Understanding orality through online fanfiction

Implications for writing and pedagogy

Authors

  • Vittorio Marone University of Texas at San Antonio Author
  • Anthony D. Neely University of Texas at San Antonio Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/wap.27007

Keywords:

Orality and Writing, Fanfiction, Fandoms, writing practice, Breaking Bad, teaching writing

Abstract

Fanfiction is a work of fantasy in which fans write stories based on original books, movies, TV series, and other cultural and artistic forms of expression. This study looks into fanfiction dedicated to the popular TV series Breaking Bad. In particular, it examines how fans construct the (spoken) dialogues of their (written) stories. The article explores the pedagogic value of using fanfiction in educational contexts, focusing on the analysis, creation, and enactment of stories inspired by TV series and movies that feature a combination of narration and ‘written speech’. The article also offers practical recommendations for classroom and online activities that support the development of skills and understandings related to writing and orality. The effort of representing speech in a written form (i.e., writing dialogues and descriptions of conversations) can help students reflect, with the aid of the teacher, on the distinctiveness and specificity of written and spoken communication. By comparing, contrasting, and critiquing audiovisual and written texts (e.g., the episodes of a TV series and the transcriptions of its dialogues), and by creating their own dialogue-rich stories, students can improve their understanding of the idiosyncrasies of writing and orality across modes, thus advancing their literacy and critical skills as creative producers, not just consumers, of popular culture and media.

Author Biographies

  • Vittorio Marone, University of Texas at San Antonio

    Vittorio Marone is Assistant Professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

  • Anthony D. Neely, University of Texas at San Antonio

    Anthony D. Neely is a Doctoral Candidate in the Department of Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

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Published

2017-07-13

Issue

Section

From the e-Sphere

How to Cite

Marone, V., & Neely, A. D. (2017). Understanding orality through online fanfiction: Implications for writing and pedagogy. Writing and Pedagogy, 9(1), 197–213. https://doi.org/10.1558/wap.27007

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