The Rec Center #353
Hi folks! This week we've got articles about censorship and GoT fandom, along with some cool LOTR fanart, multifandom fic recs, and more! — Gav
new stuff
“‘It’s important for people to stop forgiving and forgetting her blatant racism’: Fans are resurfacing problematic comments from one of George R.R. Martin’s collaborators” by Michelle Jaworski at the Daily Dot
An in-depth look at a controversy that’s been brewing in Game of Thrones fandom for a while, involving a prominent fan (and George R.R. Martin collaborator) who has been repeatedly accused of racist behavior online.
“The GIF Is on Its Deathbed” by Kaitlyn Tiffany at The Atlantic
A look at the history—and seemingly dire future—of fandom’s favorite file format.
“Whose Fantasy Is This?” by Gita Jackson at Vice
“If we lived in the worlds of ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Game of Thrones,’ we’d be paying tribute to Lord Bezos and rubbing shoulders with black elves. But our world was never like this.”
https://twitter.com/koramadrama/status/1575651745006436352
older stuff
“Confessions of a 30-Something Hanson Fanatic” by Kelly L. Davis at Narratively
“How rediscovering the boy band I obsessed over when I was 12—and connecting with other superfans from all over the world—helped me navigate life as an adult.”
tumblr & beyond
Tar-Miriel from The Rings of Power by toastedbuckwheat
Dracula: A Leverage episode.
“every episode of spn is like...”
every one of these Jason Todd headcanons is valid.
a warm hello to Interview With The Vampire season.
Sasuke and Garfield fan comic? Who are we to argue.
fanfiction
Another unthemed grab-bag this week! Thanks so much to everyone who sent in a rec. — Elizabeth
“sweet chaos” by eachandeverydimension. 86K words, rated Gen.
Fandom: Modao Zushi - Moxiang Tongxiu, The Untamed (TV); Ship: Lan Zhan | Lan Wangji/Wei Ying | Wei Wuxian
Recced by: Emily
Backstory: AU where Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian are betrothed to one another. Lan Wangji spends a year at Lotus Pier to get to know Wei Wuxian; if they get along the betrothal will go ahead.
Rec: This story is so sweet—you see how cute young love is. The author also integrates Chinese language and culture and oh so delicious descriptions of food.
Content warnings: N/A
“Triptych” by antistar_e. 91K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Star Wars: The Force Awakens; Ship: Gen
Recced by: Shadaras
Backstory: A fic about Ben Solo written after TFA, explaining/exploring how he got to be who and where he is.
Rec: I’m a sucker for in-depth character studies, and this is a fantastic one. It doesn’t defend any of Ben Solo’s canon actions, but it provides a plausible path for how Ben Solo could have become Kylo Ren without quite realising how awful the path he was on was.
Content warnings: The author warns for: character death et sundry on a Kylo Ren level, space Nazi rherotic, several discussions of reproductive coercion and eugenics, and one hopefully-you’ll-pass-right-over-it mention of a rape fantasy (not Ren’s.)
“The Small” by dirgewithoutmusic. 7K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Tamora Pierce/Protector of the Small; Ship: Lalasa/Tian
Recced by: M.A.
Backstory: Lalasa is the maid of the main character in POTS, who finds her own inner strength after assault and abuse. And also a cute girlfriend.
Rec: It gives Lalasa the spotlight she deserves, because her journey is touching and beautiful.
Content warnings: Sexual assault/abuse
“After” by lucio. 2.4K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: The Amberlough Dossier - Lara Elena Donnelly; Ship: Cyril DePaul/Aristide Makricosta
Recced by: AirgiodSLV
Backstory: In the aftermath of a revolution, a quiet moment of happiness for a couple reunited after years of separation, and rebuilding their lives together.
Rec: After I finished reading the trilogy, this is the story I wanted—a happy ending and a moment of peace for these two characters, who have lived through a conservative political coup which didn’t recognize them (POC, gay, cross-dressing, kinky) as having value or equal rights.
Content warnings: Implied past torture, s/D themes
“running from the weather” by angularmomentum. 21K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Hockey RPF (Washington Capitals); Ship: f/f Alex Ovechkin/Nicklas Backstrom
Recced by: anon
Backstory: This is a Rule 63 done very well, where the dynamics of this pairing are transposed onto the experience these people would have if they had been women. It’s a women-in-the-men’s-league story that pulls no punches.
Rec: The characters the author chose to Rule 63 in the fic are not really ones it happens to often, and they’re very, very real. It’s an affecting, sensually written story, and the buildup to the ending was very subtle and well done.
Content warnings: Some body image issues, nods to the beauty industrial complex
And a vid!
“This Year” by hexenmeister. 3:23, Not Rated.
Fandom: Rocketman; Ships: Elton John/John Reid, Elton John & Bernie Taupin
Recced by: clevermanka
Backstory: Artist summary is perfect: “Elton’s gonna make it through this year if it kills him.”
Rec: The emotional arc is gorgeous and the timing is impeccable. Does a fantastic job showing Taron Egerton’s acting, too. You know those vids that are so satisfying you watch them five or ten times in a row for that sweet serotonin release? Yep.
Content warnings: Addiction, abuse, suicide attempt
https://twitter.com/ceo_revenge/status/1576526354275000320
FINAL THOUGHT
Have a great weekend, everyone! — Elizabeth