(I do tend to batch up the things that I do, so that's why my reply times are a little sporadic.)
on the separations based upon medium and "respectability."
I actually started thinking this way about the balkanization of genres, after learning that "manga" simply means "comics" -- though "manga" has obviously been twisted away from its basic meaning, in usage.
Of course, there is also the genre-based snobbery out there. Comics are looked down upon, literature is held high. The separation between "serious" and "lowbrow." It's too bad, because each medium/genre has a set of tradeoffs. There are certain time scales you just can't express in a two hour movie that you can in a set of book or manga volumes. There are certain ideas that will never get screen time because it's not commercially justifiable to spend that amount of money on them.
(I won't go over film's advantages because most people know them.) There are certain things it's only practical to express in the comic medium -- standing as it does, somewhere between book and film.
(Comics, in all forms, remain my first love.)
underlying reasons for the current form of American fan works
I just realized
(part of) the reason why American fan works are relegated to small time fiction. It's because of our strict copyright laws. People who wanted distribute original works based on copyrighted material
(even for free?) would probably get a call from the lawyers soon. In this respect, I really do wonder about copyright's role in fostering artistic works. I've seen some very amusing things come out of the doujinshi side of things. There seems to have been a balance struck in Japan which allows thriving fan communities -- who can be more than just consumers herded to the checkout line.
So that explains the creative emphasis on original works -- the territorial defense of one's small piece of the idea landscape forces everyone to carve out their own niche, disavowing their inspirations. It's fine to create something completely different, but to be forced to, only puts limits on creative freedom. Yes, conformity can be creativity too!
Not that there isn't any, it's just hidden under the few token changes needed to make something "different." Instead of hiding it, it would be better to just declare what you're doing, and no longer be bound by the pressure of trying to be different or original. Which ironically, is what everyone is trying to do -- everyone trying to be different, just like everybody else. Thus bringing a startling uniformity despite everyone's best efforts.
Ok, maybe it's not as bleak as that. It could be a product of my always looking at the un-bright side of things.
(narrowly avoided sounding "Star Wars") But at the same time, it's undeniable that this side of the equation exists.
sorry, no update this time.
I actually have about 600 words, but it's currently at a mini cliffhanger, and I personally dislike cliffhangers, so I wouldn't want to subject anyone else to them either. Also, if I leave things at a good stopping point, instead of at a cliffhanger, then picking the story back up is easier, since in the story world, there was a break too. So before even picking up the story, you're already in sync with it.
Anyway, at this point in the situation, things are coming to a head,
(others may not feel that terminology qualifies.) and I'm not entirely sure what the outcome will be. Let's say the simulation is getting tricky, because my points of reference are getting more remote.
It's a dilemma, because as a writer, I want to take the safe route, and leave things at a status quo so I can milk it for laughs, but as a reader, I want to know what happens -- when something actually DOES happen.
(I'm first and foremost, a reader, by the way.)
Just to keep things linked up.
I started a topic on story ideas
here. Not that this forum is so vast that it can't be found, but it's a force of habit for me to link things that should be linked.
, I´m really impressed how you guessed correctly about my native language 