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Just some thoughts on OOC in fanfiction. I understand people are eager to read fic about their faves exactly as they were in the book/show etc but OOC is such a subjective and fluid concept, and really has no bearing when you move into post-canon, canon-divergence and AU. +
Yes, there absolutely are constants that will stick with a character (I'm going to use JC, because ofc I am, to demonstrate. But this applies to every character in every media format). A person is shaped by their life, their experiences, the traumas/successes and whatever else +
happens to them in their life. JC endgame MDZS is bitter, angry, stifly proud and self-sufficient. He wasn't like that as a teenager, he was quick tempered, and had huge issues being honest with his feelings, but he wasn't closed off and angry at the world like Mature!JC.
And Mature!JC was like that because that's what life made him. He suffered loss after loss after loss, and that's what humans do. They change, get traumatised, and adapt to survive.
Apply this to writing a coffee shop AU with Teen!JC who has everyone alive and well at home +
Apply this to writing a coffee shop AU with Teen!JC who has everyone alive and well at home +
and he's going to be quick tempered and easily embarrassed about his feelings, but he isn't likely to be bitter and closed off just bc MDZS JC was.
If you're thinking a fanfic is OOC perhaps first consider whether the author has stripped the psychology of the character down +
If you're thinking a fanfic is OOC perhaps first consider whether the author has stripped the psychology of the character down +
to brass tacks and built it back up based on the environment that character currently inhabits.
Humans are a mix of nature and nuture, and no two will ever react the same to the same situation because of both (I point you to the Two Jades, who grew up in the same environment +
Humans are a mix of nature and nuture, and no two will ever react the same to the same situation because of both (I point you to the Two Jades, who grew up in the same environment +
but with vastly differing characters).
And even if the above isn't the case, that's the author's understanding of a character, and thats valid, its their work. They don't need to make it more realistic for a reader if that's how they see the person they're writing about.
And even if the above isn't the case, that's the author's understanding of a character, and thats valid, its their work. They don't need to make it more realistic for a reader if that's how they see the person they're writing about.
Or it could be crack, deliberately OOC.
Honestly, if the OOC makes it so you don't like the fic because they don't feel like that character to you anymore, thats cool, it's your experience and you deserve to read what makes you happy, but the author doesn't have to provide that+
Honestly, if the OOC makes it so you don't like the fic because they don't feel like that character to you anymore, thats cool, it's your experience and you deserve to read what makes you happy, but the author doesn't have to provide that+
for you.
And you don't have the right to ask someone to change the way they're writing a character/characters for you.
Characters don't have to be cardboard cut outs of their canon selves, thats kind of the attraction of AUs and divergence. +
And you don't have the right to ask someone to change the way they're writing a character/characters for you.
Characters don't have to be cardboard cut outs of their canon selves, thats kind of the attraction of AUs and divergence. +
Honestly, personally, I've been lucky to not come across much of this kind of feedback, I get wonderful and supportive comments, but I know it's a continuing problem, and authors (and artists) are here pouring their hearts and souls into their chosen art form, and you can +
very easily hurt and put them off, even if that wasn't your intent.
It doesn't cost anything to access the amazing art and fiction fandom creators provide for free, and neither does extending a little kindness to them for it!
I don't think this applies to anyone on my TL, +
It doesn't cost anything to access the amazing art and fiction fandom creators provide for free, and neither does extending a little kindness to them for it!
I don't think this applies to anyone on my TL, +
as everyone's so lovely, but they be my thoughts, for what they're worth.
