The Rec Center #55
Hello! Let’s talk about something else—anything else. How about fanfiction? :-D (My official plan for today has been...75% successful so far?) We’ve put together an extra-large multi-fandom list, so hopefully you’ll find some distraction there. Plus we’ve got Hidden Figures fanart (I saw it last weekend, go see it *now*, get ready to start clapping whenever the protagonists do math, it’s a DELIGHT), articles about gender parity in Hollywood, and the obligatory Yuri content. (I’ve finally seen YoI, AMA) Hopefully fandom can bring you some joy this weekend—and help you remember that you are not alone. — Elizabeth
new stuff
“Bad Girls Do It Well: The ‘Bitch Planet’ Mixtape” by Emma Lawson at Comics Alliance
Comics Alliance just did a week of comics-themed music playlists with commentary from comics critics. We highly recommend all of them, but Bitch Planet felt especially appropriate. (If you don’t read Bitch Planet already, you should check it out!)
“Women only said 27% of the words in 2016’s biggest movies” by Amber Thomas at freeCodeCamp
Great data analysis and visualizations about incredibly depressing discrepancies between male and female speaking time in last year’s big films.
“Why Meta Is Better: Male Fan Theorists Are Journalists But Women Just Write Meta” by Magen Cubed at Women Write About Comics
A great piece about the proliferation of fan theorists in mainstream entertainment journalism—and why meta remains largely relegated to fan-only spaces.
Hidden Figures fanart by Naomi Franq
older stuff
A conversation with Paula Smith about coining the term “Mary Sue,” Transformative Works and Cultures, 2011
This article comes to us from a reader—Calyx Palmer—and if you’re interested in fandom history, definitely check it out. On the origins of “Mary Sue” and the complicated position the term has within THE PATRIARCHY. (Thanks again, Calyx!)
tumblr & beyond
Lin Manuel Miranda made a West Wing rap!
An oral history of incredibly violent Barney song memes by kids in the 90s.
Figure skater Patton Chen recreates Yuuri’s “Eros” programme from Yuri on Ice.
More Hidden Figures fanart! By neilarmstrong
fanfiction
During a weekend when we thought you might want a little distraction, we’ve put together a big multi-fandom list from reader submissions. Thanks again to everyone who contributed and who continues to contribute! <3 — Elizabeth
“et faisons la grasse matinée” by mazily. 1.6K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries; Ships: Phryne Fisher/Elizabeth MacMillan, Phryne Fisher/Jack Robinson
Recced by: Kat
Backstory: MFMM is a delightful show set in 1920s Melbourne about lady detective Phryne Fisher, unabashed feminist and the epitome of a progressive woman. She works together with Detective Inspector Jack Robinson (the UST is immense) and has a childhood friend Mac, suit-wearing doctor and stated lesbian.
Rec: A poly fic focusing on femslash—rare enough, but this fic is also playful, wonderfully matter-of-fact about how the relationship works, and gives sharp insight into the characters with off-handed comments hidden in each line.
Content warnings: N/A
“supernovas” by LadyCharity (AO3) / mykingdomforapen (Tumblr). 3.3K words, rated Teen.
Fandom: Star Wars: Rogue One; Ship: Gen
Recced by: anonymous
Backstory: Bodhi-centric backstory where the Rogue One crew survives Sharif, with lots of worldbuilding about his family. Addresses the consequences of the entirely unnecessary tentacle scene, as well as the realities of your home becoming a warzone.
Rec: Detail-packed and intimate look at our favorite space pilot son, but still touches on bigger themes of guilt, complicity, and the refugee experience—issues that are all too relevant today.
Content warnings: Major Character Death (although not Bodhi/any of the Rogue One crew!)
“Butter With You” by driveinbingo. 26K words, rated Mature.
Fandoms: One Direction & BBC Radio 1; Ship: Nick Grimshaw/Louis Tomlinson
Recced by: Kat
Backstory: This ship is kind of the dark horse of the One Direction fandom. Not many people ship Grimmy/Louis because both people are more regularly shipped with Harry Styles—but it’s just so much fun, almost always goes from mutual dislike to mutual pining and I LOVE it.
Rec: This fic is set during a season of the Great British Bake-Off and features many familiar moments for fans of the show (custardgate!) This fic is like comfort food to me—it doesn’t matter how many times I read it, it always tastes just as sweet.
Content warnings: N/A
“The Words That Other People Say” by tiltedsyllogism. 18K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Jessica Jones; Ship: Jessica Jones/Patricia Walker
Recced by: bandersnatchmycummerbund
Backstory: Jessica Jones is a troubled young woman with supernatural strength who was adopted by the family of child star Trish Walker after Jessica’s family was killed in her preteen years. They had a rocky beginning as children but eventually became very close and important to one another.
Rec: Incredible writing and detailed, believable characterization. I love everything about this story but especially appreciate the realistic depiction of class difference, and the acknowledgement of Jessica’s status as a lower-class character and how it affects her relationship with Trish.
Content warnings: It’s a prequel to the show, so there’s no happily ever after here.
“Advanced Ambulatory Ichthyology” by Gyzym. 49K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: Community; Ship: Troy Barnes/Abed Nadir
Recced by: Kira
Backstory: Community is about a group of friends at a community college and their weird and wonderful adventures. This story is set after the end of season 3.
Rec: This is a really sweet and thoughtful look at the development of a romantic relationship between two best friends. All the characterisations ring true, and it is both hilarious and occasionally makes me cry.
Content warnings: N/A
“Bad Boy Boogie” series by Lanyon. 42K words in 16 parts, rated Teen to Explicit.
Fandom: Check, Please!; Ship: Kent Parson/OMC
Recced by: greatish
Backstory: This is a coming of age story about Kent Parson, Jack Zimmermann’s former hockey pal/love interest/frenemy, focusing on his hockey career and coming to terms with his life, friendships, and relationship to his teammate. The author has described it as Kent Parson/happiness.
Rec: Stories like this one are the reason I love fandom: It completely made me rethink Kent Parson as a complex, layered character, and has basically become canon for me. The world lanyon creates is incredibly compelling and both her OCs and the character development feel real.
Content warnings: N/A
“The Made-Up Things” by fire_and_a_rose. 1.5K words, rated Gen.
Fandoms: Harry Potter & Chronicles of Narnia crossover; Ship: Gen
Recced by: starwire
Backstory: This is a mashup of Narnia and HP that takes Petunia and Lily and asks what if Susan Pevensie was their mother. How did Susan deal with losing her family and creating a life, and how does that affect Lily and Petunia.
Rec: When Lily starts seeing Aslan, it’s the reaction of Susan and then Petunia that makes this story so wonderful, even if it ends like we all know it will. It gives a reason for the rift between the sisters that makes sense and means so much.
Content warnings: N/A
“Haven” by Aristide and Mairead Triste. 15K words, rated NC-17.
Fandom: Due South; Ship: Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski
Recced by: Beth
Backstory: A polite, by-the-book Mountie and a follow-your-gut Chicago cop!
Rec: 1: Best use of the “cabin in a snowstorm” trope ever.
2: It’s both sweet and smutty.
Content warnings: Some physical trauma, mostly ‘off-camera’
“Everything's Going to Get Lighter (Even if it Never Gets Better)” by Raphaela667. 3K words, rated PG-14.
Fandom: Merlin; Ships: Arthur/Merlin, Gwen/Lancelot
Recced by: whylorinda
Backstory: Arthur/Merlin is the fandom juggernaut, but this is always complicated by the wonderful character of Gwen, who clearly deserves more than either the show or the fandom is willing to give her. This story actually cares about that.
Rec: I’ve been rereading this fic for the better part of a decade, and it’s the palpable sense of atmosphere that always pulls me in. The story’s plot is concerned with a threat by Morgana to the health of Merlin and Camelot, and this feeling of threat and instability bleeds into the main characters’ thoughts, as they try to make sense of their relationships, which are simultaneously painfully loving and painfully founded in infidelity.
Content warnings: Infidelity, illness
“america goals” by magneticwave. 3.8K words, rated Gen.
Fandom: Yuri on Ice; Ship: Yuuri & Phichit friendship
Recced by: Gav
Backstory: Yuuri and Phichit were college roommates when they trained together under coach Celestino in Detroit. This is an ADORABLE backstory fic for them both.
Rec: Cute and funny fic about Phichit befriending Yuuri in college, and handling cultural differences in the US. Includes an excellent explanation for why Phichit seems to be studying alongside Yuuri overseas, despite being 4 years younger.
Content warnings: N/A
FINAL THOUGHT
If you are considering protesting this weekend, here is a map of all the worldwide Sister Marches to the Women’s March on DC this Saturday. (Elizabeth will be in DC!) You may also find protests being organized outside your nearest U.S. consulate. Familiarize yourself with protest safety precautions, and remember to stay hydrated!
Otherwise, we recommend going to see Hidden Figures this weekend, because it’s widely regarded to be Very Good. (I personally will be going to see xXx: Return of Xander Cage tonight, but only because Hidden Figures isn’t out in the UK yet. This film choice may not be for everyone, but I’m greatly looking forward to it because I’m a garbage person who wants to watch Vin Diesel skateboard along the outside of a bus.) — Gav
New year, new call for fic recs! Our submission form is still open if you have a one-off rec. And if you’re interested in doing a full list or an explainer, please get in touch: hit reply, write elizabethandgav at gmail, or message one of us on social media.
If you liked this, please share it with your friends! https://thereccenter.substack.com/. And find us on social media: Gav (twitter/tumblr) & Elizabeth (twitter/tumblr)