The Potterocalypse
| Meta | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Potterocalypse |
| Creator: | dm_p |
| Date(s): | April 7, 2007 |
| Medium: | online transcript, podcast |
| Fandom: | Harry Potter |
| Topic: | |
| External Links: | online transcript here, Archived version |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
The Potterocalypse is an essay and podfic at Slashcast. It is by dm_p.
Topics Discussed
- closed canons and what fandoms do afterwards
- Harry Potter
- shipping
The Post
And so it’s official. In July, every Harry Potter fan will get the Deathly Hallows, read it in about 2 hours, and depending on the outcome either A, carefully lay it aside and begin to cry, or B, toss it across the room in a fit of rage and cry. Either way, the prospect isn’t promising.I’ve read a lot of fans, me included, aren’t ready to give up their favourite obsession so quickly. I’ve read of the pending death of fandom, of the beginning of the end, and the ‘Potterocalypse’. At first the entire idea scared me. Throes of depression ensued and the only thing that could draw me out was the semi-nudies DanRad graced us with. Coincidence? You be the judge.
What scares me most is the idea of a dying fandom. If I said that fandom wouldn’t suffer at all, I would be lying. I do think fandom will shrink. There might be less ‘Penelope Flower Princess is the new, purple-haired sparkly winged faerie in Hogwarts’ fic because…there won’t be a Hogwarts to go to, at least not with the main canon characters. Then again, this may present an opportunity to create an entire Hogwarts full of Mary Sues and Gary Stus. In that case, most of us probably wouldn’t want to be involved anyway.
Mostly, though, I think it will only make us stronger. Those people who are devoted to their fandom and to their ship will still be here, writing fic and pretending that their ships didn’t sink, their favourite characters didn’t die, and in general writing what makes them happy. Puppy shippers, anyone?
After much thought, and much staring at Daniel Radcliffe’s happy trail, I came to the conclusion that I’m not scared. Apprehensive, yes, but not scared. Jo recently added to her website that there will still be plenty to debate once the last book has been added to your shelf. This makes me hopeful for an ambiguous ending; my favourite kind. I’ll be just fine as long as Ginny dies, and even then my hopes aren’t very lofty.
So we should simply mark our calendars, form our cracky theories about how the brain that sucked on Ron’s arm gave him magical Seer powers or that Harry’s scar is so totally a Horcrux, and wait for the book to drop. It’s not the end, it’s only the beginning.
We should band together, help each other get through this trying time, and write the hell out of our fanfiction. We’ll always be fans and as long as we maintain our community and friendship, we shall overcome.
We aren’t the first fandom to suffer a closed canon, and we certainly won’t be the last. If all else fails, there’s always AU.
I’m Draco Malfoy-Potter, and that’s my unusually optimistic fandom opinion.