Multifandom links

[selenak]

When you're feeling rather drained from real life, it's always convenient to read intelligent discussions other people wrote for you. They don't need to be about new stuff, either. So, collected and in some cases as old as last week, so you might have found those already:

In ye olde Highlander days, when the show was coming to its close and the year after and I was devouring lots of fanfic and catching up on debates, one charge that was rather popular (especially among people who only watched the Methos episodes) could be summed up with "Duncan is a self-righteous prick and bully". Fast forward to present day (I feel old), and it's still making the rounds. In reply, here's Killa writing in detail and comparing fanon with canon:

Regarding Duncan MacLeod


Moving over the Marvel arena, check out resolute and likeadeuce discussing Phoenix: Endsong.


And because it cracks me up and is completely true: Alexander the Great, Gary Stu Extraordinaire.

I don't know why Alexander never did anything for me. I'd say it might be because there are primarily Greeks and there are primarily Romans among ancient history fangirls and -boys, and I am a Roman, except given that I'd have backed that almost Greek on the Egyptian throne, Cleopatra, against Octavian, so that can't be really it. It's one of those things, I suppose, where you have a character, fictional or real, who ought to interest you because of all your other preferences, and he/she just doesn't, or not to that supposed extent. I remember artaxastra automatically assuming in a chat that I'd be primarily focused on Spike and Xander in my Jossverse fanfiction, and well, definitely not. I mean, I like Xander, but the first time he ever showed up in a story of mine was in one section of "The Burying Kind", which is about the sixtieth or so story I wrote in that fandom. As for Spike, I liked what we got on screen but it's not a coincidence that in the three stories where he actually shows up, he's never the pov and the focus of the story is on the other characters (Buffy twice, and his victims the third time); he never captivated me enough to explore him. And you'd think I'd be all over Giles on BTVS and Wesley on AtS, or Faith and Lilah, and I like them, I do, but the burning love/obsession, as well as the fanfiction? Goes to Darla and Connor. When I went from like to love with a character after rewatching and reappreciating the shows, it wasn't any of those named, either, it was good old Angel himself.

Hm. I suppose if I were to get into Alexander studies, I'd probably end up writing exclusively about Olympias and Philip...

Comments

[gelliaclodiana]

...and I am a Roman, except given that I'd have backed that almost Greek on the Egyptian throne, Cleopatra, against Octavian, so that can't be really it.

Of course, not approving of Octavian just makes you even more of a Roman. You know that.

I never cared for Alexander myself, I admit. Can't quite see the point of him.

[resolute.livejournal.com]

thank you for the rec!

And . . huh.

I find it SO much easier to write fanfic about the characters I like less. It's weird, And then I end up liking them more, and I have to switch to something else. :)

[shezan.livejournal.com]

And even after Mary Renault's books, Alexander does nothing for you? Tchah! ;-)

(Don't mention the awful movies, of course.)

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

*hides face*

After that comment exchange, I emailed Res about how whenever I'm having a bad day I take it out in meta on Emma Frost or Grant Morrison. I really don't come off at my most rational there.

Ah well. . .

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Of course, not approving of Octavian just makes you even more of a Roman. You know that.

True. Which reminds me, has Pollio the future historian shown up on Rome yet so he can give Octavian his "I'm not going to fight with you against Antony" speech later on?

[selenak.livejournal.com]

He. I find it both interesting and rewarding to write fanfic about characters who aren't my favourites as well, but I don't do it as often as the other variation. Also, in some stories I find it intriguing to look at said favourites from an unsympathetic pov, i.e. a character who doesn't like them much and has genuine issues with them. But that still counts as fanfic about the favourites.*g*

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Mary Renault converted me to Theseus, not Alexander, I'm afraid.*g*

[selenak.livejournal.com]

There, there. Emma is a tough girl. She can take it.*g* (Don't know about Mr. Morrison and don't care too much, either...)

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

I'm fairly certain Grant has heard worse.

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

And that was supposed to be my Grant Morrison icon.

Now it looks like Jean is lusting after Grant.

*Only in his dreams. . .*

[gelliaclodiana]

I would be shocked to learn that the show's writers know who Pollio is. That would imply that they cared about historical narrative.