In a message dated 2/16/01 6:17:53 AM Eastern Standard Time, N.Faulkner@tesco.net writes:
<< Whereas in my case it's precisely the reason why I turned to writing fanfic in the first place. Different strokes etc.>>
Yes, of course, but in your original post on this subject, you were opining that the reason most, if not all, fans become fans and write fan fiction, was for the reasons you gave. Or so I interpreted what you said. I apologize for obviously misinterpreting your statements.
<<< OTOH, B7 is the *only* series I have ever got fannish about, whereas for many people a fannish approach to a number of series (not just telefantasy) seems to be common. If you're fannish about one series, chances are you'll be fannish about several. Assuming that 'fannish' can be satisfactorily defined in the first place.>>>
It seems to be true that many fans, once they become full-fledged, participating fans in one fandom, will participate in other fandoms. However, there are often also those who stick to their original fandom and never find another show that excites them in the same ways. There are also those fans who change fandoms at the drop of a hat and lose interest in their older fandoms. Personally, I'm one of those who tends to stick with a fandom a good, long time, but I do "get fannish" about other shows. I never lose interest in my older fandoms, though, I just don't spend as much time participating in them.
<<< Ah, but what is it about the characters or show that make them so captivating? Are there any general principles that might be extracted? Do shows that generate fandoms have any particular common factor(s)? >>
For me, it's generally a show that has good writing elements and likable characters and relationships. Some of the shows I really, really like currently are Queen of Swords, Stargate, Buffy, Angel, and Andromeda. On these shows, I like virtually every character to one degree or another and I don't find it hard to simply ignore elements of the plot (for example, Queen of Swords is a show based on the Zorro genre, requiring a lot of suspension of disbelief) that might not normally "make sense." My favorite character on these shows is often the character that is hardest to figure out, because usually they become the most interesting.
Annie