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So, I was feeling well enough to skim more through LJ and caught the tail end of the Vid-o-Rama nonsense, to which the only thing I really have to say is, kiss my dyke ass. Ahem. But it did get me thinking in general about fandom contests and awards, and why I pretty much loathe them regardlesss. A lot. Which is a post I've had half written in my head for forever, and no time like the present.
Okay, so I don't get the point of pitting fannish creative works against each other. I don't see the purpose beyond the ability to claim that fan A is better than fan B specifically, which just seriously makes me twitchy as hell in the context of fannish creativity. Huh? What's gained? I think, for me, it comes down to the question of why we're making all these doodads in the first place, and on the list of reasons I just can't think of a place for 'to prove that I'm more awesome than her'. I can't wrap my brain around wanting to beat someone at a labor of love. And I hate the environment that can foster, in which expressing yourself creatively becomes not about sharing what you love but about winning. Winning what? No, seriously, what, because I do not get it.
And then there's the part where these things are presented as though they are somehow a neutral measure of what's 'better' in the first place. No, they really aren't. If there are specific judges, then 'better' relates specifically to their preferences. Which, awesome, we've all got those, and I love hearing about them, especially if someone's particular tastes match up with mine. But...how is this any different than a rec list, except that it feels an awful lot like claiming 'things I like best' are objectively 'things that are best'.
In broad general terms, yes, some fanworks are clearly better made than others. Hugh knows I'm not exactly shy about my annoyance with people who claim that pointing this out is mean, or that all fanworks should be admired equally. But, but, but...contests and such are about determining which is best, and that's...I'm struggling for words here, but it's different. My five favorite vids are not your five favorite vids, nor should they be. Given the same set of vids, a group of Super Talented Vidders with one set of aesthetic preferences is going to choose a different 'best' vid than that other group of Super Talented Vidders. I guess I just find it...ishy to try and set one above the other, as though either had the lock on The Artistic Truth. Getting together something like a recs list instead allows the ability to express that opinion, but keeps it in context. (though I'm not going to claim recs lists are somehow free of problems, I've met you, fandom)
And then there are the contests and awards open to general voting, which, yes they are popularity contests. Sorry. That's not to say that there isn't really awesome stuff that gets nominated or wins these things. Obviously a really well written story is going to have more fans than a crap one. But what gets submitted, by who, and how many votes something gets directly relates to the amount of exposure someone has in general. How could it not? If I've got a bajillionty people on my f'list and I mention I've been nominated for X Awards, then yes, I'm more likely to get votes than another fan who has a small f'list. Duh. There's nothing wrong with being well liked, and having well liked fanworks...but as an objective determination of what's best, it sort of fails. Again, my objection comes down to the way it's presented as though it doesn't.
And still, again, always, I come back to why we're trying to make these determinations in the first place, as though there is something valuable about having bragging rights over other fans. There are plenty of ways to express admiration, to acknowledge incredible work, to share your enthusiasm for something someone else has done that don't require trying to set up some sort of official hierarchy of who is better than who. Why not do that?
Okay, so I don't get the point of pitting fannish creative works against each other. I don't see the purpose beyond the ability to claim that fan A is better than fan B specifically, which just seriously makes me twitchy as hell in the context of fannish creativity. Huh? What's gained? I think, for me, it comes down to the question of why we're making all these doodads in the first place, and on the list of reasons I just can't think of a place for 'to prove that I'm more awesome than her'. I can't wrap my brain around wanting to beat someone at a labor of love. And I hate the environment that can foster, in which expressing yourself creatively becomes not about sharing what you love but about winning. Winning what? No, seriously, what, because I do not get it.
And then there's the part where these things are presented as though they are somehow a neutral measure of what's 'better' in the first place. No, they really aren't. If there are specific judges, then 'better' relates specifically to their preferences. Which, awesome, we've all got those, and I love hearing about them, especially if someone's particular tastes match up with mine. But...how is this any different than a rec list, except that it feels an awful lot like claiming 'things I like best' are objectively 'things that are best'.
In broad general terms, yes, some fanworks are clearly better made than others. Hugh knows I'm not exactly shy about my annoyance with people who claim that pointing this out is mean, or that all fanworks should be admired equally. But, but, but...contests and such are about determining which is best, and that's...I'm struggling for words here, but it's different. My five favorite vids are not your five favorite vids, nor should they be. Given the same set of vids, a group of Super Talented Vidders with one set of aesthetic preferences is going to choose a different 'best' vid than that other group of Super Talented Vidders. I guess I just find it...ishy to try and set one above the other, as though either had the lock on The Artistic Truth. Getting together something like a recs list instead allows the ability to express that opinion, but keeps it in context. (though I'm not going to claim recs lists are somehow free of problems, I've met you, fandom)
And then there are the contests and awards open to general voting, which, yes they are popularity contests. Sorry. That's not to say that there isn't really awesome stuff that gets nominated or wins these things. Obviously a really well written story is going to have more fans than a crap one. But what gets submitted, by who, and how many votes something gets directly relates to the amount of exposure someone has in general. How could it not? If I've got a bajillionty people on my f'list and I mention I've been nominated for X Awards, then yes, I'm more likely to get votes than another fan who has a small f'list. Duh. There's nothing wrong with being well liked, and having well liked fanworks...but as an objective determination of what's best, it sort of fails. Again, my objection comes down to the way it's presented as though it doesn't.
And still, again, always, I come back to why we're trying to make these determinations in the first place, as though there is something valuable about having bragging rights over other fans. There are plenty of ways to express admiration, to acknowledge incredible work, to share your enthusiasm for something someone else has done that don't require trying to set up some sort of official hierarchy of who is better than who. Why not do that?