Documentation

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Tropes and genres
Synonym(s)	documentation!fic, ephemera, Wizarding Ephemera, artifact fic
Related tropes/genres	Epistolary Fic, Social Media AU
See also	Multimedia (Multiple Media), Out of the Auditary
Related articles on Fanlore.

Documentation (for fic also "documentation!fic") is a genre of fanart and fanfic, sometimes also fancrafts, that creates everyday documents and other ephemera of a fandom's universe, such as posters, advertisements, brochures, catalogs, etc. Some of these tell a story and therefore can also be classified as multimedia fanfic or epistolary fic. However, the point is often just to create or depict the imagined artifact, and the narrative element of the document lies in the reference to canon it evokes.

Documentation is especially popular in fandoms with science fiction or fantasy elements, such as Harry Potter, because the contrast between the mundane object and the fantastical universe it takes for granted. In Harry Potter this genre is sometimes labelled Wizarding Ephemera.

Examples

• 2023 multifandom rec list of "artifact fic"

Harry Potter

• D.B. Dibber Seed Catalogue, Page 17 by Gnatkip
• Extracts from an OFSTED report by Rosemaryandrue
• An extract from The Witch's Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, and Baby Care, by Alarica Rosier. Chapter Nine: What if my Baby is a Squib? by nineveh_uk
• Pugilistic Plants page 137, "Whomping Willow" by Gnatkip
• Put-Outer Advertisement and Receipt by Gnatkip, "Advertisement from the June 1936 issue of Modern Sorcery, page 28. Found in the effects of the late Albus Dumbledore."
• Veritaserum, Then and Now by incapricious, Examples of Ministry-issue Veritaserum bottles and their warning labels, from the 17th century and the 20th century.
• Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes: The Spring 2006 Edition by xylodemon

Professionals

• Classified, a zine that consisted of a portfolio full of 435 separate documents -- letters, memos, cards, notes, and artwork -- numbered in a sequence that formed a story

Sherlock Holmes

• Sub Rosa by Professor Pangaea, a post-Reichenbach Falls story composed of telegrams

Sliders

• Travelogue, contained within the fansite, Earth Prime, the Travelogue is a series of info pages provided by a mock travel company that detail the alternate versions of Earth featured in the show. The result is both fanwork and wiki-style canon information.

Stargate Atlantis

• Safety is Job One by celtiknot
• School Reports by arysteia
• Written by the Victors by Speranza -- fic is a mix of excerpts from in universe history books and normal prose

Star Trek: TOS

• From The Terran Coyote to The Klingon K'Ortar: Tricksters of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants (Revised Expanded 4th Edition) by LJC (text) with art by Melannen
• seems to have been common in early zines? at least some of the titles in Spockanalia#Issue 1 sound like Documentation fic
• Also most of the material in Vulcan Reflections

Marvel

• United States v. Barnes, 617 F. Supp. 2d 143 (D.D.C. 2015) which is a social media and documentation fic that covers the trial of the Winter Soldier told through newspaper articles and other documents.
• Toy Biz v. United States by Callmesalticidae -- in-universe wikipedia article about a Supreme Court case

Batman

• A Gothamite's Tale by Lysical -- in-universe wikipedia page created by a Gotham citizen in response to events of Lysical's fic series Nests and Cages
• Media Spotlight by batling_out_of_hell -- selcection of newspapers headlines in Gotham over the years

Fullmetal Alchemist

• An Excerpt from 'Road to Revolution: the Life and Times of Roy Mustang', ^{Archived version} by sixpences -- excerpts of several in-universe memoires and history books written by the characters years after the events of canon
• A sample of select paperwork, sent from Fort Briggs to the desk of Roy Mustang, ^{Archived version} by fencesit

Other

• 2023 NHLPA CBA Article 19: Winners Room Practices by gretzky -- "Part of a speculative/parody NHL collective bargaining agreement outlining Winners Room protocol." (Fandom: Hockey RPF)
• RE: Thesis defense issue by kalirush (Fandom: FAQ: The "Snake Fight" Portion Of Your Thesis Defense (McSweeney's Post) - Luke Burns)
• Goncharov (film) by smithens -- wikipedia article presenting Goncharov as a real film, including revision history
• Ephemera from the Avatar Collection at Republic City University with notes and commentary by the archivists, ^{Archived version} by eruthros (Fandom: ATLA)