I see no need to allow the decisions of the ever-shortsighted network sheep to effect me, my zine, or how I feel...

Meta
Title:	I see no need to allow the decisions of the ever-shortsighted network sheep to effect me, my zine, or how I feel...
Creator:	Alayne Gelfand
Date(s):	1990
Medium:	print
Fandom:	Beauty and the Beast (TV) is the focus, but Star Trek is also prominent
Topic:
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

I see no need to allow the decisions of the ever-shortsighted network sheep to effect me, my zine, or how I feel... is a line from the editorial by Alayne Gelfand from A Secret Place #5, a Beauty and the Beast zine.

NOTE: this is not the title of this untitled fanwork, but instead a line from it that hopefully describes its focus.

Context

• a later essay by Gelfand: I am not immune to grief over the death of a fictional character.
• Beauty and the Beast: The Classic vs. Season 3 Fandom Split

Some Topics Discussed

• the power of fanworks to reject the vision of TPTB
• the healing power of fanworks
• Star Trek and Beauty and the Beast (TV) casting disappointments

Excerpts

I would like to begin this 5th issue of A SECRET PLACE with the reassurance to everyone that I have no intention of giving up on the zine or on the ideal behind it. ASP will continue as long as you want to read it and write it. I see no need to allow the decisions of the ever-shortsighted network sheep to effect me, my zine, or how I feel about BEAUTY AND THE BEAST or Catherine and Vincent.

I would like to give an example of how 'fandom' has worked miracles in the past in similar circumstances: I've been involved with STAR TREK fandom for over 8 years. What started me looking toward zines and fandom for sustenance was the death of Spock. It was unacceptable to me. I started writing alternate stories in which Spock never died, in which his death was reversed or was somehow an illusion/dream/nightmare... the possibilities, to paraphrase Spock himself, were unlimited. And it didn't take long to discover that I was not the only person doing this.

The one occurrence in the STAR TREK universe that could have destroyed it forever actually served as a catalyst to fuel the fandom into realms of exploration, creativity and enthusiasm that had never been considered before. TREK fandom literally exploded as dozens and dozens of new zines appeared, hundreds and hundreds of new fans came out of the cracks and closets of the world, conventions sprang up from the ether... and, I personally believe, because of all this, Spock's death was eventually explained away/reversed/solved in "official" channels.

The power of the fans who support a creative effort such as TREK or B&B is immeasurable. So, while you're all writing letters to Fox and USA and CBS and Lifetime Network and Ron Koslow and Witt/Thomas Productions... remember that we can all keep the essence of B&B alive in zines, in our hearts, by sharing our visions and dreams with others. We, AS fans, are not powerless. There's no need to give up those wonderfully warm, startling emotions invoked by Vincent and Catherine and the people Below just because some "cold hearted orb" says we must. And there's no rule, no law written somewhere dictating that any of us have to accept the vision the powers at B&B chose to follow in the 3rd season of the show.