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Feb. 23rd, 2010
Why plagiarism is wrong: The long version
Feb. 23rd, 2010 02:55 pmSo I've been reading the infamous Cassandra Claire's Draco novels. I know, I know. They're well-written to a point... they're intended for Draco fangirls, and those who aren't into Tom Felton can't be blamed for not seeing what's so great about passage after passage about silver hair and pale skin. And there's a kooky overreliance on super-special bloodlines (just about the entire cast is the Heir of something or other), plot coupons, and our intrepid heroes receiving superpowers. Oh, and if you're not a Draco fan, the redemption and subsequent heroism of Draco is really frickin' weird. Given that he's a bullying racist prat, it doesn't take that much time for him to not only turn on his (abusive, natch) father, but to enter into a love triangle with Hermione. You know, the girl he reduced to tears by calling a magic mandingo, then she slapped him? Oh, and the way the character of Fleur Delacour is sexualized and exoticized for the sole purpose of drawing attention to Draco's attractiveness is also, uh, weird.
But most interesting to me is, obviously, the plagiarism. I mean, what could make her think it was acceptable to take someone else's story, in fact stories from multiple people, put it in a genre setting, and profit from that?
Before I begin, a sidenote. Given that Supernatural fan comics tell me the worst thing one can do in fandom is to out someone else, how do we justify me Googling her name and coming up with a Fandom Wank page all about who she is and why she's a nogoodnik? Is it her fault for not using a pseudonym? How long do people intend to punish her for this? I mean, it's not like she did anything really evil, like badmouthing chan.
But questions of guilt and retribution aside (sorry, Marty Scorsese, I know you were interested), her stories actually provide a pretty huge argument against plagiarism... not intentionally, though. Take this excerpt, obviously "influenced" by a Halloween episode of Buffy.
I bet they think they´re so great just because they´re demons, Harry said, looking resentfully across the room. Well, they´re not so great.
Don´t mock the demons, Potter.
Why not? Do you think they can hear us?
No. It´s just...not very classy.
What's this? The snide, acerbic Draco telling someone not to be mocking? The guy who, as characterized by Claire herself, mouths off to everyone from dark wizards to his love interests (yes, plural... sigh)?
You see, originally, that dialogue was between Xander and Giles, where it makes sense. Xander is irreverent, but also scared that the demon might be able to attack him, whereas Giles is prim and proper. It's an exchange that fits into their characters, their relationship, and even the world that Joss Whedon has created, being an irreverent take on mythology. Ripping it out of that universe and shoving it into another is not only wrong, but poor writing.
( I also put a hold on City Of Bones at the library to see if it's mockworthy, surely the reason the Dewey Decibel System was created. )
But most interesting to me is, obviously, the plagiarism. I mean, what could make her think it was acceptable to take someone else's story, in fact stories from multiple people, put it in a genre setting, and profit from that?
Before I begin, a sidenote. Given that Supernatural fan comics tell me the worst thing one can do in fandom is to out someone else, how do we justify me Googling her name and coming up with a Fandom Wank page all about who she is and why she's a nogoodnik? Is it her fault for not using a pseudonym? How long do people intend to punish her for this? I mean, it's not like she did anything really evil, like badmouthing chan.
But questions of guilt and retribution aside (sorry, Marty Scorsese, I know you were interested), her stories actually provide a pretty huge argument against plagiarism... not intentionally, though. Take this excerpt, obviously "influenced" by a Halloween episode of Buffy.
I bet they think they´re so great just because they´re demons, Harry said, looking resentfully across the room. Well, they´re not so great.
Don´t mock the demons, Potter.
Why not? Do you think they can hear us?
No. It´s just...not very classy.
What's this? The snide, acerbic Draco telling someone not to be mocking? The guy who, as characterized by Claire herself, mouths off to everyone from dark wizards to his love interests (yes, plural... sigh)?
You see, originally, that dialogue was between Xander and Giles, where it makes sense. Xander is irreverent, but also scared that the demon might be able to attack him, whereas Giles is prim and proper. It's an exchange that fits into their characters, their relationship, and even the world that Joss Whedon has created, being an irreverent take on mythology. Ripping it out of that universe and shoving it into another is not only wrong, but poor writing.
( I also put a hold on City Of Bones at the library to see if it's mockworthy, surely the reason the Dewey Decibel System was created. )