Old School X Interview: Jintian
| Interviews by Fans | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Old School X Interview: Jintian |
| Interviewer: | Lilydale |
| Interviewee: | Jintian |
| Date(s): | October 6, 2020 |
| Medium: | online, Tumblr |
| Fandom(s): | The X-Files |
| External Links: | at lilydalexf; archive link |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Old School X Interview: Jintian was conducted by Lilydale as part of the series Old School X Interview Series.
Some Topics Discussed
- fandom lesson: how to be "an active and analytical consumer, and that there can be many (many!) interpretations of a text"
- "Jintian means “today” in Mandarin Chinese. I was feeling existential. 🤷♀️"
From the Interview
What do you think of when you think about your X-Files fandom experience? What did you take away from it?
Just doing the math, I first discovered XF over half my lifetime ago. I was a sheltered introverted young'un. Online fandom introduced me to a diversity of people and perspectives I couldn’t have found in my “real” life at the time. I’m especially grateful for the wisdom of women who, over the years, advised or supported me or simply led by example – not only with writing, but with everything from relationships to job interviews to finances. And I love that in so many places I’ve lived or traveled, I’ve been able to meet someone local who already feels like a friend.
Social media didn’t really exist during the show’s original run. How were you most involved with the X-Files online (atxc, message board, email mailing list, etc.)?
The Scullyfic mailing list, ATXC, and archives were my main venues. Scullyfic was such a well-run group, with structured discussion topics, post-episode commentary, and writing challenges.
Also, an image comes to mind: for some reason my dad put our computer in the garage, where we had a fan but no air conditioning, and we lived in the US southeast which feels like the armpit of hell in the summertime. I’d sit in that sweltering muggy heat for hours getting my fandom fix. And the only way to connect to the internet was via landline, which I couldn’t tie up during the day, so that meant a lot of late nights as well. My fandom equivalent of trudging miles uphill in the snow?
[...]
What got you involved with X-Files fanfic?
As far as writing my own, I had an image in my head which I jotted down, and over several months I kept adding to it – mostly navel-gazing, not much plot. The resulting story was a hodgepodge of different POVs and different tenses. *facepalm* But I received some lovely feedback, and I felt very welcomed. For me the XF community, with everyone’s creativity and dedication, was just as inspiring and motivating for fanfic as the show.
What is your relationship like now to X-Files fandom?
I think of it like school. I learned a lot, I graduated, and now it’s primarily occupied by a new generation.
Were you involved with any fandoms after the X-Files? If so, what was it like compared to X-Files?
If XF was like university, then afterward was like graduate school. Sophiahelix and I started a multi-fandom mailing list called Glass Onion and met lots of folks. Livejournal/Dreamwidth became big public platforms which enabled tons of cross-fandom links, recs, and discussions – and sometimes clashes. Although it wasn’t as intensely formative for me as XF, I realized that fandom in general has had an undeniable impact on my life.
[...]
Do your friends and family know about your fic and, if so, what have been their reactions?
I’ve only ever told an ex and my husband. They were allowed to read one story – which I chose. They thought it was cool, I guess. I can’t remember clearly because I had my fingers stuck in my ears going “lalalala!”
However, I can always count on my husband to say something savagely funny about fandom mess, so I just try to curate his exposure. For instance, he could recap the Msscribe saga but couldn’t tell you any of my usernames. He’s also met a number of my fannish friends so he knows how we get, hah.