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26.03.2024 - Affect. What is the role of emotion in fanfic? (EN)
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As a holiday exception, this session will run from 2 to 4 pm (14:00-16:00 c.t.). This allows us to meet for a joint lunch at Mensa Casino at 1 pm. Anyone who's interested can join either event.
The secondary text is Sara Ahmed's article "Happy Objects". Anyone who is interested in some background or a more general overview of Ahmed's theory of emotions will also find a link to her book The Cultural Politics of Emotion on ProQuest as well as a PDF of the introduction.
The fanfic we're reading has been suggested by Lea:His Dark Red Heart by shield_of_selene
Once more, the god of Spring must journey back to the underworld. Once more, he must ask his husband to name him. Hades/Persephone AU
It's a Bruce Wayne/Dick Grayson romance with a hint of character study because they are quite codependent in canon too and losing each other's partnership is central to their characters as well.
It is helpful to read the tags so that you know, for example, that Demeter is embodied by several characters. My hope is that the character dynamics do not seem too unfamiliar, given the Abduction of Persephone has been adapted and reinterpreted so many times in and out of fandom. I think every fandom has at least one Hades/Persephone fic. At the same time, the myth seems like a good way to observe the taste Ahmed mentions in the academic text.
I think for Happy Objects the author's note is also relevant. Not only is the fanfiction inspired by artwork, it in turn inspired artwork back. The author also says one should read it as if the reader is dreaming.
If you have any questions about the fanfiction or DC Comics canon prior to our session, feel free to ask. -
Ahmed, Sara. "Happy Objects"
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Ahmed, Sara. "Introduction" (The Cultural Politics of Emotion)
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Ahmed, Sara. The Cultural Politics of Emotion.
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His Dark Red Heart (Batman-Fanfic)
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