I often wonder whether fiction, written by members of the 76th Battalion for other browncoats is technically 'fan fiction' as it would be if it were about the 'verse and characters created by Joss Whedon? I mean we are essentially writing about events which are laid out in Joss Whedon's timeline and from the point of view that they are established 'facts' and in many cases 'canon' to the 'verse in which Firefly and Serenity are set, and yet they are about characters and details of events which we have created ourselves!
The fact that we can be fans with a visual presence at conventions and in the general populace (attending events such as 'Can't Stop the Serenity' in uniform, for example) and can also turn our creative skills to producing fiction about the characters we portray in our uniforms, is really something empowering! A lot of people might have discovered a TV show they liked and said to themselves, "what a shame it was cancelled, it looked really good" but we have stepped up and said, "No! This is one show that really and truly ought not to have been cancelled! Fox made a huge mistake and we want people to know it!" Hopefully we shall reach out to people, including those who are in a position to actually do something, in the form of bringing us more of the stories Joss Whedon had in mind when he started on this amazing journey! We are not taking this lying down, coz we relate to the 'browncoat' element! The 'never leave a man behind' attitude that makes Zoe and Mal the leaders they are in the TV show.
When you take a concept like the 76th Battalion, and attempt to describe it to folk who are not into programs like 'Firefly' or movies like 'Serenity', it can be challenging to define. We are not just a group of fans who talk about the show. We are not just an 'online community'. We aren't sitting back and chatting among ourselves, we are active! In promoting the Firefly phenomenon, we are also connecting with other wonderful groups which were inspired by the TV show and the movie! The 76th Battalion, for instance, are one of the groups and organisations who sponsored prizes for the 2008 'Can't Stop the Serenity' event, an anual screening of 'Serenity' in cities all over the world, to raise money for 'Equality Now', and also for various local charities such as homeless shelters, children's hospitals, public libraries and food banks.
So, back to my original question. When we turn to our creative side and start to write fiction to 'flesh out' the history of the 76th Battalion, as we envisage it, in the timeline established by Joss Whedon, are we writing 'fan fiction', or are we just writing fiction?
If we were writing stories about the crew of 'Firefly' after the 'War of Unification' and incorporating characters and events, places and features which were already established by Joss Whedon, and the incredible writing staff at Mutant Enemy, then there would be no doubt that what we create as fans is, 'fan fiction'. In writing about a group of characters who come from all manner of fictitious backgrounds, who are essentially the product of our own imagination and whom we embelish with details that fit into Joss's 'verse, we are really writing original fiction. The "76th" might have been mentioned in the pilot episode (albeit in a later-deleted scene) but as far as any of the group are aware, there was never any 'fleshing out' of a history for them (nor, as far as we can tell, for the 57th Overlanders, the battalion which Malcolm Reynolds and Zoe Alleyne belong to). Essentially, the members of the 76th Battalion, under the experienced guidence of SMG "Doc Jubal" Harris, have added detail to the most basic of timelines for the war and it's battles. Members of the group have taken their character profiles and told stories to make them more real, and more life-like. Stories which have engendered greater loyalty for members of the 76th Battalion...
Stories which have brought to life events in the history of the setting for the TV series 'Firefly'.
This is the reason I still refer to the fiction; written by members of the 76th Battalion, about characters created for the 76th Battalion and enjoyed by members of the 76th Battalion; as 'Fan Fiction'. If you ever chance to read some of it, I think you'll agree with me, it is of high quality and brings a creative, human element to our endeavors. Best of all, it gives the 'verse of Joss Whedon and the team at Mutant Enemy, a continuing evolution. When we hear the Battle of Serenity Valley mentioned, it conjures up images and events only previously conceived as brief scenes in the TV pilot, 'Serenity', or in the flashbacks of what became the penultimate episode, 'The Message'.
I like to think that Joss, in his generous way, will allow us this indulgence, because he gave us a vision, which we caught that vision and ran with! I don't think there's any better flattery than that in the saying, of which "imitation" is its sincerest form.... unless it's fan fiction!
10 November, 2008
16 October, 2008
Welcome to the 76th Battalion's official blogspot!
This will be the official home of the 76th Independent Battalion on blogspot.com
Who are we?
We are a group of dedicated friends and fans of the criminally short-lived Joss Whedon series, 'Firefly'. If you are new to this fandom, or have not even heard of 'Firefly', or the wonderful film it spawned, 'Serenity' (in which case, we're not doing our job well enough!) fans of this show are often referred to as 'browncoats' in deference to the nickname for former soldiers in the (mainly outlying) Independent forces, who took up arms against being forcibly taken over by the ruling, central government, known as the Alliance.
In November 2006 a couple of our number, who were friends through fireflyfans.net, were talking about costumes for Dragon*Con 2007, and Tristan mentioned an idea he had for an independent uniform, based on those seen in flashbacks in the series. Tristan is a gifted costume builder, with years of experience in theatre & Ren Faire costuming. He wondered if anyone else would be interested in having a uniform too, so that there would be the appearance of a few soldiers on the look out for 'purple bellies' (the browncoat's nickname for the Alliance forces). Tristan was uncertain whether to ask a few friends as he was not sure they would like to spend the anual dragon*con parade following his dream! Not only was his friend, Magdalena, keen to do just that herself, but she suggested he post a thread on fireflyfans.net and see if there was any interest.
The rest, as they say, is history!
That thread led, within a few days, to several enthusiastic people volunteering to take part in a small party of soldiers... and pretty soon it was looking like it wasn't going to be so small! By the end of a month it was clear that organisation was required. Through a process of suggestions and polls we had a name, taken from a deleted scene in the opening/pilot episode, "Serenity" in which Zoe says to Malcolm Reynolds, "we lost 4 more from the 76th last night". In no time at all a talented, and enthusiastic group had formed a command structure, a badge for the battalion, and a web site to encourage new recruits. The web site is here: http://76thbattalion.dragonfyredawn.com and the forums where members get to know each other, share information about upcoming conventions and update regulations, as well as just sharing in our love of the 'verse, is here: http://www.76thbattalion.proboards59.com/index.cgi You need to sign up, as a member of the 76th Battalion to join the forum, and applications can be emailed to: applications_76th@hotmail.com
Before we knew it Tristan had become Commanding Officer (CO) of the 76th, Colonel Tristan O'Tearney, and was very blessed to have two experienced men with him at the helm, both military men with a history and understanding of online fandom forums, The Executive Officer (XO), Major Mikhail Lazarus, and the Sergeant Major (Doc Jubal) Harris. Whilst these men make the day to day running decisions of the battalion, and generally oversee things on the boards and in communications with our members, it is a group-owned battalion, with regions divided into companies and regional command for these areas.
On Saturday 1st September, 2007, just 9 months & two weeks after it's conception, the 76th Battalion officially arrived on the scene, with 35 members marching, in full uniform, in Dragon*Con's popular anual parade through the streets of Atlanta, Georgia. There are a few photos from that event in the slideshow at the top left hand corner of this blog, and more will be added as they are taken.
So, that's a little idea of how we started. There will be more blogs to come about how we developed into the warm community we are today, where our inspirations and affiliations have come from and what the future holds for us!
Our forums contain threads of ideas for upcoming conventions, plans for get togethers, or shindigs, updates on official rules and regulations, promotions, merchandise, uniforms, specialty assignments, friendships, birthdays, debates, common interests and all things to do with the Firefly 'verse!
We hope you'll follow our blog and share this with others you know who might be interested in supporting the 76th Battalion! Please feel free to publicly follow us, and if you would like to add our blog to your links on your profile, that would be wonderful too!
Looking forward to your comments, too!
Who are we?
We are a group of dedicated friends and fans of the criminally short-lived Joss Whedon series, 'Firefly'. If you are new to this fandom, or have not even heard of 'Firefly', or the wonderful film it spawned, 'Serenity' (in which case, we're not doing our job well enough!) fans of this show are often referred to as 'browncoats' in deference to the nickname for former soldiers in the (mainly outlying) Independent forces, who took up arms against being forcibly taken over by the ruling, central government, known as the Alliance.
In November 2006 a couple of our number, who were friends through fireflyfans.net, were talking about costumes for Dragon*Con 2007, and Tristan mentioned an idea he had for an independent uniform, based on those seen in flashbacks in the series. Tristan is a gifted costume builder, with years of experience in theatre & Ren Faire costuming. He wondered if anyone else would be interested in having a uniform too, so that there would be the appearance of a few soldiers on the look out for 'purple bellies' (the browncoat's nickname for the Alliance forces). Tristan was uncertain whether to ask a few friends as he was not sure they would like to spend the anual dragon*con parade following his dream! Not only was his friend, Magdalena, keen to do just that herself, but she suggested he post a thread on fireflyfans.net and see if there was any interest.
The rest, as they say, is history!
That thread led, within a few days, to several enthusiastic people volunteering to take part in a small party of soldiers... and pretty soon it was looking like it wasn't going to be so small! By the end of a month it was clear that organisation was required. Through a process of suggestions and polls we had a name, taken from a deleted scene in the opening/pilot episode, "Serenity" in which Zoe says to Malcolm Reynolds, "we lost 4 more from the 76th last night". In no time at all a talented, and enthusiastic group had formed a command structure, a badge for the battalion, and a web site to encourage new recruits. The web site is here: http://76thbattalion.dragonfyredawn.com and the forums where members get to know each other, share information about upcoming conventions and update regulations, as well as just sharing in our love of the 'verse, is here: http://www.76thbattalion.proboards59.com/index.cgi You need to sign up, as a member of the 76th Battalion to join the forum, and applications can be emailed to: applications_76th@hotmail.com
Before we knew it Tristan had become Commanding Officer (CO) of the 76th, Colonel Tristan O'Tearney, and was very blessed to have two experienced men with him at the helm, both military men with a history and understanding of online fandom forums, The Executive Officer (XO), Major Mikhail Lazarus, and the Sergeant Major (Doc Jubal) Harris. Whilst these men make the day to day running decisions of the battalion, and generally oversee things on the boards and in communications with our members, it is a group-owned battalion, with regions divided into companies and regional command for these areas.
On Saturday 1st September, 2007, just 9 months & two weeks after it's conception, the 76th Battalion officially arrived on the scene, with 35 members marching, in full uniform, in Dragon*Con's popular anual parade through the streets of Atlanta, Georgia. There are a few photos from that event in the slideshow at the top left hand corner of this blog, and more will be added as they are taken.
So, that's a little idea of how we started. There will be more blogs to come about how we developed into the warm community we are today, where our inspirations and affiliations have come from and what the future holds for us!
Our forums contain threads of ideas for upcoming conventions, plans for get togethers, or shindigs, updates on official rules and regulations, promotions, merchandise, uniforms, specialty assignments, friendships, birthdays, debates, common interests and all things to do with the Firefly 'verse!
We hope you'll follow our blog and share this with others you know who might be interested in supporting the 76th Battalion! Please feel free to publicly follow us, and if you would like to add our blog to your links on your profile, that would be wonderful too!
Looking forward to your comments, too!
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