Big Bang - Fanlore

Big Bang

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A Big Bang is a specific type of challenge involving long fics and accompanying artwork. This type of challenge is a return of newer online posting formats to the old zine tradition of collaboration between artists and writers.

The minimum word count for the original Big Bang was 40,000 words, though many other Big Bangs have lowered the minimum to 20,000. Each story is assigned one or more artists, who create fanart to go along with the story. The art can take the form of illustrations, manips, photo collages, vids, etc.

In 2008, the Bandom Big Bang provided each story with a soundtrack, rather than artwork, since it seemed more appropriate for a music-based fandom and because fanart is not as common in bandom, although fanart was still involved.

Some Big Bangs have specific prompts for the authors to work from, while others leave everything but the minimum word count up to the individual authors.

The multifandom femslash challenge Epic Proportions seems to be related in spirit. The minimum is 20,000 words and there are prompts but no artwork.

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Controversy

The original Big Bang was a Harry Potter/Draco Malfoy fest, and the name of the fest was chosen to represent the sparks that would fly when Harry and Draco finally got together after years of UST simmering under the surface.

However, many fans interpreted the meaning differently than its creators intended, assuming it to mean a big explosion of long fics and art all at once. In an example of fannish drift, it is that meaning that spread to other fandoms, which upset many Harry/Draco fans.

List of multifandom Big Bangs

List of single fandom Big Bangs

Please keep in alphabetical order by fandom.

External Links

  • Big Bangs, Baby!, a list of big bang communities on LiveJournal, Dreamwidth et al.