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Peace and Resistance in Youth Cultures pp 265–301Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Katniss in Fallujah: War Stories, Post-War, and Post-Sovereign Peace in Fan Fiction

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Part of the book series: Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies ((RCS))

Abstract

Fan writings show how popular culture, politics, international relations, and young people’s lives and aspirations are interwoven, and there are explicit references to historical and contemporary wars, including to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some are written by former combatants. Through the act of writing about armed conflict and its aftermath, fan writers are imaginatively travelling across national borders and erasing the boundaries between the real and not real. They are engaging new political possibilities for alliances and breaking taboos about reconciliation. The first of two chapters about fan fiction, this chapter explores fan fiction as a space within which war play can occur in a way that, rather than reinforcing militarism and xenophobia, makes ‘peace’ pleasurable instead.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Drabbles are short works of fiction around 100 words in length and may have originated in British Science Fiction fandom. Drabble competitions are challenges to write to a theme in a concise but interesting way.

  2. 2.

    Song fics are short pieces containing the lyrics of popular songs.

  3. 3.

    For example, there are stories about Hermione, Ron, and Harry being chosen for The Hunger Games and about Voldemort creating a Hunger Games for the Wizarding World. See ct320. Hermione and the Hunger Games; Kentos. Harry Potter and the Hunger Games; and Holz9364. A Game of Hunger. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9553988/1/A-Game-of-Hunger

  4. 4.

    Samutina N. Fan fiction as world-building: Transformative reception in crossover writing. Continuum: Journal of Media & Cultural Studies. 2016; 30(4): 433–450.

  5. 5.

    Tosenberger C. Mature poet’s steal. Children’s literature and the unpublishability of fan fiction. Children’s Literature Association Quarterly. 2014; 39(1): 4–27.

  6. 6.

    Tosenberger C. 2014. Quote at p. 10.

  7. 7.

    Willis I. Keeping promises to queer children: making space (for Mary Sue) at Hogwarts. In: Hellekson K, Busse K, editors. Fan fiction and fan communities in the age of the internet: New essays. Jefferson, NC: McFarland; 2006. pp. 153–170. Quote at p. 155.

  8. 8.

    Stein L, Busse K. Limit play: Fan authorship between source text, intertext, and context. Popular Communication. 2009; 7(4): 192–207. Quote at p. 205.

  9. 9.

    Tosenberger. C. 2014. Quote at p. 7.

  10. 10.

    Obsession inc. Affirmational Vs Transformational Fandom. 2009; 1 June. http://obsession-inc.dreamwidth.org/82589.html Accessed 10 Dec 2016.

  11. 11.

    Samutina N. 2016.

  12. 12.

    Language breakdown of Harry Potter stories on FanFiction.net, March 10, 2015: English (64,276), French (3554), Spanish (3298), Portuguese (1433), German (1009), Indonesian (266), Polish (140), Swedish (106), Dutch (100), Hungarian (70), Italian (40), Czech (33), Norwegian (12), Danish (11), Russian (10), Chinese (9), Finnish (9), Vietnamese (8), Latin (6), Catalan (5), Romanian (4), Turkish (4), Hebrew (2), Croatian (2), Korean (2), Filipino (1), Farsi (1), Icelandic (1), Estonian (1), Malay (1), and Afrikaans (1).

  13. 13.

    Percy Jackson (8695) and Lord of the Rings (2087) have fewer individual entries but more text written about them than the Hunger Games when comments and reviews are included. Measured by quantity of text (as opposed to number of separate works), the chart is slightly different: Harry Potter (709 K), Twilight (217 K), Percy Jackson and the Olympians (60.9 K), Lord of the Rings (53.2 K), and Hunger Games (42.2 K).

  14. 14.

    The Hunger Games at FanFiction.net, March 20, 2015: Total: 14,445; language breakdown: English (14,137), French (239), Spanish (31), Indonesian (16), Portuguese (9), Dutch (4), German (2), Japanese (1), Polish (1), Swedish (1), Norwegian (1), Esperanto (1), Albanian (1), and Malay (1).

  15. 15.

    Genre breakdown of Hunger Games Stories at FanFiction.net, March 20 1015:

    Adventure (4927), Romance (4724), General (3814), Drama (2843), Suspense (1665), Tragedy (1628), Hurt/Comfort (1597), Friendship (1022), Angst (849), Sci-Fi (829), Humor (715), Horror (576), Family (535), Fantasy (389), Parody (306), Poetry (190), Mystery (123), Supernatural (95), Crime (27), Spiritual (16), and Western (4). There are also crossover stories combining The Hunger Games and Harry Potter as well as other series: Divergent, Percy Jackson, and Twilight.

  16. 16.

    The keywords used were war, peace, justice, soldier, race, racism, disability, disabled, poverty, religion (specific), truth commission, diplomacy, conflict resolution, peace conference, and peace agreement.

  17. 17.

    The story is no longer available online but was written by Potterhead101. The other president. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5338668/1/The-Other-President

  18. 18.

    Deliamon. Threat of the future. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/1520195/1/Threat-of-the-Future

  19. 19.

    Tridentwatch. Harry the Muslim terrorist. https:/www.fanfiction.net/s/4327753/1/Harry-the-Muslim-Terrorist

  20. 20.

    These events lead Harry’s side to worry about the political ramifications and possible repeal of the Muggle Protection Act. The 40-year-old author of this story claims he/she has both Irish and British family and is making ‘no real-world political statement.’

  21. 21.

    SuperSerb. Harry Potter vs Albania. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9980856/1/Harry-Potter-vs-Albania

  22. 22.

    Kennedy J. Harry Potter: Justice and revenge. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/3785954/1/Harry-Potter-Justice-and-Revenge

  23. 23.

    Rorschach’s Blot. Make a wish. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/2318355/1/Make-A-Wish

  24. 24.

    Robst. In this world and the next. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5627314/1/In-this-World-and-the-Next

  25. 25.

    Sarah1281. Oh God, not again! https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4536005/1/Oh-God-Not-Again

  26. 26.

    Echo Frosts. Task force whiskey hotel. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10553016/4/Task-Force-Whiskey-Hotel

  27. 27.

    However, not all of these are SYOT stories. For example, in a short piece about one of President Snow’s relatives realizing that she will be in the last games, Katniss runs the country. The last games are known as ‘The Peace Games.’ SwirlHeart101. The peace games, https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9661881/2/The-Peace-Games

  28. 28.

    A collection of fan fiction ‘rising stars’ stories are offered here: HungerGamesGirl98. Greatest SYOT’s in HG FanFiction. https://www.fanfiction.net/community/GreatestSYOT-s-in-HG-FanFiction/100966/. There are also other fan sites with SYOT stories including: #TeamSarah. The Hunger Games: Forum Edition. Telltale Community. 2015; Feb. https://www.telltalegames.com/community/discussion/comment/1852358

  29. 29.

    24tributes24authors. Tears of blood, https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7608756/1/Tears-of-Blood. The description states: ‘24 writers come together to write a Hunger Games of epic proportions. Only 1 will survive while 23 other authors’ dreams get crushed as they watch their characters die. May the odds be ever in your favor.’

  30. 30.

    See, for example, RachyBabyLoveYu. The 3rd hunger games: All is fair in love and war. https://www.fanfiction.net/r/6801681/0/5/

  31. 31.

    Kennedy S. Control: The 100th hunger games. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7051311/1/Control-The-100th-Hunger-Games

  32. 32.

    VivaldyVisceral. The capitol games. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6091393/1/The-Capitol-Games.

  33. 33.

    Soti 13F. Children of war. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8989710/1/Children-of-War

  34. 34.

    Caruth C. Unclaimed experience. Trauma, narrative and history. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press; 1996. p. 102.

  35. 35.

    Haraway D. A cyborg manifesto. In: Bell D, Kennedy B.M., editors. The Cybercultures reader. London, New York: Routledge; 2000. pp. 291–324. Quote at p. 291.

  36. 36.

    Shay J. Achilles in Vietnam. Combat trauma and the undoing of character. New York: Simon and Schuster; 1995.

  37. 37.

    McJunker. A Jewish fistfighter in panem. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8408413/4/A-Jewish-Fistfighter-in-Panem. This author has written fan fiction about Harry Potter as well and also provides a link to his nonfiction writing about his war experiences.

  38. 38.

    McJunker. Downrange, https://www.fictionpress.com/s/3077662/1/Downrange

  39. 39.

    Cosette-aimee. A necessary gift: a harry potter story. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6671596/1/A-Necessary-Gift-A-Harry-Potter-Story

  40. 40.

    Shesasurvivor. Blue on grey. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8582649/1/Blue-on-Grey

  41. 41.

    alisonkim428. Torn. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8887452/1/Torn

  42. 42.

    Wolfsarecoolerthanvamps. Afghanistan. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10239867/2/Afghanistan

  43. 43.

    Davis32. Coming home. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8472234/1/Coming-Home

  44. 44.

    Falafel Waffel. Semper fidelis. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8000847/20/Semper-Fidelis

  45. 45.

    Caruth C. Quote at p. 100.

  46. 46.

    Caruth C. 1996. Quote at p. 111.

  47. 47.

    Lopie. Harry Potter and the new marauders. http://www.harrypotterfanfiction.com/viewstory.php?chapterid=126795&i=1

  48. 48.

    Lopie. Harry Potter and the new marauders. http://www.harrypotterfanfiction.com/viewstory.php?chapterid=126795&i=1

  49. 49.

    Mrs_Granger. Harry Potter and the winters after the war. http://www.harrypotterfanfiction.com/viewstory.php?chapterid=403396&i=1

  50. 50.

    The story was tagged as tragedy/hurt/comfort and is 870 words long (610 without the framing commentary).

  51. 51.

    See archiveofourown.org.

  52. 52.

    However, these latter comments came from people without profiles, who were either not regular participants or were choosing to remain anonymous. Thus, it was impossible to know their nationalities or other demographic identifiers, or even if they were more than one person.

  53. 53.

    This commentator continued that in the United Arab Emirates, where the commentator was living at the time: ‘i can tell u no1 was was delighted by such a demonic act by al qaeida...’ Another wrote ‘actually, very few fundamentalist groups did [support 9/11] but really, the situation they wre in, you cant bame them. when superpowers liek some countries, opress other countries, influence their lawmaking, they lose their sovreingnity and 9/11 to these fundamentalist groups was like justice. terrrible and sad times, biot 9/11 and his death.’

  54. 54.

    A lost niece. https://m.fanfiction.net/r/6959572/

  55. 55.

    Pumpkin Chic. https://m.fanfiction.net/r/6959572/0/3/

  56. 56.

    Stahl R. Militainment inc: war, media, and popular culture. New York: Routledge;

    2009. Quote at p. 145.

  57. 57.

    Anzaldua G. (Un)natural bridges, (un)safe spaces. In: Keating A, editor. The Gloria Anzaldua reader. Durham, NC: Duke University Press; 2009. pp. 243–248. Quote at p. 248, footnote 1; Anzaldua G. Speaking across the divide. In: Keating A, 2009. pp. 282–294. Quote at p. 293.

  58. 58.

    Anzaldua G. Speaking across the divide. In: Keating A, 2009. pp. 282–294. Quote at p. 293.

  59. 59.

    Everlark-5eva. The powerful and the powerless. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8138163/1/Healing

  60. 60.

    The author says these aspects are based on a nonfiction account by war correspondent Megan Stack. See Stack, M. Every man in this village is a liar. An Education in War. New York: Anchor; 2011.

  61. 61.

    Everlark-5eva. The powerful and the powerless. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10845542/1/The-Powerful-and-the-Powerless

  62. 62.

    See, for example, 101raysofsun. Healing. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8138163/1/Healing

  63. 63.

    Jgllove111593. Finally home. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9702090/1/Finally-Home

  64. 64.

    davis32. Coming Home. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8472234/1/Coming-Home

  65. 65.

    The title comes from a line in the song ‘The Scientist’ by Cold Play: ‘Questions of science, science and progress, do not speak as loud as my heart.’

  66. 66.

    SamanthaTL. Science and progress. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8505217/1/Science-and-Progress

  67. 67.

    SamanthaTL. Ibid.

  68. 68.

    SamanthaTL. Ibid.

  69. 69.

    SamanthaTL. Ibid.

  70. 70.

    Lieselmemingers. One last time. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7806155/1/One-Last-Time

  71. 71.

    SugarIsHEALTHY. Healing. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7747468/1/Healing

  72. 72.

    Mockingjayy. A strange new world. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9965897/1/A-Strange-New-World

  73. 73.

    For a story about revisiting the arena site see Be.Inspirational. The Mockingjay’s tune. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8931067/1/The-Mockingjay-s-Tune; and a story about meeting ghosts: Oriondruid. Arena of Reunion. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8630449/1/Arena-of-Reunion

  74. 74.

    Apollonia. History class. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8592445/1/History-Class

  75. 75.

    Makoyi. On the wings of a phoenix. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/3000137/1/On_the_bWings_b_of_ba_b_bPhoenix_b

  76. 76.

    Lestrange V. The age of the serpent. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8978293/1/The-Age-of-the-Serpent

  77. 77.

    Lestrange V. Ibid.

  78. 78.

    Rozalsky V. Amends, or truth and reconciliation. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5537755/1/Amends-or-Truth-and-Reconciliation

  79. 79.

    Blueowl. To Shape and Change. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6413108/1/To-Shape-and-Change

  80. 80.

    Blueowl. Harry Potter: Dark memories. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/3655940/1/Harry-Potter-Dark-Memories

  81. 81.

    Blueowl. Harry Potter: Dark memories. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/3655940/1/Harry-Potter-Dark-Memories

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  1. Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

    Siobhan McEvoy-Levy

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McEvoy-Levy, S. (2018). Katniss in Fallujah: War Stories, Post-War, and Post-Sovereign Peace in Fan Fiction. In: Peace and Resistance in Youth Cultures. Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-49871-7_8

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