More HBP thoughts

Since the publication of HBP, I have been lurking all over online, more so than usual, partly because I felt all empty and bitter and annoyed after I finished the book and wanted... reassurance, I suppose, from other fans. WHat I got was more like inspiration to get up off my ass and WORK ON MY THESIS*! It occurs to me that the reaction by Wolfstar shippers to the R/T ship in HBP would actually be interesting to look at as a case study, in terms of how the canon-ness of a ship affects participation in it, and how participants' relationships alter, or fade, or are strengthened. So, with that in mind, I have been lurking various sites and boards, trying to gauge other slash fans' reactions. And I found the following post by someone called GwendolynGrace at the FictionAlley boards:

http://www.fictionalley.org/fictionalleypark/forums/showthread.php?postid=1378196#post1378196 (I would have linked to it properly, but I am crap, and know not how)

... I wanted to link to this, because I think it's a particularly eloquent and articulate account of why, for some, canon doesn't matter, and it's your own interpretation of the story that does matter. (For the record, the rest of the thread is also interesting.)

I also want to say that on a personal level I agree with a lot of what the poster says. For me, personally, Wolfstar was as much about how I read the characters and situations as it was about theirloveissocanon OMG LOL SQUEEEEEE!!!!!11one, etc. I was annoyed about the R/T thing, I won't deny that, but ultimately I don't care, because Sirius and Remus, and their relationship as far as we are concerned, are limited only by our imaginations, regardless of what JKR thinks (and I don't mean for that to sound as hostile and yah-boo-sucks as it does). I - and every other fan out there - can think anything we like, and if thinking about Wolfstar makes us happy, and if reading and writing slash makes us happy, then so be it. This applies equally to all the ships - even if Harry/Hermione shippers are now canon delusional, if they want to keep thinking about Harry ending up with Hermione, who cares? (No, I'm not a H/Hr shipper.) If what floats your boat - so to speak - is Ron marrying the Giant Squid, or Ginny and Fleur eloping and living in Amsterdam, or Draco Malfoy living as a muggle on Manchester's Canal Street, or even - gasp! Lupin with Tonks ;-) - think it. Your shout.

And that's my thought for the day. :-P

* Note also: discussion of my thesis is mine, and subject to copyright; please do not steal without permission.