Snowflake Challenge 2025 #3

[bedes]

Challenge #3

In your own space, talk about a fannish opinion you hold that has changed over time.

Despite describing myself as a fanfic author partially specializing in genfic, I didn't understand the appeal of gen fanworks for a very long time! For me, a self-defined hopeless romantic aromantic, romantic shipping was one of the main appeals of fandom, and I fell into the amatonormative belief that platonic relationships couldn't be as deep as romantic ones.

I believe what really changed this was being super into the Professor Layton fandom. At the time, I was sorting out how I felt about my parents, largely using Luke Triton (the young apprentice to the main character) as a method for that. While doing so, though, it always felt natural for it to conclude with him finding solace in Hershel Layton, who acts as a father-like figure to him throughout the game.

I also later began to unpack my amatonormativity specifically in the LEGO Monkie Kid fandom, thanks to the friendship between the main characters Mei and MK. I discovered I was arospec around this time, and I headcanoned Mei as aromantic too. Viewing Mei and MK as a queerplatonic partnership was a big catalyst to exploring the idea that platonic relationships could be equally as deep and meaningful as romantic ones.

Which, of course, leads me to today! A huge enjoyer of gen works, to the point of purposefully subverting typically-romantic AUs (such as hanahaki) in my fic, for platonic uses. I've basically done a total 180, in other words!

Comments

[evandar]

to the point of purposefully subverting typically-romantic AUs (such as hanahaki) in my fic, for platonic uses

Okay, but this sounds fascinating. I love the hanahaki trope (even though I often wish it was more tragic) but I've never seen it used platonically before.

Fanfiction does seem to revolve around romance, which I don't usually mind, but which can feel exhausting at times, especially when it comes with the devaluing of non-romantic relationships.

[bedes]

I LOVE PLATONIC HANAHAKI AND I WISH THERE WERE MORE (EXPLODES)! But ya, it can be tiring, which is partially why I am now a huge proponent of genfic!