X Ox M opinions@theotherpress.ca w Have an idea for a story? And more! The case for fanfiction > Fanfiction is a fascinating style of fiction writing in its own right Bex Peterson Editor-in-Chief ’m aware that by writing an article defending fanfiction, I’m setting myself up to be the perfect punchline to jokes about what wannabe writers get up to on the weekends. Leaving my 200,000-word modern day Alternate Universe (AU) out of this, however, I really do think that we dismiss fanfiction and the writers thereof far too quickly. I understand where the derision comes from—it’s hard to think about fanfiction without associating it with 50 Shades of Grey, or with tweens writing awkward purple prose about their favourite One Direction members. However, as someone who’s read, written, and even had fanfiction written about original works I’ve helped create, I’ve developed not only a respect for fanfiction but also an almost academic interest in the genre. There are things that you can do with a transformative work of fiction that you just can’t do with an original work. Fanfiction has existed since basically forever. A lot of the most popular and prolific stories in our culture are a form of fanfiction: Look at Dante’s Inferno, which was essentially a self-insert fic of the Bible. Isaac Asimov, Neil Gaiman, and many other writers have written Sherlock Holmes fanfiction. I can pretty much guarantee that over half the high fantasy from the 60s onwards started off as Lord of the Rings fanfiction, and what is the entire Marvel and DC universe if not a mess of constantly expanding alternate universes exploring the same characters? “But that’s not fanfiction,” you might argue, “that’s adaptation!” Here’s what I find fascinating about fanfiction, and what differentiates it from a simple adaptation. Fanfiction can take full advantage of the fact that you already know the original work. Where an original novel might have to take a paragraph or five to describe a character, fanfiction can where it the original left aves offoften skip that and get right to the good stuff. This gives fanfiction the ability to fill in gaps and flesh out relationships in a way that original work often doesn’t have time for, cutting to deeper examinations of the characters and the story itself. Readers aren't flocking to Coffeeshop AUs because of an unbridled thirst for stories about people serving lattes. Often, the Coffeeshop AU is used to ground larger-than-life characters, giving us a chance to see what kind of people they’d be like if they could take a biscotti break and talk about their feelings. Fanfiction often serves as an exercise in character study, with every author teasing their own interpretation out from the source material, and sometimes even improving it. The MCU is a good example of this: Spider-Man: Homecoming doesn't have Peter's origin story as part of the plot because we, the audience, already know it. Thus, even in a movie meant to introduce us to the character’s life and backstory, we spend far more time getting to know Peter, his friends, his family, and his motivations than we would have if we had to watch Uncle Ben die all over again. If that’s not enough to give you at least a grudging respect for fanfiction, Family shouldn't always come first—especially in toxic or oppressive family systems > Sometimes distance is the best option Jessica Berget Opinions Editor I an unwritten rule that practically every household abides by—“Family always comes first.” While it is important to respect and honour your family, | would argue that if your family is not supportive and respective of your life and your choices, or if they shame or disrespect you in any way, keeping a respectable distance and thinking critically about how your family system affects you is the best option. Many people I’ve known have had oppressive families that shame them for their sexuality, their career choices, or their lifestyles, just because they don't agree with those aspects of the person's life. Some people go to school for years and waste their energy, time, and money on education for a job they don’t even want, but which their families pressure them into. I’ve even had friends whose families actively bully them and treat them like garbage, but since “family always comes first” is a rhetoric that is pushed on them from birth, they do nothing to stand their ground. Most people don't realize their families are the problem because they’ve been raised with this idea. What some people fail to realize is that parents, families, and relatives—like all human beings—are deeply flawed. I’m lucky enough to have a family that loves and supports me, but it’s hard to realize that your family is oppressing you when it’s all you've known your entire life. Sexism, homophobia, and racism are all bigoted views that are prevalent in almost every family (everyone has that old racist aunt that they can’t stand to be around). Sometimes it’s better for your mental health to distance yourself ‘Star Trek’ vs. ‘Star Wars’ War of the words ( Your work culture sucks (¥ Sometimes distance is the best option Image via The Verge that’s fine. However, here’s something else to consider: Fanfiction is an amazing tool for writers, especially new writers. Any writing practice is good practice, but fanfiction can also provide a community for writers to hone their skills and receive much-needed encouragement from their peers. Fanfiction can be strange, awkward, and dangerous to read on public transit; but it can also be contemplative and inspiring, and itcan make you see the source material in a whole new way. Even if it’s just a weekend hobby for writers who care a lot about the things they read and watch, so what? No one is forcing you to read their 25k Stucky Sentinel/ Guide canon au post-Snap fix-it fic (rated E), though I do apologize for forcing you to read that sentence just now. from that kind of environment. This rule is a nice idea though. Family can be is a profound and wonderful thing. It’s a permanent bond that you didn’t ask to be born into, but you have been nonetheless. They’re the people who know and understand you better than anyone. However, if they don’t respect or understand you or your decisions even after you've tried to make them comprehendunderstand, you need to think critically about what family means to you. War of the Words issue 1// vol 45 opinions // no. 15 ‘Star Wars’ is overrated, ‘Star Trek’ is superior > Live long and suck it Jessica Berget Opinions Editor I grew up on Star Wars. I’ve watched every movie countless times, played every Lego Star Wars game, and seen almost all the movies in theatres, even The Force Awakens. | get why so many people like the franchise because I’ve lived it and breathed it. However, when it comes to storylines, characters, plot development, and as a science fiction franchise, Star Wars does not hold a candle to Star Trek. Star Trek has complex plotlines that deal with important and eternally relevant issues. Racism, sexism, war crimes, biraciality, sexuality; Star Trek has covered it all. It also explores important themes and ideas concerning race relations, the role of technology in society, and philosophical questions. It was incredibly progressive for its time, having started in 1966. It features characters from all different races (especially alien ones) working together and it featured the first interracial kiss ever shown on television. Star Trek also has created story tropes, characters, and scenes that are still referenced today. Meanwhile, Star Wars focuses on the banal theme of good versus evil. Its galaxy has not changed since the first movie. It has... cool fighting scenes and the Force? Star Wars has more commercial success by a longshot, but commercial success does not necessarily mean that it’s good. Star Trek is not as popular, but its stories and its characters have stood the test of time. Star Trek is the pioneer of aa science fiction and intergalactic turf wars; Star Wars probably never would have been made had it not been for Star Trek. I wouldn't even call Star Wars a science fiction film because there’s no science that is shown besides spaceships and laser swords. It’s more of an action/ fantasy that takes place in space. On the other hand, Star Trek predicts how society will change with technological and social progress and questions the complexities that come with it. Star Wars was an iconic film of its time. Its production and cinematography surpassed anything that had been previously done. Because of its impact at the time, it’s nostalgic for a lot of people, and I believe this nostalgia is the only thing it’s got going for it. Its plot isn’t particularly amazing, and its characters are shallow and superficial. Furthermore, Star Wars has like three good movies— that’s it. Everyone knows the films they made after the originals were terrible. The only reason new Star Wars movies keep being made is because the franchise is so big that producers know people will see it regardless if it is garbage or not. Star Trek, on the other hand, has numerous successful television shows and films as well as a couple of popular movie remakes, and it’s highly regarded as one of the best television shows of all time. I can appreciate Star Wars asa film, but in terms of science fiction, Star Trek lives long and prospers. Finally, Star Trek may not have the same commercial success as Star Wars, but at least it never had a Jar-Jar Binks. ‘Star Wars’ is far greater than ‘Star Trek’ > Live long and, with the Force, prosper Chandler Walter Contributor t’s a hard call to make, choosing between two of the most beloved sci- fi epics of all time—but a call must be made, a line must be drawn, and 1am firmly on the side of Star Wars > Star Trek. Tam not actually arguing that Star Wars is the better of the two (“better” being a degree determined by enjoyment, personal affection, and a whole slew of other, unmeasurable factors), but rather that Star Wars is, without a doubt in my mind, the greater of the two titans of intergalactic mischief. What it comes down to, for me at least, is this: We would not even be having this debate if it were not for Star Wars. Sure, Star Trek was a great show—it broke racial and gender barriers, and it boldly went where no TV show had gone before. But it just does not have the same cultural or social impacts that Star Wars carried with it. Star Wars brought science fiction to the masses. I can’t claim to have been around to take a straw poll back in the 60s or ’70s, but I seriously doubt that Star Trek had the same massive appeal that Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewie would bring to the big screen as of 1977. The success of Star Wars at the box office showed movie-goers and big- budget producers alike that stories set in space, or other dimensions, or in the future, weren’t just some gimmick that only appealed to a niche audience, but rather that there was an entire galaxy of potential to be explored in the science fiction genre. It is hard to weigh the two properly, seeing as Star Trek, even with all its spinoff full-length films, is at its core a series of television shows, while Star Wars, even with all its canonical books, TV shows, and fanfics, is at heart a series of stories told on the big screen, but that’s simply what we're working with. A successful series of movies has a greater potential to influence society, culture, and humanity that a TV show ever could, and that’s exactly what Star Wars has accomplished time and time again. I mean, come on. Whenever Star Wars releases a new installment to the saga, it is a ground-breaking event, whereas Star Trek’s latest is hardly comparable. Still enjoyable, don’t get me wrong, but not nearly on the same tier. C ¢ Star Wars is, without a doubt in my mind, the greater of the two titans of intergalactic mischief. It’s not the commute or the ‘Monday Blues’: Your work culture sucks > I'll do your work, just loosen the leash Laura Alden Contributor fter freelancing for three years I finally landed the dream: A nine to five desk job with a view, real weekends, and two weeks’ vacation. It only took six months for the glow of nine to five security to wane. Maybe it was the crammed commute, or the fluorescent lighting, but it wore at me like sand on stone. I grew tired of my closed-off colleagues who only discussed weather, movies, and hobbies. More than that, I was tired of answering the insensate question, “How was your weekend?” Which my head had twisted into an utterance of defeat, a question that led to a lie, because no one ever answers, “Well, I crammed all of my needs and wants into those two days. I’m exhausted from the short rest my employer and the world were so kind to schedule me.” This nine-to-five system goes as far back as the late 1800's and was fought and clawed for with bloody, tired hands well within their right to live a life with eight hours of work, eight hours of leisure, and eight hours of rest. Those hands are long passed now, and our automation will soon pass us, so what’s the hold-up with the review? With all our texts, our phones, our emails, why are we still paying people to be ina specific seat if they don't want, or need to be? When asking these questions to other nine-to-fivers I receive mostly blank stares, or the glare suggesting I'm trying to “beat the system” with my antics. Heaven forbid I get to work in any more comfort than I already do! I understand: The workforce must work, but can’t we let go a little? Are we afraid that if we let out employees out of the office they will never Marsrioting.tumblr.com return? Can't we just remember our universal need for occasional real-time connection, or those two lovely things called debate and negotiation? We easily forget that we created this system and can always create more wiggle room. Of course, we must look at each case individually, and that takes time and connection—things perhaps we are starting to forget we have. The choice between security and freedom is nothing new, but technology can help us fill the gap if we just choose to trust one another a little bit more.