i've been thinking about vidding (in an abstract sense)

[krickets]

Actually, I've been thinking about fandom and how each of us have differing levels of participation. Some of us create, some of us consume what others have created, some of us theorize and criticize and squee, and some of us lurk.

Personally, in the "create" category I fall mainly under three separate distinctions: Icons. Vids. Fics. Which is... kind of a lot! (I need to slow down.)

Anyway, I was talking to Dayln about the kinds of things we produce and asking the question "Why do we do this?" Which is, honestly, a question that I don't think I ever really ask myself.

If I could give one of those things up, it would be graphic making. I don't really do it that often anymore unless it's for something in particular, a contest, an event, I happen to really really want an icon of such-and-such, etc. When I'm making them, it certainly hits my creative buttons, but beyond that, I don't think it's something I'm all that in love with. And I certainly don't go back later and say, "Oh look at this really cool thing I made."

But with fic and vidding, I think for me there's more of an emotional satisfaction - when making them and even afterward. I think that's the reason both of those things are something I cherish and probably wouldn't give up unless I had to.

There's more of a storytelling aspect (even to vidding) than there is with making graphics. It can be ambiguous, symbolic, or even straitforward storytelling. Either way, it's one of my biggest creative kinks, if you will. Even if you're making something that could fall into place in the canon, or something episodic, there's still a kind of world-building (world-expanding?) that goes on, even if it's simply to explore another point-of-view or to point out a particular pattern. Which, to me, is incredibly creatively satisfying.

Most importantly, you get the opportunity to touch people in a way that you just never could with graphic making. You strike a chord with some aspect of your product, be it a fic or a vid, and sometimes it leads to a dialogue. I personally love it when someone makes a comment where they draw lines to things you never consciously thought of when writing/vidding, but were inherent anyway.

Even if what you're doing is straight-up silly, like Battlestar Inferno or a piece of crack fic, I think there's much more of a connection with your peers and fellow fans. And I think for me, that's what's special about it.

Yeah, I'll admit this was kind of random, but I've been thinking about it since yesterday.

By the way: I think I got to thinking about it because I was thinking about vidding in general and thought to myself that I would rather make a vid or write a fic that gets one heartfelt comment, than I would make a batch of icons that gets 100 comments.

ETA, from the comments: I didn't mean to say "graphic making is silly" or even lesser, I'm just far less invested in it emotionally. I wouldn't say I put my "heart and soul" into my icons, but I would say that about my fics and vids. And I guess for me that's the distinction. But I still make graphics cause it is fun and I enjoy the creative process.

Sorry, I really do know how to cut entries. Promise.

Comments

[gigglemonster.livejournal.com]

Amen sista.
I think from now on, if anyone is ever to ask my opinion on something, I'm just gonna like...point at you and that's my answer - because everything you say about everything I agree with :)

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Wait so you're saying you'd write more fic? Hahaha. I somehow doubt it! (Though a girl can dream!)

[dazzlebug.livejournal.com]

*applause*

Yes, yes, and um... YES.

\o/

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, could you repeat that. I have stuff in my ears.

[dazzlebug.livejournal.com]

Sam/Duck = OTP!!!!!!!!!!!!

♥ \O/ ♥

[crickets.livejournal.com]

LOL Youuuu're silly.

[dazzlebug.livejournal.com]

You know it.
You love it.
You can't deny it.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

'Tis true.

[dazzlebug.livejournal.com]

Callum knows so ^_^

[jellyfrog.livejournal.com]

Interesting thoughts. I can see where you're coming from; the joy of storytelling is definitely compelling. I don't have the tools or the patience to make vids, but I love what people do with them -- when you can take the story and put a new twist on it, or a different focus that highlights a certain part, or even takes pieces of it and tells a whole new story.

On the other hand, I don't enjoy fanfic -- either to write or read -- but I'm not sure why, since, as you said, it functions in much the same way as vids. I thought for a while it was just that I have trouble reading long sections of text on a computer screen (which is certainly part of it), but I find if my fanfic-writing friends write original fiction I'm more than happy to read chapter after chapter on the computer. And for myself I find far more joy in writing original fiction than fanfic.

So I pretty much only do graphics myself, and I think what I get out of it is that it's something I've never experienced anywhere else. I don't do visual arts. At all. Ever. It's not my thing, not a talent I have. I can't make something out of nothing. But with icons I can take preexisting pieces -- photos or caps and textures and colors -- and maybe, occasionally, end up with something that looks interesting or pretty. And for me that's really exciting because it's a creative experience I haven't had before.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

You know I get what you're saying from the creative standpoint, which is one of the reasons I do make graphics. I guess I didn't mean to say "graphic making is silly" or even lesser, I'm just far less invested in it emotionally. I wouldn't say I put my "heart and soul" into my icons, but I would say that about my fics and vids. And I guess for me that's the distinction. But I still make graphics cause it is fun and I enjoy the creative process.

I may edit my post to say that, too. I don't want to offend the people on my flist who make graphics! That's so not what I meant to do. Which would be silly cause that would include me. Hahaha.

[jellyfrog.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hope it didn't sound like I was offended! I totally see what you're getting at. And I wouldn't say I put my heart and soul into graphics either. ;)

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Oh, no way! Hahaha. It was totally preventative!

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

I find fanfic more fulfilling than icon making as well. It is all about the storytelling for me as well. Creating something to get a reaction. And I agree that I'd much rather one heartful comment than 100 "great fic" ones. Not that I don't appreciate those but the ones that mean so much to me at the end of the day are the ones that took a minute or two to write.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Leaving feedback is this whole other thing. Sometimes I am just so overwhelmed I don't know what to say, hahaha. Reciprocity, KC! I try though. Because I know how much it can mean to a person.

And what about feedback to feedback? Sometimes I feel kinda lame saying "thank you" over and over. Hahaha. But that's a whole nother ball of wax.

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I get stuck too, but since I do I know what it means to have someone give me feedback, and I value it more.

I have a standard thing. I say that I'm glad the person liked it and then I thank them for reading and reviewing. At the same time if they posed a question or had any deep observations I tag onto that. I try and have fun with feedback to feedback.

[bradcpu.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with all of this. It is truth.

I personally love it when someone makes a comment where they draw lines to things you never consciously thought of when writing/vidding, but were inherent anyway
I love that, too! I think it's an extension of how we each relate to/connect with fandom and fan art in a way that's at the same time unique and unifying. I mean, we all bring our own voices and perspectives to it, but the wholeness of it all brings us together.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I mean, we all bring our own voices and perspectives to it, but the wholeness of it all brings us together.

Exactly! I couldn't have said it better. Oh, fandom! *cuddles it* Hehehe.

I feel like... okay this is going to sound really... thick. Ha.

I think that sometimes fandom is looked on as this arbitrary kind of pastime. But the thing of it is that it gets people talking about the things that connect us, the issues that people deal with, relationships, world issues, etc. that we see come out in our fan works in one way or another. I mean, we may just be talking about some silly show, but on another level, we're talking about the world and people and all of those big philosophical things too. Fandom's just the medium that gets us there.

And sometimes all we're doing is drooling over pretty pictures and beautiful people. And that's okay too, I suppose.

[bradcpu.livejournal.com]

That didn't sound thick at all! I'm disappointed! I was looking forward to thickness!

You're totally right - fandom is an avenue we use to explore larger rl issues and to communicate on a level that we probably couldn't reach otherwise.

And sometimes all we're doing is drooling over pretty pictures and beautiful people. And that's okay too, I suppose.

I hope so. Cause I do a lot of drooling.

[airings.livejournal.com]

I agree. I like making icons, and it's what I'm best at and it doesn't take up a lot of time, but vidding and writing fic is so much more satisfying. I only made on vid, a long time ago (Dexter) and I haven't written much fic, but creating something from scraps is wayyy more fun than cropping 100x100 pixels and colouring them, you know?

[crickets.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, so true.

[charmax.livejournal.com]

I used to be a lot more active in fandom than I am now. I was a co-admin of a very busy vidding forum, a mod to 2 others, a judge and frequent competitor of vidding/graphics contests, reviewer, vidding and graphics making of my own and for other people. Basically I was spreading myself way to thin and ended up with a major fandom burn-out about 2 years ago. I'm still trying to get over it now.

[bradcpu.livejournal.com]

Of course, there's the bright side: You made us love you. :)

So no matter what happens from now on, every time we see your name we'll mentally draw little squiggly hearts around it. (Err... or is that just me?)

[charmax.livejournal.com]

Heh didn't I sound like the ball of negative energy on the last comment. Squiggly hearts are definitely making it all feel better.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I can't even imagine, babe. But I can see how it could come to that. Sometimes it's hard to say no. No... a lot of the time it's hard to say no.

*hugs*

(He's right though. *draws hearts* Hehe.)

[charmax.livejournal.com]

*points above*