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You're so ... Don't ever change...
Jul. 28th, 2004 02:59 pmI'd like to pontificate a bit about one common criticism of fanfic characterization: the dreaded label "OOC" - out of character. (file this under: OOC? WTF!)
Yes, a few of my carefully crafted portrayals have been the recipient of such a label; why do you ask?
After spending far too much time worrying about avoiding this apparently serious sin, I've come to re-evaluate what it means. My conclusion: while it may not be a totally useless designation, it lives in a town not far from irrelevant. OOC may be a valid criticism of a work of fiction that presumes to write Book 6 of JKR's HP series. For other works of fanfiction, I would anticipate the writer would try to sell any characterization changes during the course of the story. If this doesn't occur to my satisfaction, I would make the more specific charge that the story didn't provide enough support to justify the behaviour of the characters.
Because what most people tend to mean by OOC is that it doesn't match their vision of the One True Character (OTC). Which presumes that the critic's OTC is 1) singular and 2) easily discernible from canon.
( Read more... )
Yes, a few of my carefully crafted portrayals have been the recipient of such a label; why do you ask?
After spending far too much time worrying about avoiding this apparently serious sin, I've come to re-evaluate what it means. My conclusion: while it may not be a totally useless designation, it lives in a town not far from irrelevant. OOC may be a valid criticism of a work of fiction that presumes to write Book 6 of JKR's HP series. For other works of fanfiction, I would anticipate the writer would try to sell any characterization changes during the course of the story. If this doesn't occur to my satisfaction, I would make the more specific charge that the story didn't provide enough support to justify the behaviour of the characters.
Because what most people tend to mean by OOC is that it doesn't match their vision of the One True Character (OTC). Which presumes that the critic's OTC is 1) singular and 2) easily discernible from canon.
( Read more... )
