We often hear that creative works need a balance of novelty and familiarity to succeed. But what if that’s not entirely true? New research from a massive online fan fiction archive challenges this long-held belief, revealing a surprising preference for the familiar – with a delightful twist.
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The Familiarity Bias in Fan Fiction 🤔
The study, published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, analyzed data from a huge fan fiction archive. The results? Fanfiction readers overwhelmingly gravitate towards familiar characters and storylines. They’re more likely to choose works that closely resemble what they’ve already enjoyed. This suggests a strong preference for sameness within the community.
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The Enchantment of Novelty ✨
However, here’s where things get interesting. While readers are initially drawn to familiarity, the study also found that they report significantly higher enjoyment when they step outside their comfort zones and explore more novel works. In other words, familiarity might entice them to start reading, but novelty is what truly captivates and leaves a lasting impression.
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A Historical Perspective on Copying 📜
It’s worth noting that borrowing characters and plots isn’t a new phenomenon. Authors have been doing it for centuries (Shakespeare, anyone?). Copyright law has certainly complicated things, but the practice continues, particularly within the vibrant world of fan fiction. The emergence of fanzines like Spockanalia in 1967 marked a significant moment, showcasing the creative potential of building upon existing works.
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The “Sameness Entices, Novelty Enchants” Paradox 🤔
This research highlights a fascinating paradox: familiarity drives initial engagement, while novelty enhances overall enjoyment. It challenges the traditional “balance theory” of creative consumption and suggests that creators might benefit from considering this nuanced relationship between the familiar and the new. Perhaps the key isn’t finding a perfect balance, but understanding how to leverage the pull of familiarity to draw readers in, then captivating them with unexpected twists and turns.
Source: Fanfic study challenges leading cultural evolution theory
