I can't speak for others, but I'm a blonde woman in my 40s (for at least a few more months anyway) who's relatively intelligent and I enjoy Sam Carter/Amanda Tapping. And I'm in lust with RDA. So, yeah, when I read and when I write fanfic, I tend toward Sam and/or Jack-centric themes. I'm short and I like Janet too. :D
I don't dislike Teal'c by any stretch of the imagination; he's a fascinating character, though little utilized in canon the first five seasons as anything but a warrior machine. And I don't dislike Daniel (tho' don't get me started on Shanks!), but I rarely if ever write anything Daniel-centric either.
I don't believe it has to do with understanding the "coloured culture" because, frankly, Teal'c-Teyla-Ronon - they're all ALIENS, and we understand their culture pretty well from the show. And there's nothing terribly unique about Daniel's scholarly culture.
I'm just wondering if it's because the fanfic writers whose paths you've crossed relate best to Sam or Jack or Daniel and thus produce fics central on those characters.
Setting out to "write this wrong" (pun intended) seems to me almost like requiring affirmative action; a quota/percentage of Teal'c-Teyla-Ronon fics required for every so many Sam-, Jack- or Daniel-centric (or Sheppard-, McKay- or Weir-centric) fics.
Honestly, you are one of the best writers I know, and I can't point to your fics that focus on the "characters of colour", though they may (and probably do) exist. How *is* your record? Do you find you get less, or less positive, feedback on them?
I attended a library function last night; it happens at least once a year. A Random House marketing guy - markets to the independent bookstores in our area, not the giant discount stores - comes to our library and talks about a dozen books or so. He gives much more info than just a dust jacket, and he's well spoken; his part of the evening takes about an hour. A local independent bookstore brings copies of the books to the event for us to buy, and proceeds go to the adult literacy program for which I volunteer.
His selections are quite diverse! In last night's melange, the settings included: Italy just after WWII Japan (modern day) 17th Century court of Charles II Missouri farm country, 50 years ago Poor, Pennsylvania farmland and half a dozen others.
The authors included first timers and 12th timers, and one of them was even on that plane that crashed in the Andes and was the subject of the book and movie "Alive!" He always has at least one of Indian (or nearby Asian) descent and others of "colour" or other cultures. He does a great job of including literary works and more commercial ones, non-fiction and fiction and other diversifying qualities. The people who attend are usually bookhounds who also participate in local book discussion groups, so their interests are varied.
But your typical person, the fan off the street of a show like Stargate, I'm guessing they're not as diversified in their focus and less adventurous to explore characters less like themselves. Or if they are, they aren't vocal enough to make their voice heard. Either that, or more "persons of colour" need to get engaged in the fandom AND in writing.
I need to run - tutoring in that adult literacy program - but I found your post thought-provoking. I definitely will consider my own fic prejudices, though I can't guarantee I'll do anything uncharacteristic about it, like run off and write a fic about Teal'c, Ronon and Teyla on a mission together...
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2007-06-15 01:14 am (UTC)I don't dislike Teal'c by any stretch of the imagination; he's a fascinating character, though little utilized in canon the first five seasons as anything but a warrior machine. And I don't dislike Daniel (tho' don't get me started on Shanks!), but I rarely if ever write anything Daniel-centric either.
I don't believe it has to do with understanding the "coloured culture" because, frankly, Teal'c-Teyla-Ronon - they're all ALIENS, and we understand their culture pretty well from the show. And there's nothing terribly unique about Daniel's scholarly culture.
I'm just wondering if it's because the fanfic writers whose paths you've crossed relate best to Sam or Jack or Daniel and thus produce fics central on those characters.
Setting out to "write this wrong" (pun intended) seems to me almost like requiring affirmative action; a quota/percentage of Teal'c-Teyla-Ronon fics required for every so many Sam-, Jack- or Daniel-centric (or Sheppard-, McKay- or Weir-centric) fics.
Honestly, you are one of the best writers I know, and I can't point to your fics that focus on the "characters of colour", though they may (and probably do) exist. How *is* your record? Do you find you get less, or less positive, feedback on them?
I attended a library function last night; it happens at least once a year. A Random House marketing guy - markets to the independent bookstores in our area, not the giant discount stores - comes to our library and talks about a dozen books or so. He gives much more info than just a dust jacket, and he's well spoken; his part of the evening takes about an hour. A local independent bookstore brings copies of the books to the event for us to buy, and proceeds go to the adult literacy program for which I volunteer.
His selections are quite diverse! In last night's melange, the settings included:
Italy just after WWII
Japan (modern day)
17th Century court of Charles II
Missouri farm country, 50 years ago
Poor, Pennsylvania farmland
and half a dozen others.
The authors included first timers and 12th timers, and one of them was even on that plane that crashed in the Andes and was the subject of the book and movie "Alive!" He always has at least one of Indian (or nearby Asian) descent and others of "colour" or other cultures. He does a great job of including literary works and more commercial ones, non-fiction and fiction and other diversifying qualities. The people who attend are usually bookhounds who also participate in local book discussion groups, so their interests are varied.
But your typical person, the fan off the street of a show like Stargate, I'm guessing they're not as diversified in their focus and less adventurous to explore characters less like themselves. Or if they are, they aren't vocal enough to make their voice heard. Either that, or more "persons of colour" need to get engaged in the fandom AND in writing.
I need to run - tutoring in that adult literacy program - but I found your post thought-provoking. I definitely will consider my own fic prejudices, though I can't guarantee I'll do anything uncharacteristic about it, like run off and write a fic about Teal'c, Ronon and Teyla on a mission together...
Thanks for making me think.
:D