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newcomers2024-10-04 11:15 pm
ysabetwordsmith) wrote in newcomers2024-10-04 11:15 pm
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Blanket Statements
A Blanket Statement is also called a Transformative Works Policy, Permissions, and various other terms that you may see on a post, sticky post, profile, fest guidelines, or other places. It tells readers what a given creator allows other people to do with their work, or not. For instance, people may give permission to record podcasts, translate text into other languages, draw fanart, and so on. If you don't want anyone else to use your stuff, or want them to ask first, then you can say that too. Realistically, though, anything you choose to share online could get picked up and used in ways you never intended, so think before you post. Most people respect a blanket statement most of the time.
This promotes cross-connections as people make more things based on each other's works. Some fests are all about riffing or "remixing" things. Podficcers in particular often search for blanket statements that give broad permission for recording podcasts based on text. If a work is on Archive of Our Own (AO3), then you can connect the first fanwork with what it has inspired, like a podcast or fanart, just by checking a box; the system will then alert the creator of the first work to approve or decline the connection. Like many things, you have to do that manually on Dreamwidth, but you'll see people doing it by writing something like, "This story was inspired by (original piece) in (original series or setting) by (original creator)" usually with a link. Some shared worlds or other collaborations have a template for tracking the chain of influence.
Many people make their blanket statement a separate post titled "Blanket Statement" or similar. This is a good idea, as it is easiest to find, and it works better for long detailed policies. However, you'll also see people making it a section in something else, especially if it is short (e.g. "Don't touch my stuff" or "I'm already borrowing someone else's work for all my fanworks, so it would hardly be fair to deny anyone else; do whatever you want with it.") and simple. Check at least the profile, sticky posts, link list, and if it's a community or even any guideline posts they may have when searching for transformative works policies.
Are you a blanket statement advocate who wishes more people would make these things and put them somewhere easy to find? Are you a podficcer, fanmixer, or other creator of transformative works? You can help by making putting a blanket statement on your blog and maybe a theory discussion. Are you hosting a fest, exchange, or other event? Make sure your participants know the parameters if they will be collaborating; for instance, big bangs typically start with fanfiction for fanartists to illustrate, while reverse bangs start with art. Participants need to know that the event requires those permissions in order to function. When you post it, put "blanket statement" or other terms in your Tags and your Interests. That will help people find it and also alert them to the idea if they're not familiar with it.
Here are some places to read more about tranformative works and permission theory:
* What do you mean by a transformative work?
* What We Believe: Organization for Transformative Works
* I want 15 minutes of your time. Seriously, this is important. byakamine_chan
* TRANSFORMATIVE WORKS POLICIES AND HOW TO MAKE ONE
Here are some examples of blanket statements from various people, fandoms, and platforms:
* Glee - Transformative Works Policy List by Podklb on Tumblr
* Intro Post bykate
* Introduction byarmanya
* Reeby10's Transformative Works Policy by Reeby10 on LiveJournal
* Sherlock - Transformative Works Policy List by Fuckyeahjohnlockpodfics on Tumblr
Here is my post on Dreamwidth, but you might not want to use it as a template because I don't actually have a stance on some points that other people usually talk about.
Be aware that if you post in a shared world, roleplay, event, or other collaborative community then it may have its own parameters regarding shared use of materials, characters, etc. Read the community parameters before you join and post.
A transformative works policy is one of your key tools for influencing your experience and interactions, not only on Dreamwidth, but also on other platforms. Most will let you make a profile or some other way of sharing information about yourself, where you can put your blanket statement. Your boundaries are your free choice and you can set them however you wish, or update them if you change your mind. You may use theory posts or other people's examples as inspiration, or start from scratch. Nobody should harangue you about the contents of your policy, or lack thereof, nor should you do that to anyone else.
You not obligated to make a blanket statement, but it is in your best interest to do so. Even if you don't do fandom at all, a simple "Don't mess with my stuff" will save people time if they are ransacking your journal looking for the thing. You are not obligated to read or obey anyone else's policies either ("They're not really rules, they're more like ... guidelines.") but it is a social expectation to respect blanket statements if you choose to make transformative works based on other fans' creations. Some communities, fests, events, etc. may require members to respect each other's policies if someone has posted theirs, so ignoring that rule could get you kicked out. The canons? Most of them would rather we didn't make fanworks, but that's not stopping anyone. Nobody ever said fandom was consistent.
Does anyone have archived examples of blanket statements from Cohost, or discussions about how people typically handled these topics on that platform? It would be helpful to compare and contrast that for new users of Dreamwidth.
This promotes cross-connections as people make more things based on each other's works. Some fests are all about riffing or "remixing" things. Podficcers in particular often search for blanket statements that give broad permission for recording podcasts based on text. If a work is on Archive of Our Own (AO3), then you can connect the first fanwork with what it has inspired, like a podcast or fanart, just by checking a box; the system will then alert the creator of the first work to approve or decline the connection. Like many things, you have to do that manually on Dreamwidth, but you'll see people doing it by writing something like, "This story was inspired by (original piece) in (original series or setting) by (original creator)" usually with a link. Some shared worlds or other collaborations have a template for tracking the chain of influence.
Many people make their blanket statement a separate post titled "Blanket Statement" or similar. This is a good idea, as it is easiest to find, and it works better for long detailed policies. However, you'll also see people making it a section in something else, especially if it is short (e.g. "Don't touch my stuff" or "I'm already borrowing someone else's work for all my fanworks, so it would hardly be fair to deny anyone else; do whatever you want with it.") and simple. Check at least the profile, sticky posts, link list, and if it's a community or even any guideline posts they may have when searching for transformative works policies.
Are you a blanket statement advocate who wishes more people would make these things and put them somewhere easy to find? Are you a podficcer, fanmixer, or other creator of transformative works? You can help by making putting a blanket statement on your blog and maybe a theory discussion. Are you hosting a fest, exchange, or other event? Make sure your participants know the parameters if they will be collaborating; for instance, big bangs typically start with fanfiction for fanartists to illustrate, while reverse bangs start with art. Participants need to know that the event requires those permissions in order to function. When you post it, put "blanket statement" or other terms in your Tags and your Interests. That will help people find it and also alert them to the idea if they're not familiar with it.
Here are some places to read more about tranformative works and permission theory:
* What do you mean by a transformative work?
* What We Believe: Organization for Transformative Works
* I want 15 minutes of your time. Seriously, this is important. by
akamine_chan* TRANSFORMATIVE WORKS POLICIES AND HOW TO MAKE ONE
Here are some examples of blanket statements from various people, fandoms, and platforms:
* Glee - Transformative Works Policy List by Podklb on Tumblr
* Intro Post by
kate* Introduction by
armanya* Reeby10's Transformative Works Policy by Reeby10 on LiveJournal
* Sherlock - Transformative Works Policy List by Fuckyeahjohnlockpodfics on Tumblr
Here is my post on Dreamwidth, but you might not want to use it as a template because I don't actually have a stance on some points that other people usually talk about.
Be aware that if you post in a shared world, roleplay, event, or other collaborative community then it may have its own parameters regarding shared use of materials, characters, etc. Read the community parameters before you join and post.
A transformative works policy is one of your key tools for influencing your experience and interactions, not only on Dreamwidth, but also on other platforms. Most will let you make a profile or some other way of sharing information about yourself, where you can put your blanket statement. Your boundaries are your free choice and you can set them however you wish, or update them if you change your mind. You may use theory posts or other people's examples as inspiration, or start from scratch. Nobody should harangue you about the contents of your policy, or lack thereof, nor should you do that to anyone else.
You not obligated to make a blanket statement, but it is in your best interest to do so. Even if you don't do fandom at all, a simple "Don't mess with my stuff" will save people time if they are ransacking your journal looking for the thing. You are not obligated to read or obey anyone else's policies either ("They're not really rules, they're more like ... guidelines.") but it is a social expectation to respect blanket statements if you choose to make transformative works based on other fans' creations. Some communities, fests, events, etc. may require members to respect each other's policies if someone has posted theirs, so ignoring that rule could get you kicked out. The canons? Most of them would rather we didn't make fanworks, but that's not stopping anyone. Nobody ever said fandom was consistent.
Does anyone have archived examples of blanket statements from Cohost, or discussions about how people typically handled these topics on that platform? It would be helpful to compare and contrast that for new users of Dreamwidth.