I am about to shove in my two cents worth on the debacle at the BFI screening of Sherlock “The Empty Hearse”.
It is my considered opinion that springing explicit Johnlock fan fiction on Benedict and Martin, and expecting them to read it was pretty disgusting behaviour on the part of Caitlin Moran. This is not the professional behaviour you expect from a journalist of Moran’s calibre. It’s also a low, nasty trick to play on someone who is a friend. Not funny. In fact to pinch the Sherlock fandom’s favourite phrase, it’s a bit not good!
Of course Twitter and Tumblr reacted in their usual manner. Firstly whining about the fan fic writer’s work being used without permission, then bashing Martin and Benedict for not wanting to read it!
Let’s look at the first one, shall we? All fan fiction writers break copyright ever single damn time we post a story. So don’t whine to me about stories being used without permission. If Mark Gatiss, Steve Moffat and the BBC really wanted to, they could make life extremely miserable for fan fiction writers. Oh and those “disclaimers” so beloved of fan fiction writers actually mean diddly squat if BBC seriously decided to sue.
Many fan fiction writers seem to think that they are above the law and that the shows owe them! Excuse me, has it occurred to you lot that you are actually stealing the character’s created by the hard work of others and then playing holy hell with them? So many stories are so far removed from the characters that they are barely recognizable. I try to keep the characters in character – which is why my stories can take a month to write. Until I can hear every word being delivered in character by the actor in my mind, then to my way of thinking, it’s not proper fan fiction, it’s simply new characters dressed in old clothes.
And Johnlock is about as far removed from the true characters as is possible. Neither Sherlock or John are gay. Yes the show has homoerotic overtones, which are mostly used for comic leaven. Not to be taken seriously. Yes, I have written a little light Johnlock myself, though nothing explicit. And this has only happened when the story I’ve been working on works best with that outcome. I prefer the strong friendship that glows throughout all the episodes of the show. The friendship that is the essence of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original works.
The second complaint about Martin and Benedict not being happy to read Johnlock fan fiction. How the hell would you like it if you were an actor and you’d invested so much time and effort into bringing a character to life, to find people are happily bastardizing the character for their own amusement? Think how Martin and Benedict must have felt. Martin at least has read some Johnlock, I understand, Benedict I don’t think has. Suddenly, you’re confronted with some pretty explicit writing that you’re expected to read out loud. I’m actually surprised they didn’t just get up and walk off. It says much for the grace and kindness of both men that they didn’t take their anger out on the audience.
Remember this when you write fan fiction or draw fan art. We are privileged. We are using the images of two REAL men who just happen to play characters, and they are mostly happy to allow us to do so. Remember that the next time you feel the urge to whine about lack of respect to fans, be it writers or artists, or just the average fan.
Respect is earned not given as a right. If you don’t respect the actors with your work and your attitude, why the hell do you expect anyone to respect you?
