ENG111: Project #4: Arguement Essay

Validity of Fan Fiction as Self-expression

 

Fan fiction. Some people revel in it, eat, drink, breathe, and live it! Others skim, occasionally finding something of interest. Still others outright scoff at it, dismissing it and its writers. Despite where you stand on the issue, with the hundreds of site dedicated to such on the Internet, it’s obvious that, until the original authors revolt, fan fiction is here to stay. This existence brings a question of validity to mind: Are these stories, based off another’s work, a true form of self-expression?

 

First, for those of you who may not be familiar with fan fiction, I offer up what has come to be known as its general definition. Fan fiction is when the fans of an original piece of work, be it books, movies, plays, television (both live-action shows, as well as cartoons), music, comics (as well as Japanese manga), video games, etc., create stories of their own, using elements, such as settings, plots, and characters from the original work.

 

Some will argue that, because these writers are using someone else’s work as their base, they are not creating original works of their own, that they are not expressing their own ideas. They are not creating their own worlds, their own characters; they are only ‘sponging’ off the original author’s work. However, in many circumstances the fan fiction writer builds upon the previously written texts, offering it up from another, less developed canon character’s view (Canon being the term generally used to denote the element used from the original work: canon character, canon setting, etc.), giving it a new perspective. Others focus upon neglected subplots, back stories, etc., of canon characters, incorporating their own original thoughts and ideas beside the accepted canon plot.

 

In an article in the Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, entitled "Fan Fiction online: Engagement, critical response and affective play through writing," D. Lewis is cited as making pro-fan fiction claims. Lewis talks about how inexperienced writers can utilize the original canon works, and instead of having to take the time to create the basics, can focus more on their writing skills, and improving their own abilities. After building these "writing muscles," writers often expand their writing to include other sources, and their own original works as well. [3]

 

In the same aforementioned article, Henry Jenkins is cited as to expressing his belief that writers can employ canon elements with their own ideas, characters, and research, to create starting points that can evolve into something original.

 

One of the main arguments against fan fiction is the matter of copyright infringement. Does the writing of fan fiction trespass upon the original writer’s copyrights? Thus far this question has failed to be put to the full test, as any litigation started has been settled out of court. The closest case known would be Anderson v. Stallone.

 

Anderson wrote what was considered a treatment (a preliminary outline of a film or teleplay laying out key scenes, characters, and locales) of a sequel to the film Rocky, using the same elements (i.e. the same characters, same names, same settings), which he sent to the film studio. The studio then produced Rocky IV, which mirrored Anderson’s work, without acknowledging him in any way or offering payment. As said work was virtually similar to the original concept of the studios own, it was deemed to have "literal similarity" and as it was not authorized by Rocky’s copyright holders, it was seen as infringement, thus negating Anderson’s claim. [2]

 

In relation to the Anderson case, fan fiction writers freely admit that their works are based off the original source. Many of said fan fiction works would also fall into the category of having "literal similarity," lacking the proper amount of creativity, therefore violating the copyright of the writer of the original work. Thus these works of fan fiction could be readily open to lawsuits by the original writer.

 

On the other side of the fan versus original author battle we have the case of Marion Zimmer Bradley. Bradley was set to release a novel in her series, when a fan sent her an unsolicited story that was quite similar in content to the unpublished novel. The fan demanded half the sales, and to be credited as co-author, or she would sue Bradley for copyright infringement! Because of this, Bradley had to rewrite her entire novel, as the publisher would no longer release her previous manuscript as it was written. Upon the conclusion of this, anyone wishing to write based upon Bradley’s characters was required to get authorization. [2]

 

Anne Rice too, refuses to allow fan fiction based on her work. "I do not allow fan fiction. The characters are copyrighted. It upsets me terribly to even think about fan fiction with my characters." [5] I sent an e-mail to Ms. Rice, inquiring if she would share her thoughts upon the subject of fan fiction, yet I have not heard back.

 

However, the way copyright law is written allows for those who demonstrate an appropriate amount of originality, even when ‘borrowing’ from a prior work, to do so without being considered as violating the other’s copyright. [2]

 

There are also those original works which are no longer protected under copyright law to take into consideration. Is it any more acceptable to write fan fiction on those original works? There are probably many who would cringe at the thought of someone writing fan fiction based off a work such as Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Yet, this has been accomplished, not once, but twice. John Updike’s Gertrude and Claudius, as well as Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, are both works based off Shakespeare’s play. Even Shakespeare’s play of Romeo and Juliet could be likened to fan fiction, as its context was pulled from a translated Italian tale entitled Romeus and Juliet by Arthur Brooke, and William Painter’s Palace of Pleasure. [4]

 

Still there are authors such as Piers Anthony who, as a sign of respect to his fans, as long as they are not seeking profit from it, allow them to write fan fiction. Piers believing it would be helpful to new writers to improve their own writing abilities. [2] J.K. Rowling too, has said she finds the love for her characters by fans flattering. [5] Recently, Rowling has even allowed a full-length fan written novel, based on her work, to be published to the web. Rowling’s only requirements are that no profit is made, that it is stated she is in no way affiliated wtih the work, and it contains no pornographic material or racist implications. [1]

 

For myself, as a writer of fan fiction, I do believe it has helped me in the development of my own writing. I know my spelling has improved greatly, and I put more effort into my grammar as well. Do I believe it is a valid form of self-expression? Yes, as my stories seldom resemble the original, I am merely using a few pre-created characters, along side my own original ones, to create something expressly my own. Also, as a writer, I do inspire one day to write, and see published, my own original work. Will fans write fan fiction based on my stories and characters? I sincerely hope so. Will I like all of it? I doubt it. I expect to find some quite cringe worthy works, but I do hope to find some wonderful pieces as well, pieces that are helping their writers to blossom into the authors that they can be.