The Rec Center #281
Hi all! This week we have pieces on fandom’s gift economy, romance in Mass Effect, and more, plus the beautiful Hannibal fanart that will now grace the U.S. Capitol. :-)) For fic, thanks to everyone who answered our recent multi-part call for recs! We got tons of submissions, so we’ll be running those lists in the coming weeks. First up: recs for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. — Elizabeth
new stuff
“You Don’t Play Mass Effect for the Space Fights” by Karen Han at Slate
A celebration of the romantic storytelling in Mass Effect, where one of the main draws is building relationships with other characters.
“Gift Logic: Labors of love flourish online under fandom’s social norms” by Casey Fiesler at the Knight First Amendment Institute
“Fan culture’s cycle of gifting, receiving, and reciprocating helps create and maintain social solidarity.”
“How the Star Wars fandom turned an iconic weapon into competitive sport” by Emma Betuel at Inverse
An introduction to “LED Saber Combat,” a martial art that technically doesn’t involve lightsabers because Disney would file a lawsuit.
https://twitter.com/niehuaisang_/status/1393545448221257729
older stuff
“Japanese Govt Intervention Fails to Stop Mass Dragon Ball Super Piracy” by Andy Maxwell at Torrentfreak
Back in 2018, Dragon Ball Super caused an international incident after Latin American governments organized massive (and unlicensed) viewing parties for the final episodes, catering to the show’s massive local fanbase. (The advertising posters were, incidentally, incredible.)
tumblr & beyond
Congrats to New Jersey high school senior Kathleen Palmer on winning an art contest to get her Hannibal fanart displayed in the U.S. Capitol!
https://twitter.com/ShawneeHSNJ/status/1394659840384028676
You can now play Doom on AO3.
“Who is the real hero of Metal Gear Solid?” — Kardashian edition.
An Avril Lavigne fanvid for the 1958 Christopher Lee movie The Horror of Dracula? Well, why not!
“you are misinterpreting this character incorrectly.“
Tutorial for a dyslexia-friendly AO3 skin, including Dark Mode.
fanfiction
TFATWS recs this week! Thank you to everyone who sent one in. <3 — Elizabeth
“The Gottman Method for Dealing with Conflict” by rhombus. 4.2K words, rated Mature.
Ship: James “Bucky” Barnes/Sam Wilson
Recced by: Hannah
Backstory: Bucky and Sam have a follow-up therapy session with Dr Raynor, who is much more competent and less of a jerk than in canon. However she does assume they are in a relationship, which confuses Bucky into thinking that maybe they ARE in a relationship, and shenanigans ensue.
Rec: I’m SUCH a sucker for awkward-but-earnest!Bucky and I love when someone else can tell two people love each other before either of them know it. Part of a short adorable series where the Large Adult Men continue to be bad at communication.
Content warnings: N/A
“That’s Sergeant Barnes-Wilson to you” by eden22. 1.8K words, rated Gen.
Ship: James “Bucky” Barnes/Sarah Wilson
Recced by: Phobean
Backstory: Sam is hilariously, consistently (sadly?) under-informed about Barnes’s relationship with Sarah, his sister. Whose fault is that?
Rec: This is a brief but full-bodied and sweet look at the arc of Bucky’s courtship with Sam’s little sister that I found funny, well-written, warm, and memorable.
Content warnings: N/A
“Called to Heel” by Bagheera. 19K words, rated Explicit.
Ship: James “Bucky” Barnes/Helmut Zemo
Recced by: Z
Backstory: Listen we all thought about the sexual tension between Bucky and Zemo in Ep3 Power Broker. The fic starts there and diverges somewhat from canon and builds out their dynamic in a satisfying way blending a complicated sexual dynamic with genuine feeling underneath.
Rec: Really well written, very sexy, takes some dark themes and handles them well.
Content warnings: Past rape, suicidal thoughts from Bucky & Zemo both
“and the old linger” by LadyCharity. 11K words, rated Gen.
Ship: Gen
Recced by: anon
Backstory: In TFATWS, Sam and Bucky are on a mission together and end up having to enlist Baron Zemo’s help along the way. This is a collection of missing scenes and flashbacks during canon, exploring how each of them have dealt + are dealing with grief and guilt, featuring Zemo’s family, Yori, and Riley.
Rec: I love the attention and care paid to these background figures that we only know in death, and the difficult conversations that each of the central characters have. Although nothing is saccharine or easy, the fic is still firmly hopeful that there can be closure and healing after deep loss.
Content warnings: Mentioned character death, death of family members, brief graphic imagery of death during war.
“At Home With Captain America” by mischiefmanager. 7.8K words, rated Gen (first in the series is Explicit).
Ship: James “Bucky” Barnes/Sam Wilson
Recced by: Lee
Backstory: A POV Outsider fic on Sam/Bucky after Sam assumes the Captain America mantle.
Rec: A happily-ever-after that we frankly deserve after Endgame. Sweet, well-characterized, and basically had me silently screaming at the fluff.
Content warnings: N/A
https://twitter.com/jingumis/status/1385267765603307525
FINAL THOUGHT
I’m working on an article about Marvel’s Loki as a genderfluid character, both in comics canon and in creative fanworks like cosplay, fanfic and fanart. If possible, I’d love to include some perspectives from trans, nonbinary, and genderfluid fans!
If you’re interested in speaking with me about Loki & Loki-related fanworks, please drop me a line at gavia@thedailydot.com! I’m obviously familiar with Lady Loki and the recurring fanfic trope of genderfluid Loki, but it would be great to learn more and include some quotes from fans about why this character resonates with so many people.
Thanks, and have a great weekend everyone! — Gav