Fan Fiction vs. Tie-In Fiction: A Framework

Every once in a while, fandom is beset upon by a series of somewhat aggressive arguments about the function of accuracy in film/tv adaptations. The best of these follow my own path, which involves assessing the work on its own terms before going back to look at how it functions as an adaptation. The worst of these, however, fall into a familiar trap of damnation by comparison — typically by comparing an adaptation to fan fiction.

Essentially, the argument goes, substantial deviations from the source material make a work more fan fiction than adaptation; by doing so, these works become worse off. Fan fiction, in other words, is, by implication, a lesser form of art.

None of this, of course, is particularly surprising. While many fan fiction writers and the community which surrounds them find great value in fan fiction and its various related works (fan art, etc.), there has always been a side of the broader fan community which views such works as a lesser fan pursuit, artistically weak, or, in the most brutal rejection, contemptable garbage (sometimes verging on a kind of moral decay).

Take this as a prime example:[1]

Here, the author makes two claims: 1) that Tolkien has a certain “vibe” and certain “values,” and 2) that any work which deviates substantially from these elements is fan fiction instead of a true adaptation. Within that claim is the implication that to be “fan fiction” is to necessarily be “lesser than” adaptation (as opposed to “different from”). The author might not have meant that in their statement, but it is clear that the failure of Rings of Power to adhere to this author’s expectations means it has fallen to an undesirable level (i.e., fan fiction).

Fan fiction writers have probably heard these arguments for generations. Certainly, fans and users of AO3 ran into this when the website was nominated for a Hugo Award (Best Related Work). While fandom has become more accepting of fan fiction, it has never embraced it fully, often opting for a “blinders” approach to avoid having to say anything good or bad.