Roundtable Discussion XXIV: Writing Forum III - Characterization in Fic: Canon

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Topic: Canon Characterization suggested by grey_hunterTopics can include, but are not limited to

Comments

[remuslives23]

I've always prescribed to the theory that anything JKR doesn't write is AU. There's canon then there is our universe, full of twists and turns and 'unseen' moments

[shiv5468]

I thin kthre are ranges of interpretation that are non-OOC, but there are outliers that really are. Lucius the serial sex fiend, fair enough. Lucius the purdish family man who's been faithful t his wife, ditto. Lucuis hanging round in malls, cheing gum and listening to ipods... in the absence of an explantion that makes sense - imperio, drugs, imperio and drugs - that's OOC.

[kellychambliss]

I think there are ranges of interpretation that are non-OOC, but there are outliers that really are

Yes, this is how I see it, too. Even though canon leaves much unsaid and shows things through one child/teen's pov, there is a core identity for each major and secondary character and even for some of the fairly minor ones. And it's that core identity that I want to see preserved in fanfic. There's plenty of room for interesting interpretation without turning characters into people unrecognizable as themselves

[shiv5468]

Nods. There are all sorts of interpretations i don't want to read but i won't consider them ooc unless they've breached that core. It's fun to play with the difference between what harry sees and what could 'really' have happened, That's part of the fun of writing but not to the point where canon breaks. Unless its crack fic or marked a u. Sometimes writers are so bad that what they write is ooc for anyone with three brain cells.

[felaine]

I'm only bothered by OOCness if it feels like the author wrote an original story and simply filled in the names of HP characters so we'd read it.
A few stories give me the feeling it could be Spock/Kirk, Louis/Lestat or Harry/Snape without changing their plot.

[remuslives23]

I've written a non-magic AU and agree with you. You have to be very careful of how you use the characters to make them the same people you fell in love with in the books. Without the magic, your fic relies on the characterisations a whole lot more and a bad one will just ruin the story.

[daddybear716]

I do agree with canon being what Harry saw and perceived.

I write a lot of Ron/Viktor and have often had comments of them being OOC. If the story were set in the canon time line, that would probable be true, but much of my fic takes place when they are in their 20's and 30's. I would certainly hope at 30, Ron wasn't behaving like he did at 16.

[alovelycupoftea]

I think it's absolutely the case that in canon we get a small glimpse into Harry's perception of characters at a moment in time.

As writers and artists I think making characters 'canon' or 'in character' is somehow about getting to the essence of their character, and suggesting how they might act or react in different circumstances. This, of course, is almost completely about individual interpretation. I think it is when the interpretation of the writer/artist and the reader overlap, that it seems in character or canonSo - in the books, Harry sees Draco as a coward. But, as a reader I can interpret his actions as a spoiled little boy who hides behind his family prestige. For me, I don't think these things are unchangeable. I can forsee a series of events where a spoiled little boy grows up into a good man and where he is no longer interested in hiding behind his family name. If as a writer I create that scenario, and then have Draco do something courageous - does that mean the Draco I am writing is OOC

[inamac]

Indeed. The Harry POV itself warps the characterisation - and even JKR allows the characters to change through the time period of the story. Leaving aside the deliberate obscuration of Snape's loyaties what are we to make of Dumbledore? If I;d written him as the duplicitious, manipulating bastard person that he's shown to be in DH back before DH had been published would that have been OOC? Is it suddenly validated by what we know now?

And if I want to write the 'bad guys' as heroes, or the story from Voldemort's POV does that make them OOC? No man is a villain to himself, after all...

[emrys_mk]

Other people have already written similar comments, but I wanted to add my own. I prefer canon to fanon where there is canon, and do not stray from that often, either in reading or writing.

I write a lot of Snape, and the only canon of him that we see is from Harry's very skewed POV. Now, I am not an expert or anything, but I'm inclined to believe that there is a bit more to our favorite Potions master than his merely being a surly git who hates Harry and his friends. No, we do not see it anywhere in Fandom, but I am sure that at one time in his life that Severus has had a very normal conversation with someone where he was cordial - yes, a bit shocking, I know, but there you go.... When people write a normal Snape, it irks me when readers leave feedback that say he is OOC.

If we are held to true canon, fandom would be a lonely place.

[emrys_mk]

The use of 'fandom' should be 'canon' when I was discussing Snape being a normal person...ggrr - lol

[hobbitheart]

I feel a little less alone now *laughs* I'm all for encouraging creativity, but I do believe a line exists between broadening and giving depth to a canon concept and simply skipping around in JKR's universe with no respect for the original works.

I have read very very VERY few fics which are original but loyal. And no, I don't think it's an impossible dream - there are many talented writers/artists out there in our fandom, and I don't think they're challenging themselves enough.

Snape could potentially be given more dimension - the foundation canon has provided is already there. But who will take up the challenge of humanising him? You'd have to have a pretty thick skin, because most people would react negatively to anything beyond a sarcastic and bitter Snape. Which is sad, 'cause I'm sure there was more to him than that.

[emrys_mk]

But who will take up the challenge of humanising him? You'd have to have a pretty thick skin, because most people would react negatively to anything beyond a sarcastic and bitter Snape. Which is sad, 'cause I'm sure there was more to him than that.

I've read one fic that was sort of a life story about Snape, and it was quite engaging and showed him in more than the usual snark. Unfortunately, I think it was removed years ago. I've always wanted to write his life story and show the real him - that is a dream, but who knows: one day I might do it, and since I don't much care what people think, I'd have the thick skin to do it.