Fanfiction/Vidding as a Form of Critique
Jun. 22nd, 2009 06:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beccastareyesA discussion over on Marie Brennan's blog on fanfiction/vidding as a form of critique
Basically, the post links to a video made by splicing together clips from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Twilight (the film) to basically create the scenario of 'what if Edward Cullen had ran into Buffy Summers instead of Bella Swan? The video seems to be commentary on the character of Edward, basically throwing him into a situation where his behavior, rather than seen as romantic as Bella, Twilight's protagonist, sees it in the movie/book, comes off as unwanted attention and stalking.
The video makers also assert that it is a fair-use of the works, since they use limited content (and nothing that takes away the primary meaning of either work), and is intended as critique. Now, it's generally regarded that a review or critique is allowed to use quotes without violating the source's copyright. (It would be pretty hard to go into detail otherwise.) The question is, is it still commentary if Buffy Summers is the one doing the commenting rather than the artist herself? (Brennan notes that the clips of Edward could be considered as critique of his character, but those of Buffy were usually played straight. On the other hand, the video could be more damaging to the Twilight brand than Buffy's -- people unfamiliar with BtVS get a good sense of Buffy, while Edward comes off as a pathetic vampire stalker. On the other other hand, reviews are protected by their nature -- if I give Twilight a negative review, even if this knocks Meyer's sales figures, this doesn't give her the ability to sue me*.)
Brennan makes the connection to fanfiction -- most fanfiction is, in a broad sense, commentary on the work, even if it's something simple, like 'I think Kirk and Spock were written to have a lot of on-screen homoerotic chemistry' or 'I wonder what Fullmetal Alchemist would be like if Ed wasn't able to bring Al back during his failed transmutation?' (I'd also include some fanart and fanvids in this category. Maybe even RPGs, if you consider that examining the world created by an author can be just as important as the characters.) It's a different kind, though -- I think it's the angle the Organization of Transformative Works is trying with their stuff. (I don't really know what they've been up to lately, though, besides Dreamwidth.)
I thought it was kind of an interesting idea.
* Okay, she could try, but it's not likely to make it to court. It might be irritating, since a lot of sites seem to respond to allegations of copyright abuse by taking down the work in question, and most people don't bother pursuing avenues to get it restored. Then again, there's a case in the English court system where a blogger is being sued for libel by the British Chiropractic Association for calling some of their claims (the one I specifically remember is that chiropractic on infants/children will cure colic, ear infections, bed wetting and asthma) 'bogus'.
Basically, the post links to a video made by splicing together clips from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Twilight (the film) to basically create the scenario of 'what if Edward Cullen had ran into Buffy Summers instead of Bella Swan? The video seems to be commentary on the character of Edward, basically throwing him into a situation where his behavior, rather than seen as romantic as Bella, Twilight's protagonist, sees it in the movie/book, comes off as unwanted attention and stalking.
The video makers also assert that it is a fair-use of the works, since they use limited content (and nothing that takes away the primary meaning of either work), and is intended as critique. Now, it's generally regarded that a review or critique is allowed to use quotes without violating the source's copyright. (It would be pretty hard to go into detail otherwise.) The question is, is it still commentary if Buffy Summers is the one doing the commenting rather than the artist herself? (Brennan notes that the clips of Edward could be considered as critique of his character, but those of Buffy were usually played straight. On the other hand, the video could be more damaging to the Twilight brand than Buffy's -- people unfamiliar with BtVS get a good sense of Buffy, while Edward comes off as a pathetic vampire stalker. On the other other hand, reviews are protected by their nature -- if I give Twilight a negative review, even if this knocks Meyer's sales figures, this doesn't give her the ability to sue me*.)
Brennan makes the connection to fanfiction -- most fanfiction is, in a broad sense, commentary on the work, even if it's something simple, like 'I think Kirk and Spock were written to have a lot of on-screen homoerotic chemistry' or 'I wonder what Fullmetal Alchemist would be like if Ed wasn't able to bring Al back during his failed transmutation?' (I'd also include some fanart and fanvids in this category. Maybe even RPGs, if you consider that examining the world created by an author can be just as important as the characters.) It's a different kind, though -- I think it's the angle the Organization of Transformative Works is trying with their stuff. (I don't really know what they've been up to lately, though, besides Dreamwidth.)
I thought it was kind of an interesting idea.
* Okay, she could try, but it's not likely to make it to court. It might be irritating, since a lot of sites seem to respond to allegations of copyright abuse by taking down the work in question, and most people don't bother pursuing avenues to get it restored. Then again, there's a case in the English court system where a blogger is being sued for libel by the British Chiropractic Association for calling some of their claims (the one I specifically remember is that chiropractic on infants/children will cure colic, ear infections, bed wetting and asthma) 'bogus'.
