February 11, 2022

The Rec Center #319

Hello all! This week, in addition to our usual mix of articles & social media posts, we have an explainer and rec list for Femslash February: guest reccer Nina on the kpop girl group Twice! — Elizabeth

new stuff

“What romance novels can teach us about attraction” by Byrd Pinkerton at Vox
A piece that will interest romance fans and/or authors who write shippy fic: romance novelists including Talia Hibbert and Casey McQuiston discuss characters’ compatibility and chemistry.

“Out magazine’s Star Trek: Discovery cover story” by various writers at Out
Out magazine interviewed all the queer and trans stars of Star Trek: Discovery! (There’s quite a few of them, so the simplest way to link to all the articles is this Twitter thread.)

older stuff

“On Freaks and Geeks and Finding My Voice: How Pop Culture Shaped My Poetry” by Matt Mitchell at Lit Hub
“Because I watch every scene and I see myself. Because then the episode ends with the perfect scenario: a world ready to love our intersex bodies, and ready to finally make some extra room for us.”

tumblr & beyond

ok this is a lot more cartoon tiger lore than we were expecting.

Incredible Star Trek quilts by Marsha Loftis!

plato’s allegory of the fave

Voyager stans will get it.

“Back when I was more involved in the prog fandom i used to sometimes Photoshop Jon Anderson smaller in Yes band photos.”

fanfiction

Nina is a fic writer and reader in the kpop-sphere and devoted multi stan (that’s fandom-speak for “person who listens to a lot of music”). You can find her at ninamonday on ao3 and Twitter.

Twice is the kpop girl group with the largest fic fandom on ao3. They were formed in 2015 by JYP Entertainment, the company where they were all trainees studying singing and dancing, via a survival reality show called “Sixteen.” After the show, the nine members moved into a dorm together and began to work toward their debut as Twice.

Kpop fandom is an immersive experience. It’s bigger than just the music—choreography, visuals, and narratives are integral to each performance. And, like a lot of kpop groups, Twice is (performed as) a 24/7 lifestyle—they live and work together constantly, and share as much behind-the-scenes, home, and personal content as they do music.

Of course, this is a clear-eyed and intentional invitation into a parasocial relationship that’s absolutely delightful to indulge in. But it’s also a wealth of compelling, beautiful, touching relationships among the members. These subtle, complex dynamics really shine through in fic.

I like a lot of kpop groups and read fic widely, but there’s a lightness to Twice fandom that feels truly special. Of course, the members have shared real struggles and heavier emotions, but their work and the way they talk about it is focused on sharing fun music and finding joy in it. I also love a lot of groups that have world-changing ambitions or make grand, cinematic statements with their work, but Twice is not that kind of group. Let me quote their most recent single: “Don’t try to be a genius, why so serious?” The sense of fun and joy in their music fills the fandom, too.

If you’re starting to explore beyond the music, Twice’s “Time to Twice” reality series—especially the “Crime Scene” episodes—are especially fun content. The “Twice TV“ behind-the-scenes episodes of their music videos and other activities are great ways to get to know them. And they have an official documentary, “Seize the Light,” on YouTube.

You do not have to memorize every detail about all nine members to start enjoying fic or canon content. The number of people in big kpop groups can be intimidating if you’re new to this type of fandom, but I think it’s best to just not worry about it—keep seeking out the content you enjoy and you—ll get to know the members naturally. (Though if you do want a cheat sheet, there are lots of member profile websites and compilations or interviews on YouTube. I’ve also previously shared a ship guide on Twitter.) To help you get started exploring even if you’re new to Twice fandom, I’ve structured the fic list from least to most canon knowledge required. — Nina

“Burning” by sorrymom. 83K words, rated Mature.
Ships: Nayeon/Mina and side ships Momo/Sana, Jihyo/Jeongyeon, Tzuyu/Chaeyoung
Backstory: This is an Avatar: The Last Airbender AU about Fire Lord Nayeon’s arranged marriage to water tribe princess Mina. If you aren’t familiar with A:TLA, there’s enough worldbuilding in the fic to help you understand, but it is an animated series about a world divided into cultures formed around the natural elements and “benders” who control those elements…
Rec: …and especially if you are a fan of A:TLA, this fic is truly unmissable. It’s a detailed, thoughtful exploration of the world with its own complex politics. If you don’t know Twice, you can still definitely dive into this fic. The characters and dynamics feel true to the girls and will help you get to know them.
Content warnings: Some violence typical of A:TLA

“Out of the Dollhouse” by popliar (littlerhymes). 3.3K words, rated Gen.
Ship: Momo/Tzuyu
Backstory: “Feel Special” is a 2019 single with a gorgeous, incredibly shippy music video that has inspired a lot of fic (and been a Yuletide fandom). Watch one four-minute music video and a beautiful corner of fic fandom is open to you! This story is about the dollhouse scenes, featuring Momo, the girl who walks into the room, and Tzuyu (pronounced like “chewy”), the girl in the dollhouse.
Rec: This spins a world out of not only the dollhouse scenes but the whole video, incorporating all the members’ plotlines in clever ways. It also finds a sweet happy ending for one of the more logistically challenging pairings in the music video!
Content warnings: N/A

“of course, sweet things are dangerous” by notspring. 3.2K words, rated Teen.
Ship: Sana/Dahyun
Backstory: Another “Feel Special” rec (see above). This story is about the street scenes, featuring Sana, the girl waiting in the rain, and Dahyun, the girl with the umbrella. Sana/Dahyun is a very popular ship—Sana has a wicked teasing streak and Dahyun is Twice’s poised, cheerful girl-next-door, and they are prone to getting up to mischief together in real life and starring in a lot of excellent good girl/bad girl fic.
Rec: This fic uses Sana’s performance in the video to create a vivid, truly special iteration of Sana’s bad girl character, a fragile disaster who pushes her luck too far. Sana’s unreliable narration and the contrast between POV and dialog are subtly done and revealing. This fic is also available as a podcfic by knight_tracer.
Content warnings: N/A

“that’s what you do” by misspamela. 7.6K words, rated Teen.
Ship: Mina/Chaeyoung
Backstory: And one more “Feel Special” rec (see above). This story is about the forest scenes, featuring Mina, the girl walking through the woods, and Chaeyoung, the girl in the bubble. Quiet, elegant Mina and “baby beast” Chaeyoung, Mina’s most dedicated supporter, are another super-popular ship.
Rec: This story builds an interesting outer-space world from the video’s setting, and the circumstances that force Mina to act while Chaeyoung encourages her from inside a trap allow for an interesting exploration of their dynamic.
Content warnings: N/A

“What’s the Name of This Drink, Anyway?” by tullycat. 1.7K words, rated Gen.
Ship: Nayeon/Jihyo
Backstory: Now that we’ve gotten to know the girls, time for some canon fics that explore their lives as Twice. This fic takes its inspiration from a cute drink recipe in Twice’s video for “Alcohol-Free.”
Rec: Nayeon/Jihyo is one of my personal favorite ships—as the oldest member and the official leader, they both have authority in the group, and they deal with it in very different ways. This fic captures the spark and affection between them well, and it’s also just adorable. This fic is also available as a podfic by knight_tracer.
Content warnings: N/A

“this heart you reside in” by skyclectic. 21K words, rated Teen.
Ship: Nayeon/Jeongyeon
Backstory: This is a future fic, imagining Nayeon and Jeongyeon reconnecting two years after Twice disbands.
Rec: Nayeon and Jeongyeon are the two oldest members, and they mostly use that authority to joke around and keep the mood light. This vision of them finally able to truly connect after spending their youths together joking around the truth is compelling and so touching.
Content warnings: N/A

“we want to keep smiling” by segyeros (nuages). 1.3K words, rated Gen.
Ship: Gen
Backstory: Tzuyu is Twice’s youngest and only Taiwanese member.
Rec: This character study of a very young woman beginning her career in a foreign country with a language barrier is thoughtful and delicate, an interesting exploration of some of the pressures of being an idol.
Content warnings:

FINAL THOUGHT

Once again, the Rec Center is eligible for a Hugo Award! So if you’re a 2021 or 2022 Worldcon attendee (or are otherwise able to nominate for the Hugos), please consider nominating us in the Fanzine category! The more nominations we receive, the more likely we are to be shortlisted—something that did actually happen a couple of years ago, to our great excitement!

Have a great weekend, everyone! — Gav