Has fanart / fiction altered the way you perceive canon?

[rhhgrt]

It sort of has for me. For example, "A Keen Observer," the fic I link to in my sig, is so beautifully written that it has become my canon back story for Andromeda to such an extent that I was more upset over the deaths of Ted and Nymphadora than I was for anyone else because of what Andromeda must have been feeling.
And makani's artwork has changed the way I perceive characters like Bellatrix and the Malfoys.

Did this sort of thing happen to anyone else?

[SydneyCartonFan]

Yes, for fanfiction. That was how I really entered into the fandom, through a fanfic writing friend. And that is precisely why I stopped writing fanfics myself, I felt I warped my view of the canon somewhat.

But I actually feel that there is fanart out there that is much more in tune with my perception of the characters than perhaps Mary Grandpre. And there is some out there that I can take with a grain of salt.

[seamus_fan]

Shades and Shifts by Fernwithy gave me such a believable storyline for Remus, Tonks, Ted and Andromeda and the Order for the fifth and sixth books that I took it as canon. It made Ted Tonks' death have meaning, and Remus running out on Tonks more upseting.

[rhhgrt]

Shades and Shifts by Fernwithy gave me such a believable storyline for Remus, Tonks, Ted and Andromeda and the Order for the fifth and sixth books that I took it as canon. It made Ted Tonks' death have meaning, and Remus running out on Tonks more upseting.

That's what A Keen Observer was like for me. It gave such an amazing look at Andromeda and co's backstory that it really became my canon for Andrmeda. Because of that fic the deaths of Ted and Dora affected me more than almost anything else in the book.
EDIT: I just realized that I pretty much repeated what I put in my first post...oh well.

[kirstybear]

Yeah, makani's artwork has definitely made me look at the Malfoy's in a different light.

[IMissPadfoot]

My perceptions of canon haven't really altered through reading fanfiction too much. I think perhaps reading a certain Remus/Tonks fic changed the way I looked at those two characters and their relationship, but other than that, I try not to get the two mixed up.

I very rarely look at fanart, so that hasn't changed my perception at all.

[cybobbie]

It didn't happen to me just because I tried my best to avoid them till now. I always love to read fanfiction, but when I realised the impact that was having while I was reading OotP, I decided to stop and leave them to enjoy after the last book. It was so difficult because in the time between the book I was so anxious to read them.
Now I will devote a large part of my time reading the fanfiction.

[Moriath]

Yes, it has. I still know the difference between canon and fanon but most good fanfiction authors go to great lengths to analyse the characters' possible motivations, something that is often missing in canon. Especially when it comes to minor characters.

[blue3ski]

Well, I suppose in a way it has. I've always loved the Marauders, and reading and writing fan fiction about them made me even more sympathetic towards their characters. Same thing happened for Draco--so while I dislike some of the things he has done in canon, I am still very sympathetic towards him due to his portrayal in other stories.
It doesn't affect me as much now as it used to before, though. For a time, I got so into fan fiction that I was blurring the lines between the two, and so I felt I had to stop reading because they affected my evaluation of the canon work.

[griffiegrrl]

I read a fic one time, I forget the name, but it was an in-depth fan fiction about Severus Snape from the time he started his first year at Hogwarts zooming into his adulthood. It was a fascinating story that really made me feel for Snape. It also had quite a few things that turned out to be right in canon (Such as his and Lily's relationship with each other) And other things that it just made me understand Snape better. I couldn't look at Snape the same in the books after that. It really made me sympathize.

Also there was a great series of Marauders era fics that was about the Marauders/Lily from their Sixth year at Hogwarts I think, until James and Lily's deaths. It was fascinating, and it went into the old Order of the Phoenix and things they might have had to do.

[Blackcatsmeow]

Yes. Before Lupin and Tonks became cannon I liked to read fictions about them. While I never thought they would actually happen; it defiantly softened me up to the idea. So that when it happened I felt like I'd met an old friend.

By in large I stick to fringe characters though. I feel satisfied with the core story about the core characters. Still fan fiction has given me a few new prospectives on Petunia, Greyback, and the Patil twins. For which I am grateful.

[Fleur du mal]

I came across Makani's work only recently, but she did fix some faces for me now, which I hadn't made my mind up about before. Her take on Abraxas is stuck with me now, just like her young Severus, Bill Weasley, Emmeline Vance and Hestia Jones, and her Lestrange brothers. Gawd, that girl's got talent, and should they decide to make an HP cartoon series one day (which would be a wonderful opportunity to get in all the lovely, lovely details), I sure hope they put Makani on the job together with a couple of others, whose name isn't present with me now. She's just -

[Rappy28]

I agree with Fleur du Mal, Makani's art has that pesky tendency to get stuck in your head. I'm a bit of a Lestrange fan, and I just can't picture the brothers otherwise.

[Fleur du mal]

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only enthusiast, rappy

I would like to add one more thing that I forgot in my last post - I think Makani has a wonderful sense of humour. I lately listened to a couple of HP audiobooks, and for example in GoF, when Lucius and Arthur scoff at each other at the World Cup, I couldn't help it but 'see' Narcissa in the background, crying 'Yeeeah! I finally made it into the book!'. And Spinner's End has got an unexpected comical edge, too.

[LoonyLuny]

What fanfiction really changed for me was the Marauders

After reading Marauders and Mudbloods and Auburn Pride and a Chaser's Persuasion that's pratically all I think about whenever someone says/I read any of their names, whatever... I would really love a JKR detailled version of James/Lily ... But then again reading fanfic is more fun But a film ... That would be cool ^^ 'Specially for Sirius

Hum ... basically yes.

[leah49]

I can't name any particular fanfic, but after reading a handful it has given me a greater appreciation for some of the minor characters. That's what I love about fanfic. It can be a place for the minor characters to get their say!

[Rappy28]

Originally Posted by Fleur du mal

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only enthusiast, rappy

I would like to add one more thing that I forgot in my last post - I think Makani has a wonderful sense of humour. I lately listened to a couple of HP audiobooks, and for example in GoF, when Lucius and Arthur scoff at each other at the World Cup, I couldn't help it but 'see' Narcissa in the background, crying 'Yeeeah! I finally made it into the book!'. And Spinner's End has got an unexpected comical edge, too.

Haha, indeed ! Her take on Spinner's End was priceless !

She also made me like the Malfoys ever so slightly more...

[arithmancer]

Originally Posted by Moriath

Yes, it has. I still know the difference between canon and fanon but most good fanfiction authors go to great lengths to analyse the characters' possible motivations, something that is often missing in canon. Especially when it comes to minor characters.

Even without the confusion about events (which I agree is not hard to keep straight) I think it still has an effect, similar to the effect of participating in a forum like this one. Reading a persuasive presentation of a character's motivation can convince you it is canon (in the sense of a valid, or superior, interpretation of the text).

I have found writing fanfiction also affects how I think about the books. Writing something in character that describes events hinted at in the books, actually requires thinking through all the canon I know and how to put it together even more carefully than I would just to argue a point on a thread.

[tuer3ssuci0]

Definitely. I am a FanFiction freak. In my opinion, of course, there are so many fics out there that are a great deal better than the books themselves. I have been reading fics since the release of the Goblet of Fire, so I have really read almost ever good 100,000 words+ fic, that appeals to my tastes, out.

Check out the link in my signature for a complete listing on my favorite fics, and my critique of them.

[CleanSweepSeven]

At first I didn't like Harry and Ginny's relationship in HBP, but then I read a lot of fanfic that illustrates them as a couple more, and I now I really like Harry/Ginny.