Earlier this year, Beyond Hallyu published an article on the disturbing truth of fanfiction and discussed one of the more sensitive topics with regard to the fanfiction world out there: fanfiction of a sexual nature. No doubt, that is one area that is disturbing and needs to be addressed, but otherwise, is there any good to fanfiction for those unfamiliar or unable to see the good of it?
The answer is yes. Fanfiction still holds values and is not all that bad as people who are against it put them out to be.
The answer is yes. Fanfiction still holds values and is not all that bad as people who are against it put them out to be.
Firstly, why do people write and why do people read fanfiction? In the world of fanfiction, anything can happen. Fans are able to build the world they wish to see; there is no restriction to who can get paired up with whom. The world of fanfiction also allows the most bizarre scenarios to happen as it is merely at a stroke of a pen, or a punch on the keyboard in these days, for writers to create the world they want to see. Writers are allowed to write about anything: from friendship to love to family. It allows the budding writers out there a platform and basis to work on, and the anonymity of the Internet further enhances the writing experience for some.
Why do fanfiction readers read? Precisely the same point as why writers write. They get to read about a world that is only up to their minds to fantasize, and someone did a favour for them by putting their imagination into words and gave it a story. It also brings their shipping of a specific couple more real and alive; they do not feel like they are shipping a couple that in real life, have no interaction at all. It brings a sense of reality to the relationship two particular idols and fuels further love as a fan.
Why do fanfiction readers read? Precisely the same point as why writers write. They get to read about a world that is only up to their minds to fantasize, and someone did a favour for them by putting their imagination into words and gave it a story. It also brings their shipping of a specific couple more real and alive; they do not feel like they are shipping a couple that in real life, have no interaction at all. It brings a sense of reality to the relationship two particular idols and fuels further love as a fan.
The beginnings of K-Pop fanfiction started as Hallyu went beyond its borders and spilled over to neighbouring countries who have better grasp of the English language than the Koreans. Originating from their years of Hollywood fanfiction, fans who were able to write and know of the world of fanfiction started to write fanfiction for K-Pop too. The world of fanfiction grew as more people began to write and when Hallyu reached countries across the Pacific where English is the main language. Right now, most fan forums have a special section dedicated to fanfiction and is easily one of the busiest and most active sections of the many forums. |
Sites dedicated to solely fanfictions alone have also been increasing over the years, relying on users to post their stories as a user generated site in order to make the site happen. A quick search on Google revealed that Asianfanfics.com, one of the leading sites for K-Pop fans to post their fanfictions, have an average of 12434 daily hits and according to the page, a 130 million monthly page views. The numbers reveals fans’ enormous appetite for fanfiction, but also on the down side, the amount of clutter.
As a long-time reader of fanfictions, I have come across many amazing works that transcend the initial purpose of fuelling a certain coupling’s love. Good fanfictions may be hard to come by, but the outstanding ones do not just write for the sake of writing, but these authors write for a purpose. At the end of the story, they make readers sit and stare into space, thinking about life, thinking about how one should cherish what we have before it is too late, thinking about how one should say “I love you” to our parents and loved ones. Some touch the readers’ heartstrings by their excellent language use and writing style that conveys their ideas in the most beautiful manner that leave readers wanting for more. Some shed light on anti-bullying, or on sensitive issues such as LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender). These stories enrich the readers’ mind at the end of the day and are really worth a read if one ever gets interested in fanfiction. These are what fanfiction should be and what fanfictions’ value should be perceived upon, and not by the never-ending debate on fanfiction that devalues it instead.
With the increase in fanfiction authors, one may wonder if every fanfiction is of such top quality that as described in the above paragraph? Sadly, no. Throughout the years, many “fanfiction authors” jumped the bandwagon and started to “write” fanfiction as well. The worst of fanfiction include a story that is written fully in dialogue, broken sentence structure, grammatical errors throughout the story, and to top it off, the most cliché storylines you can ever think of. One has no rights to stop these authors to write either, but as an avid reader, the clutter is indeed too much to bear these days. These fanfictions do not serve much purpose, and spoil the entire game of fanfiction for everyone with its low quality. Not forgetting the disturbing truth of underage children writing sexual fanfiction which was mentioned in the aforesaid article, which further perpetuates the negative image of fanfictions.
At the end of the day, what truly makes fanfiction a positive one depends on what you expect out of reading fanfiction. If you are looking for stories to keep your couple shipping alive, fanfiction will do the trick. If you are looking for stories that may give the bestsellers at your local bookstore a run for their money, the world of fanfiction do have worthy stories. If you are unable to imagine your idols in a scenario that can never happen in reality, fanfiction is not for you.
As a long-time reader of fanfictions, I have come across many amazing works that transcend the initial purpose of fuelling a certain coupling’s love. Good fanfictions may be hard to come by, but the outstanding ones do not just write for the sake of writing, but these authors write for a purpose. At the end of the story, they make readers sit and stare into space, thinking about life, thinking about how one should cherish what we have before it is too late, thinking about how one should say “I love you” to our parents and loved ones. Some touch the readers’ heartstrings by their excellent language use and writing style that conveys their ideas in the most beautiful manner that leave readers wanting for more. Some shed light on anti-bullying, or on sensitive issues such as LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender). These stories enrich the readers’ mind at the end of the day and are really worth a read if one ever gets interested in fanfiction. These are what fanfiction should be and what fanfictions’ value should be perceived upon, and not by the never-ending debate on fanfiction that devalues it instead.
With the increase in fanfiction authors, one may wonder if every fanfiction is of such top quality that as described in the above paragraph? Sadly, no. Throughout the years, many “fanfiction authors” jumped the bandwagon and started to “write” fanfiction as well. The worst of fanfiction include a story that is written fully in dialogue, broken sentence structure, grammatical errors throughout the story, and to top it off, the most cliché storylines you can ever think of. One has no rights to stop these authors to write either, but as an avid reader, the clutter is indeed too much to bear these days. These fanfictions do not serve much purpose, and spoil the entire game of fanfiction for everyone with its low quality. Not forgetting the disturbing truth of underage children writing sexual fanfiction which was mentioned in the aforesaid article, which further perpetuates the negative image of fanfictions.
At the end of the day, what truly makes fanfiction a positive one depends on what you expect out of reading fanfiction. If you are looking for stories to keep your couple shipping alive, fanfiction will do the trick. If you are looking for stories that may give the bestsellers at your local bookstore a run for their money, the world of fanfiction do have worthy stories. If you are unable to imagine your idols in a scenario that can never happen in reality, fanfiction is not for you.
Regardless of your verdict, however, one should never judge anyone who writes or read fanfiction simply because you do not agree with it. Sure, you might be uncomfortable with knowing your fellow fans out there are reading stories about your idols falling in love with each other, but give any random stranger along the street who knows nothing about your K-Pop world and let them read a decent fanfiction, what will their reaction be? Fanfiction can actually mean nothing to those unknowing because they do not put a face to the story. Your idol’s name is merely a name and means nothing else to them, while seeing a familiar name in a fanfiction would have strike up an image in your mind. |
Such non-K-Pop people is the best people to make conclusions about the story, simply for the fact they have nothing against it nor have any strong feelings for it and can judge the story based on a clear and unbiased grounds.
The value of fanfiction, should therefore be judged based on how good the story and the writing was, rather than one’s inability to accept the craziest of ideas or based on “fanfictions” which do not even have a plot or resemble a story. While it is difficult to change long-existent mindsets and stereotypes of fanfiction, I can only hope that my article will do some justice to all the legitimate fanfiction writers out there who truly deserve respect and applause for the amazing stories that they pen than to be constantly clouded under an endless negativity that they are plagued with.
The value of fanfiction, should therefore be judged based on how good the story and the writing was, rather than one’s inability to accept the craziest of ideas or based on “fanfictions” which do not even have a plot or resemble a story. While it is difficult to change long-existent mindsets and stereotypes of fanfiction, I can only hope that my article will do some justice to all the legitimate fanfiction writers out there who truly deserve respect and applause for the amazing stories that they pen than to be constantly clouded under an endless negativity that they are plagued with.