Occasionally Snarky and Meta

The 15th Snowflake Challenge is to come up with your own, possibly for others to do (as I understand it). One thing I really miss about fandom is the squee and the meta, as I've said before, so I tried to think of one way to incorporate that into a challenge. I had a few more specific ideas, then I decided to open it up just a little.

So in the comments, or on your own LJ, talk about a fandom, or several.. Here are some prompts:

- Theories and/or headcanons (whether silly or serious or a bit of both - and yes, you can totally do this for closed canons)

- Unpopular opinions (this doesn't need to be fandom specific)

- Characters you wish canon had done better by

- Characters you think the canon creators liked too much


I'd love to see what everyone comes up with!

 In your own space, recommend a fannish or creative resource. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.So I love recap podcasts. Especially ones that aren't spoiler sensitive; while I understand why some are, there's something fun about ones that aren't because they allow themselves to talk about certain scenes or characters not only in the immediate context, but in the context of what comes later. 

Two great examples are "The Real Weird Sisters" for Harry Potter, and "Still Pretty" for Buffy. Both re-read/rewatch the series, and there's a lot of very interesting insight - even though both fandoms have been around for a bazillion years now, so you'd think everything had already been said. Especially with Harry Potter. The sisters, Alice and Martha, always come up with stuff that, in my 100 re-reads of the series, I've never come up with, nor do I think I've ever heard or read before. "Still Pretty"also has some great analysis, and I imagine much of it must be original. For example, the most recent episode (as of this post) ties the themes of Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are into the season four episode of the same name, actually making sense out of the very strange episode. The only downside to "The Real Weird Sisters" is that they're almost finished the seventh book - I definitely found them late in the game. However, they also have the next movie, and I have a feeling they'll do other things, at least for a while. Maybe more Sorting Hat episodes, where they sort characters of other shows into Hogwarts Houses.

However, spoiler free is common, and some podcasts are still great, if a little restricted in what they can discuss. "Ice Town Clowns" recaps Parks and Recreation, and is halfway through the fifth season, I believe. (I'm not one for math.) "Still Dead" just finished Angel the Series, and even though I've never been the biggest fan of the show it made me look at some of my quibbles with AtS a little differently, although they also agreed with many of my other problems with the show. (Chiefly, how it treats its female characters.)  Then there's "Buffering the Vampire Slayer", which also recaps Buffy, just without spoilers. They're in season five. The hosts are also gay (they were married, and sadly divorced over the course of the podcast series, though they've remained friends), so there's a lot of discussion of the show from that vantage point, which as a heterosexual woman I appreciate.  ("Still Pretty" has some of that as well.

Then there's NBC's official "The Good Place Podcast." I like this one a lot, even if it is a little different in that the host is on the show (Marc Evan Jackson  - he plays Shawn). There's always fun outtakes from various cast and crew guests. One charming outtake was from the woman who handles the animal actors. She's clearly very ethical about it, they're all rescues and she loves the animals SO much. I wanted to have her over for tea and cookies and let her talk some more!

Also, I owe podcasts a lot for my ethic when it comes to tedious tasks. Have to do a deep clean around the house? Put on a podcast! Have to do a tedious job at work? Podcast time! I used to listen to music, but music tends to put me in a lull. Podcasts give me something to think about so I keep moving, and sometimes I'm so into it, I keep on working so I don't have to stop listening.

In your own space, promote at least one canon that you adore (old, new, forever fandom). Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.The Good Place is a show I feel more people should definitely be watching, even if I'm not thrilled with the most recent episode. (More about that later, maybe once I've rewatched the episode.) While it's initially a very silly comedy, it does slowly incorporate a lot of themes about human nature and what it means to be a better person, and soon becomes more of a dark comedy. But not a "dark comedy" that's actually a drama with a few funny moments, a comedy with darker elements. (Actually, I contend that if TGP weren't a comedy, it would be an incredibly dark show. Same with Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, actually.)

Speaking of dark comedies, One Day at a Time is another show I think tends to be overlooked a bit. It's an adaptation of the 70's-80's show, with a Cuban-American family. It's incredibly progressive, including one of the very few non-binary characters on television.  It can get a little Very Special Episodey, although I think by the third season they do a good job of keeping their messages as part of the overall arc, rather than having An Episode About A Topic. And even as annoying as the VSE can get, it does mean we see a lot of important stuff, so I'll take the slight preachyness. (So we're clear, I 1000% approve of the messages, I just feel certain episodes handle it in a VSE way, rather than in a way that comes across naturally. Does that make sense? 

I realize this wasn't exactly a straight answer, but those are mine, so there you have it. If you've seen these shows, let me know what you think below! If you're doing the challenge, I look forward to seeing what you came up with. Presumably a shorter list than me, I'm so Chidi - no straight one answer here. :)

In your own space, make a list — anything between one and ten things is a sweet spot, but don't feel constrained by that! - of things that you wish existed in fandom or elsewhere, or that you'd like someone to make for you. Are you dying for podfic of your writing? Do you need icons for a character that doesn't get much fanart? Is there a story you want to read? Are you looking for new canons to get into? Would you like a collaborator for a project?

1. I say this a lot so apologies to old friends who've heard this before, but I really wish there were more deep diving fan conversations. I find you get most of that on podcasts and vlogs anymore, but it's harder to interact in those cases, unless you're active in their Patreon groups.

2. More fics that are less focused specifically on romance and more on exploring the worlds and characters. I want backstory fic, what-if fic, etc.

3. As far as new canons go, I wouldn't mind a fantasy show or book series that's closer to Harry Potter and Buffy in tone. A lot of them are so grimdark, and... yes, Harry Potter and Buffy both got fairly grimdark (Buffy especially, but even Harry Potter), but there was lots of friendship goodness and positivity goodness and fun deadpan snark. I get a bit of that from The Good Place, so maybe more things like that - except more squarely focused on saving the world from The Big Bad. (After all, if The Good Place weren't a comedy, it would actually be pretty damn dark. I need to write an essay about how TGP shares some threads with Angel the Series - which, incidentally, I never liked as much as Buffy.)

4. As far as projects go, I have two Harry Potter AU ideas I would LOVE for someone to write, because I don't have time. I would happily co-write or share my ideas or however else we could make it work. One idea is an AU that initially appears like the Potters just never died - but it ends up being a lot more complicated than that. There would be a lot more diversity and potentially more LGBTQ representation in this AU idea. It would be a longer project, though.

I have another AU idea where at some point after DH, thanks to Muggle technology, the Wizarding world is discovered. Chaos ensues.

So those are the things a fan wants! This fan, at least.

In your own space, introduce yourself! Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

I don't talk too much about myself in public spaces - I could've flocked this, but then I wouldn't have been able to share it with other Snowflake participants, and that defeats the whole purpose! I will say that I am a woman in my thirties who lives in the US.

I've been involved in internet fandoms for almost 20 years now, although really, I've always been a very fannish person. I'm also a writer with a vivid imagination, which must play into it.

I decided to do a bit of a fannish twist on an intro, since this is a fannish challenge. Basically, I'm going to list a few books/shows and name characters I am most like. Behind a cut since I know fannish stuff isn't everyone's thing.

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Looking forward to seeing everyone else's responses, and hoping to meet some new people! Welcome!

Another Harry Potter related post, although applies to all mediums and fictional universes in which one finds themselves invested.

Twelve years ago, I went through a terrible loss. I was mostly just shocked; I didn't really process it until the next morning, when I cried into my pillow. Mostly I was numb. Then sad. Then angry.

Linda (lindalupos), one of my best friends, signed onto MSN Messenger. It was like finding someone you love in the crowd following something terrible. I IMed her immediately, and all I said was "Linda..."

In response, Linda said, "I hate her."

"Her" was JK Rowling. She'd killed off our favorite character. After giving him a... very WTF-filled story arc in Deathly Hallows.

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ETA: Now a public post, just as a heads up.

In my last entry (like half an hour ago), I posted that people often complain that the new internet ruined the old internet. i still feel this is unfair, but a discussion in the comments led me to realize there are things that bother me. I replied, but I also decided to copy and paste what I said. Sorry the first bit is a little choppy, it's a response so there's no real preamble. I did add something else that's not in the comment.

With all of the discussion surrounding immigration, I turn to fandom. In the end, writing about the odds and ends of media is one of the ways in which I come to terms with very real events. I'm focusing very specifically on the One Day at a Time Episode "Strays," and how it relates to immigration. This entry assumes the readers have seen at least the first season of ODAAT. (Also, for the record, I'm talking about the remake with the amazing Rita Moreno and Gloria Calederon Kellet.)

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The challenge today is to go into one's fannish identity. Under the cut: Where my screenname comes from and some thoughts on my fandom activities/identities.

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Now that we know it's only four seasons.

This is super short, I'm only cutting for spoilers!

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