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Jenkins, Henry, 1958- . Convergence culture : where old and new media collide / Henry Jenkins. [9780814742815 (cloth : alk. paper) ] New York : New York University Press, 2006.
Call#: Annenberg Library Reserve P94.65.U6 J46 2006
In chapters 4 and 5 of Convergence Culture, Jenkins discusses the modern fan movements towards a renewed "grassroots culture," or active participation in the properties they are fans of. Companies that hold the copyrights to the kind of properties that so inspire fans, such as Star Wars and Harry Potter, are forced to choose between enforcing their copyrights or permitting fan fiction (and other media) to continue under their supervision and limited (to varying degrees) control. Jenkins points out that companies are aware of the debt they owe hardcore fans for strengthening the brand:
"The studios are now, for the most part, treating cult properties as "love marks" and fans as "inspirational consumers" whose efforts helped generate broader interests in their properties. Establishing the fans' loyalty often means lessening traditional controls that companies might exert over their intellectual properties and thus opening up a broader space for grassroots creative expression" (pp. 191)

And yet, American copyright holders still try their best to limit what kinds of fan fiction can be easily found online, in hopes of keeping some control over the perception (or decency) of their brand. None have tried to actually take a sexually explicit fan fiction author to court for fear of alienating fans and setting the wrong precedent, but they have tried to quash such expression. And the more affinity towards the fanbase, the more the fans will be willing to censor themselves in order to please their benevolent masters (of the copyright).

On page 155 (chapter 4), Jenkins mentions "song videos" as a form of fan fiction. He talks about fan fiction here in contrast to the kind of fan productions LucasFilm endorses, which can only be parody-flavored or about the fans themselves. "Song videos" are often the kind of production preferred by female fans, who take the time to explore and develop certain relationships and themes that may or may not have been present in the original work. LucasFilm acts along the same lines as the law might approach various kinds of derivative works-though it is comfortable with parodies, anything that might be seen as "expanding upon" the original universe could technically be illegal derivative work and therefore to be avoided. The difference between monolithic character properties such as Harry Potter and Star Wars and an entire (niche) medium is also very important to note. Unlike the more specific fan cultures, the anime fan culture is both less mainstream (and therefore even more dependant on the loyal and active few) and unable to be corralled and manipulated by one corporate body. Since an entire genre of cinema and comics are the focus and instead of one copyrightable property, lots of varying interests are at stake and no single one can control fans as a whole.