Thanks Belle for the nice words! Yours isn't a rant at all. I appreciate it and hugely value those who are still reading and still with me! I wanted to be careful about the characterization of evangelicals as it is a very broad community of diverse belief. This is why I ended up theorizing the far narrower point that those who, as a matter of theological practice, read the Bible very literally (most commonly a subset of American evangelical Protestants, but not necessarily), also might be more likely to narrowly interpret "canon" in the Chronicles, and probably other books as well. It is how they approach important text in their lives.
At this point, we move a bit beyond the topic here, but by and large I agree with your points, though I break them out separately. The first point, that I've talked about before on NFFR, is why some people really do not like reading adult content in their Narnia fic. I know a number of people who fall in that category and one reason is precisely as you identify -- regardless of religious and social belief, they strongly associate the Chronicles with a childhood innocence. To the extent they are interested in more adult fare (and many of them are), including violence, M rated contented and same sex pairings, they find it in other fandoms. To explore those issues in Narnia fic produces a "squick." It's not canon-based, or even rooted in religious belief, though it might be. It's about preservation of something cherished of childhood. The Pevensies will ALWAYS be children and they want to keep it that way in the fic they enjoy.
Which is obviously, fine. DUH. This is supposed to be fun, and they don't get enjoyment out of adult-oriented content, stick to Narnia gen fic,and are picky about what they read.
Teasing out the second argument you make is, I think, more rooted in some within the evangelical religious community -- again understanding I'm painting with a broad brush. Such individuals perceive the Chronicles in a very personal and even proprietary way -- certainly encouraged by the way in which the films were marketed to and vetted by the faith community in the U.S. In a sea of objectionable content and Hollywood commercialism, in the continual assault upon their values by an entertainment media complex perceived as crass and immoral, they cherish Narnia as "safe." I get that point, too.
Where I part company with both arguments is when: 1)it becomes judgmental as, in "you're doing it wrong," and/or 2) the person asserts she is the oracle of the author's intent, which should govern and control (and often at the expense of other parts of the Chronicles' gentle and inclusive message); and/or 3) what often follows from 1 and 2, "Rthstewart, you should be ashamed of yourself! HOW DARE YOU! Lewis would be rolling over in his grave!"
As a Bitter Old Fanfic Queen (thanks Cofax7 for that one, though I'm really not bitter at all -- jaded is probably the better term), who is twice or three times of the age of those leveling these charges, I really don't get the desire to BE RIGHT and condemn the rest of us. I love fandom, I love fic, I love the Chronicles, and I love the communities that build up around them.
no subject
At this point, we move a bit beyond the topic here, but by and large I agree with your points, though I break them out separately. The first point, that I've talked about before on NFFR, is why some people really do not like reading adult content in their Narnia fic. I know a number of people who fall in that category and one reason is precisely as you identify -- regardless of religious and social belief, they strongly associate the Chronicles with a childhood innocence. To the extent they are interested in more adult fare (and many of them are), including violence, M rated contented and same sex pairings, they find it in other fandoms. To explore those issues in Narnia fic produces a "squick." It's not canon-based, or even rooted in religious belief, though it might be. It's about preservation of something cherished of childhood. The Pevensies will ALWAYS be children and they want to keep it that way in the fic they enjoy.
Which is obviously, fine. DUH. This is supposed to be fun, and they don't get enjoyment out of adult-oriented content, stick to Narnia gen fic,and are picky about what they read.
Teasing out the second argument you make is, I think, more rooted in some within the evangelical religious community -- again understanding I'm painting with a broad brush. Such individuals perceive the Chronicles in a very personal and even proprietary way -- certainly encouraged by the way in which the films were marketed to and vetted by the faith community in the U.S. In a sea of objectionable content and Hollywood commercialism, in the continual assault upon their values by an entertainment media complex perceived as crass and immoral, they cherish Narnia as "safe." I get that point, too.
Where I part company with both arguments is when: 1)it becomes judgmental as, in "you're doing it wrong," and/or 2) the person asserts she is the oracle of the author's intent, which should govern and control (and often at the expense of other parts of the Chronicles' gentle and inclusive message); and/or 3) what often follows from 1 and 2, "Rthstewart, you should be ashamed of yourself! HOW DARE YOU! Lewis would be rolling over in his grave!"
As a Bitter Old Fanfic Queen (thanks Cofax7 for that one, though I'm really not bitter at all -- jaded is probably the better term), who is twice or three times of the age of those leveling these charges, I really don't get the desire to BE RIGHT and condemn the rest of us. I love fandom, I love fic, I love the Chronicles, and I love the communities that build up around them.