Скачать или смотреть “Words have power.” Minority and Cultural Representation in FanFiction

Sandra and Kasey welcomed authors and friends to dig deeper into fanfiction on this episode. The topic is minority and cultural representation (or the lack thereof) in fanfics, focusing on Reader Insert and Original Characters.

Alex, known as ZepSkies, is a reader-insert and OFC writer who has penned many stories centered around characters brought to life by one Jensen Ackles. She’s imbued her reader inserts and ofc’s with diverse traits and characteristics that have reflected her Latin heritage and explored other cultures outside her frame of reference.

Sandra sent an ask out in Idling’s Discord server to talk to authors from various cultures about this topic. One member, Laila (known as rubyvhs on tumblr), was keen to come on for the chat. Unfortunately, exams got in the way of her joining. But she kindly took time out and answered some questions sent over in advance.

Many thanks to these talented authors for sharing their insight and lived experiences!

You can find Alex on tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/zepskies and AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/users/Zep... and listen to her author interview:    • “Y/N and Let Y/N.” - Interview with Zeppel...  
You can find Laila on tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/rubyvhs and AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/users/Rub...
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Chapter Timestamps
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:24 - Cultural Diversity in FanFic
00:03:01 - Alex has been on the podcast before
00:03:23 - Laila’s intro to SPN and fanfiction
00:04:23 - The age at which one starts writing fanfic
00:06:18 - Alex’s cultural background and formative years
00:10:53 - Food and culture
00:12:15 - Laila’s cultural background
00:13:06 - The American Dream?
00:17:00 - Fanfic Alex reads
00:19:52 - When less is more in fic writing
00:25:10 - Fanfic Laila reads
00:25:54 - When Alex discovered cultural representation in fanfic
00:28:21 - How much of an identity do you give a reader-insert character?
00:31:27 - Did Laila search for her cultural heritage in fanfic?
00:32:58 - Diversity in media
00:36:36 - Deciding to give a reader-insert character diverse cultural traits
00:38:47 - Missing out on the opportunity of Cassie on the show
00:40:09 - Challenges encountered creating layered and diverse characters
00:45:28 - Alex is challenging herself with a new interracial pairing
00:51:29 - Fear of sharing a part of your culture in fanfiction?
00:58:41 - Laila incorporated her cultural identity into fanfic
01:02:58 - Writing limitations on a posting schedule
01:05:34 - Breaking out of an ingrained bias
01:08:03 - Plus-sized reader-insert
01:12:50 - Has Laila dealt with ingrained bias?
01:13:20 - Writing about a culture outside of your frame of reference
01:16:32 - Writing an ethnic character outside of your own needs to be done responsibly and with care
01:18:33 - Making it realistic and entertaining
01:27:03 - Cowboy Dean, Come On!
01:28:40 - The response Alex received for writing a fanfic around Native American culture
01:31:58 - Laila’s cultural creations
01:32:42 - Laila’s advice for writing about cultures outside of your own
01:34:04 - Sensitivity readers and finding a beta for cultural questions
01:40:34 - Final advice from Alex
01:45:22 - Final thoughts and outro
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