andveryginger (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
andveryginger) wrote2008-05-22 09:47 pm
andveryginger) wrote2008-05-22 09:47 pm
Entry tags:
Oh dear.
Heaven and C. S. Lewis have mercy... I've actually started writing Caspian movieverse fic.
Alli, you're totally to blame for encouraging me.
I'm really of mixed emotions about this. There's always that new rush -- a shiny new ship, with ideas and a sandbox that really hasn't been explored to it's full potential. And the movie really was awesome -- both times I saw it.
On the other hand, there's C. S. Lewis. The man was a contemporary of T. H. White; he had his own literary society with the likes of T. S. Eliot and Tolkien. These are people I've studied, that I've written papers about in my Arthurian classes, in Western Civ. Fan fic -- by and large -- seems to originate more in areas that are popular culture: movies, comics, and "pop fiction," as my creative writing professor called it -- the plot-driven stories that make the best seller list. Thus, Lewis isn't your typical fodder for fan fic. Taking on fic for someone held as a literary classic is a very humbling and strange experience. One might even say intimidating.
Are there others who have done it? A quick scan of Fanfiction.net tells you that it's been done time and time again. But the question then becomes should they have? In some cases, you really wish they hadn't. I'm actually already seeing some Caspian/Susan fics out there that make me cringe. There are a few -- very few -- that treat the characters and subject matter with the respect I think they deserve. The result is decent fic.
The other thing I feel should be kept in mind is who Lewis was, what he represents for many people. No, his life wasn't perfect -- it really was a little odd, to tell the truth. But The Great Divorce and The Screwtape Letters are works of entertaining and thought-provoking Christian literature...not to mention the huge allegory that is Narnia. Writing Susan/Caspian fic isn't exactly going to be like writing your normal 'shipper fic. I think, in order to be true to the concept, to the idea, Christian morals and ethics should probably be addressed in some manner. While it's not a huge concern -- it was how I first started writing fic, really -- it's still a very different twist from the fic I've been writing for the past few years(Adama/Roslin, Sam/Jack, Perry/Della, etc.).
So, in short, while I'm excited to be playing in a new sandbox... I still have some mixed feelings about it. There's still more that I can't really describe, that I can't put into words...it's just an overall feeling I have about it. I don't think I shouldn't; I feel I can do justice to the characters and be fair to Lewis. It's just a very odd feeling.
And then there's the possibility that none of what I'm writing will ever see the light of day.
We'll cross that bridge when we get there.
Alli, you're totally to blame for encouraging me.
I'm really of mixed emotions about this. There's always that new rush -- a shiny new ship, with ideas and a sandbox that really hasn't been explored to it's full potential. And the movie really was awesome -- both times I saw it.
On the other hand, there's C. S. Lewis. The man was a contemporary of T. H. White; he had his own literary society with the likes of T. S. Eliot and Tolkien. These are people I've studied, that I've written papers about in my Arthurian classes, in Western Civ. Fan fic -- by and large -- seems to originate more in areas that are popular culture: movies, comics, and "pop fiction," as my creative writing professor called it -- the plot-driven stories that make the best seller list. Thus, Lewis isn't your typical fodder for fan fic. Taking on fic for someone held as a literary classic is a very humbling and strange experience. One might even say intimidating.
Are there others who have done it? A quick scan of Fanfiction.net tells you that it's been done time and time again. But the question then becomes should they have? In some cases, you really wish they hadn't. I'm actually already seeing some Caspian/Susan fics out there that make me cringe. There are a few -- very few -- that treat the characters and subject matter with the respect I think they deserve. The result is decent fic.
The other thing I feel should be kept in mind is who Lewis was, what he represents for many people. No, his life wasn't perfect -- it really was a little odd, to tell the truth. But The Great Divorce and The Screwtape Letters are works of entertaining and thought-provoking Christian literature...not to mention the huge allegory that is Narnia. Writing Susan/Caspian fic isn't exactly going to be like writing your normal 'shipper fic. I think, in order to be true to the concept, to the idea, Christian morals and ethics should probably be addressed in some manner. While it's not a huge concern -- it was how I first started writing fic, really -- it's still a very different twist from the fic I've been writing for the past few years(Adama/Roslin, Sam/Jack, Perry/Della, etc.).
So, in short, while I'm excited to be playing in a new sandbox... I still have some mixed feelings about it. There's still more that I can't really describe, that I can't put into words...it's just an overall feeling I have about it. I don't think I shouldn't; I feel I can do justice to the characters and be fair to Lewis. It's just a very odd feeling.
And then there's the possibility that none of what I'm writing will ever see the light of day.
We'll cross that bridge when we get there.