Our BetterMost Community > Chez Tremblay
Annie Proulx's still pissed...
Monika:
--- Quote from: louisev on May 05, 2009, 03:35:47 pm ---It was an intellectual property lawyer at NBC, and the woman's letter told me that Proulx's (and Focus Features') lawyers eyes were all over the Brokeback fan community looking for people to target. I had expected by mid-2007, after 4 authors were contacted, that the trend would continue and we would hear of more. Maybe there were more, and the large number of unfinished stories and complete defections from the fanfic fandom came in part as a result, but no one is talking, really. The other three I know of got so scared they deleted their journals and as far as I know left the fandom completely. I talked to the lawyer, told her that my intent was reworking my stories and explained the plot, and she agreed that if I took the names and details out it would satisfy them and they would drop it. But then again, I'm used to dealing with lawyers and such. And I did get a little informal help from a New York lawyer who confirmed the legitimacy of the original cease and desist and advised me a bit.
--- End quote ---
It seems to me, as though you handled the situation very well. And good to see that you kept on writing your stories
louisev:
--- Quote from: CellarDweller on May 05, 2009, 03:32:47 pm ---
I'm not so sure that most of the slash authors consider their work "parodies".
--- End quote ---
Probably not. But I agree with that lawyer that there is a credible defense of the erotic stories that they are social commentary and serve as criticism.
Mikaela:
--- Quote from: serious crayons on May 05, 2009, 01:31:06 pm ---Her work is loved by her fans, but it's not to everybody's taste (including mine, to be honest).
--- End quote ---
Nor mine. I diligently trudged my way all through the Shipping News, and it was the most depressing and disconcerting tale. I personally fear ever ending up with as bleak an outlook on humankind and our lives, prospects and personalities as that book conveyed to me. And as for "Close Range" - if I hadn't known exactly which short story ended it, and had just started reading from the beginning, I'd never have gotten to the end and would never have read Brokeback.
In a way I don't wonder that Annie Proulx comes across as crabby and huffy in the few interviews I've read. Having an active reflective mind occupied with creating and conveying the bleak fictional characters and ditto storylines she gives the reading world, must take a toll. I can only speak for myself, but I would be permanently depressed and robbed of all my humour, such as it is, if it were me.
Brokeback has a strange grace and light to it, compared to the other stories of hers I've read. And I'm pretty sure I won't read any more.
I do still read Brokeback fanfics though. I do admit to somewhat naively hoping for a happy ending for all, inclusive of Jack and Ennis.
I still marvel at any person clueless enough to actually send her their happy-ending stories and telling her "this is how it should have ended". She's got every right to be royally PO'd at that.
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: louisev on May 05, 2009, 03:57:46 pm ---Probably not. But I agree with that lawyer that there is a credible defense of the erotic stories that they are social commentary and serve as criticism.
--- End quote ---
::) Only a lawyer. ... :laugh:
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: serious crayons on May 05, 2009, 01:31:06 pm ---Her work is loved by her fans, but it's not to everybody's taste (including mine, to be honest).
--- End quote ---
I love her "voice." I've never read The Shipping News, but in her Wyoming short stories I think she comes closer than anyone I've ever read to getting down on paper the "sound" of a story being told out loud by a story-teller.
And some of the character names she comes up with, like Queeda Dorgan in "Them Old Cowboy Songs." And think of actually entitling a story "Tits Up in a Ditch." :laugh:
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version