books ever again because that would be too cruel to Ginny.

Ginny. Does. Not. Exist.

She is a fictional character. There is no Ginny to actually care if she gets together with Harry who, btw, is also nonexistent although we may wish otherwise.

Now, while I can state, for the record, that if JKR includes any graphic Dumbledore/Hagrid scenes I will probably skip them, I cannot imagine suddenly disliking these wonderfully written books, no matter who falls in love, or who doesn't.

[rhiannon333.livejournal.com]

:goggles along with you:

Madness.

Although I may be forced to burn them if I can see past my bleeding eyes reading graphic Hagrid/Dumbledore slash! (I may even expand that to read: Hagrid / anyone slash!)

[chinawolf.livejournal.com]

Why does someone's take on a book (say, for example, regarding SHIPs) prevent others from befriending that person, or listening to what he or she has to say?

It seems that just because one is hanging out in a particular corner of the fandom (eg. the slashdom), or within that corner inside a certain group, one is put into a drawer. I really resent that. Only because I like one plot, doesn't mean I can't enjoy reading a story that is totally different. Because I read fics at one site, it doesn't mean that I think all other sites are bad. If I am a friend of one person, that doesn't mean I can't be friendly with the next that for personal reasons doesn't like the first.

This is my first fandom, so I was new to all this fandom politics business. When I caught sight of my first fandom war, I was astonished to find out that such things happen at all. Now, it seems, they have become a norm rather than an exception.

I wish everybody would read what you said, Heidi, and take that advice. If there is a point that two or more people/cliques/groups can't agree on, fine! It should not be so hard to agree to disagree and get on with life, and talk about other things the next time they meet.

As for me, I am tired of being put into one drawer only.

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

The irony of this is, I have just been roundly chastised by someone who has been in fandoms (on and offline) for the past 8 years and who seems to think that I am bering a strong resemblance to Ms Granger - sort of a "...she thinks she's studied us and therefore understands us! Silly bint!" kind of thing, as regards my take on my conclusion that the HP fandom is different from other fandoms.

Long live all the First Fandomers in HP! Not that this should be taken against anyone who isn't a First Fandomer here!

And may we all keep hopping among sites and fics and perspectives and Ljs and stories and fanart and anything else each of us, individually, happens to like.

Go us! (no, I did NOT link to the Go Me! shirt there. am not THAT much of a shill!)

[viola-dreamwalk.livejournal.com]

the HP fandom is different from other fandoms.

Well, it is, at least in my opinion. In the same way that The X-Files fandom (the first "mainstream" and online fandom) was different than Star Trek (the original old-school fanzine and conventions fandom). Fandoms evolve. The HP fandom attracts both people from media fandoms (like XF, Buffy, etc.) and also a large number of people who aren't the sorts who would typically be "fan" material. I could show you the demographics and market research to back up that assessment, too, if I hadn't signed those pesky non-disclosure agreements... ^_-

[sundancekid.livejournal.com]

Excellent comments, Heidi. I agree - people need to learn to deal with people of differing viewpoints. I definitely have ships I prefer, but I don't limit myself to reading only fics dealing with that ship or talking only to people who also ship it. For starters, I wouldn't be talking to you if that was the case. :p

IMHO, if you limit yourself like that, you're losing out.

I saw relationships break up over books. I miss that.
What is wrong with that man?

Allie

[ashavah]

The answer is that it shouldn't get in the way. Or not much. Of my real life friends, only two of them share my Harry Potter ship beliefs. But I don't let that get in the way. I say my bit about long live R/H (to which they say "No, Harry and Hermione!") and carry on with my day. A variety of interpretations is part of what makes fandom so great. Sure, there can be problems between ships and communities, but for example, we have our own H/H shippers at the Quill and it all works out fine. And I'm good friends with people who have totally different interpretations fo canon to me.

But I don't care how they interpret it. I might try to persuade them to think differently, but it's not worth losing a relationship over.

Yours in fanfiction,

JK

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

Agreed, it's not. But it's also not worth avoiding starting relationships. If I could find the posting....

I read an LJ post about four months ago where someone mused that she wanted to write to a fic's author with some serious praise for the fic, but was nervous about doing that, because they sailed different ships, and she thought the author might think she was being insincere. It's one reason I like leaving anonymous reviews these days - and do so more than signed reviews for people I'm not already friends with - I feel like there's too much baggage associated with a review from me - either it'll be taken as Too Much or it'll be mistaken as insincere.

[heart-of-wine.livejournal.com]

Very thought-provoking post, Heidi. My quick thoughts on the following question:

Why does someone's take on a book (say, for example, regarding SHIPs) prevent others from befriending that person, or listening to what he or she has to say?

I honestly think that it takes maturity and intelligence to be able to be friends with someone who shares different beliefs than you do.

Separate from that, it is the nature of most people to gravitate towards that with which they are familiar and can relate to most easily, which is not a crime, but can lead to complacency. Quite simply, many are content and complacent with the views/opinions that they hold and don't want to push themselves or test this belief because they are either happy where they are or they may fear that their belief will waver.

Me. I like being pushed. I read other ships not for faults, but to expand my horizons, test my theories, and deepen my understanding of these incredible books.

Cheers,
Elia