Ontology:Q60,72
Exact claim[edit]
The reason fans don't like hour-long theories or theories that take several risks at once and "turn into fanfiction" is that a detailed theory doesn't have enough spaces for choices and isn't Freedom; single propositions are more agreeable because it is easier for any particular individual to free-associate onto one atomic proposition or the other and take or leave them
Core characteristics[edit]
- alias (en) [string]
- Fan theories should be atomic propositions (Deltarune fandom)
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- anarculture
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- proposition presumed anarchist
- Deltarune fanbase
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Component claims[edit]
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- : route [Item]
- Fan theories should be atomic thoughts
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- Fan theories should be atomic thoughts
Background[edit]
Within some fan bases, mainly applying to unfinished or episodic kinds of stories, there will be posts made containing extensive theories about what will later be revealed about the world or characters. The point of these hypothetical models is not simply to predict some linear series of plot twists, but more to arrange all the available pieces of information and recalibrate them all into a sort of role-playing game or mystery where readers can explore the fictional world and uncover new areas of lore, mechanics, or events. Taking a serialized TV show such as Steven Universe, there may be something like an elaborate ruins area shown on screen full of environmental storytelling, and viewers with previous episodes in hand can then take all the information already given about the world in those episodes to, in a sense, go on the same journey of discovery as the characters who will later be investigating the same things only when a lot more episodes are released than at that moment.
However, as different forum users or video creators make theories, it is likely that different theories will clash. If the series runs long enough at a slow enough pace, fans may go multiple years arguing about the same set of conflicting theories without anyone actually getting any closer to an answer. A great variety of theories may spring up at a much greater volume than any form of direct engagement with the original works. Some theories may be short and limit themselves to atomic statements that one thing is actually another thing or one thing did one specific action. Other theories may be long and elaborate predictions of future episodes or chapters with several leaps in logic. These theories may be criticized as being "fanfiction and not a theory" or "not having enough evidence". On the other side, there will be times when people complain about other fans being too strict and making them acknowledge every possibility instead of just the possibilities with the most extensive arguments.
This proposition is the claim that fans are better served, and fandoms operate more smoothly, when as many theories as possible are minimum-sized propositions. Propositions can build on other propositions, or present themselves as optional and compatible, but they all need to be atomic propositions — claims that do not contain multiple separate or stacked claims.
In terms of justifying this point of view, anarchist models of society will have any number of arguments available. One could argue that freedom and choice are inherently good, and more freedom is better. One could argue that narratives constrain people, and when somebody has the choice to reject an externally-imposed narrative to forge their own narrative this can end up being preferable. One could even go into post-structuralist anarchism to dig up models that claim all structure is doomed to collapse and everything always changes. One of the easiest lines of argument might be to start with blue anarchism and the concept that individuals can never really be controlled from the outside. Because individuals cannot be controlled, they must be listened to, asked their personal preferences, and given freedom. Every form of control and limit on freedom within a society must ultimately act through individuals. Thus, any action by any individual, even something like creating a theory video, is subject to the inherent democratizing power of objections to an individual's behavior made by other individuals. It doesn't matter whether the individuals are strictly right or strictly wrong in their opinions; in any situation that somebody wishes to continue to promote social cohesion, such as in a fan community, allowing every individual to stick to their own choices instead of imposing external choices is the right decision.
Q60,72 and Deltarune[edit]
The themes of Deltarune interact very interestingly with this proposition. Many people commenting on the game focus in on its themes of freedom and control; when central characters including Kris and Susie do what they can to resist the overarching prophecy that has been omnipresent retelling itself everywhere and the unknown, potentially harmful inputs of the player (the Red Soul or The Angel) this has usually been received fairly positively. Some people appear to take the game a bit more literally than may have been intended, remarking that "life only has one ending" that "we all have to react to" or that the characters' struggle against the central narrative is mainly meant to represent stereotypes and general failures to listen to and accommodate actual people rather than fitting them to some preconceived narrative. Fans of the game generally really appear to see themselves in the characters and the notion of various characters trying to gain freedom. At the same time, they are generally tired of having to argue with other fans' choices of theories or otherwise. The consequence of everyone getting to make choices that have to be respected is that whenever anybody else makes a choice it explicitly has to respect or work around other people's choices — which ultimately means that as each individual attempts to be free, everyone also loses freedom to others.
(slightly unfinished)