Countdown to small gifts 4/7:

[smallgiftsmods]

Hi, folks! If you're just joining us, we're on DAY FOUR of seven days of discussion before Small Gifts begins posting. Start off by introducing yourself (and meeting fellow participants and watchers) over here!

Day 4: Wish lists for R/S (a.k.a. MOAR ON DAY FOUR!)

What would you like to see more of in R/S fandom? Types of fic or art? Themes or tropes? Minor characters? Fannish activities? Also, fandoms change over time--if you've been around a while, what do you miss about earlier moments in fandom?

Comments

[shaggydogstail]

The thing I'd most like more of is fic that really engages with canon, both the magical world and the political themes. There seems to be a lot of mundane AUs these days, and although they can be good frothy and fluffy fun, there seems to be a tendency to rely on popular fanon rather than drawing much on canon. There are still fics doing it - quite a few of the stories from these year's RS Games had interesting things to say on everything from magic to the rise of fascism - but I always want more.

There's been some real improvements in the politics of fandom (I can't think of a better way of describing it!) Less misogyny, fewer weirdly homophobic tropes - there are people in fandom today who don't even know what WNGWJLEO* means and that makes me so happy! Characters no longer assumed to be white unless proven otherwise, although unfortunately I'm still seeing some pretty unpleasant pushback against that, especially towards fanartists.

[coffeeincosmos]

there are people in fandom today who don't even know what WNGWJLEO* means and that makes me so happy!
Oh my god, I hadn't even realized this before but you're right, it's been ages since I've read a fic that used this trope, let alone when it was pretty common. This used to be one of my least favourite things in fanfic of all time (of course it didn't help that it seemed to follow me across fandoms) and now I hardly have to worry about it anymore. Some things really have improved a lot. :)

[smallgiftsmods]

There's been some real improvements in the politics of fandom (I can't think of a better way of describing it!)

Yes, and hurrah! Particularly that Characters no longer assumed to be white unless proven otherwise, which I've really noticed in the past year or so. I'm not sure whether it's cause of effect or just a parallel event, but the casting of Noma Dumezweni was a gift to fandom.

I still have so much reading to do over at RS Games. Super excited to hear there are some politically themed fics over there. M.

[magnetic_pole]

Whoops! Sorry. That's me above. M.

[necessarian]

okay, i'm showing my youth here, but i need to know... what does WNGWJLEO* mean?

[shaggydogstail]

We’re not gay, we just love each other. (Sorry, the asterisk was so I could add a footnote but I forgot!)

[necessarian]

no worries! and unfortunately i do remember this trope, i'd just never heard it by the abbreviation. yikes!!