Fandom Rant: Merlin and the Art of Name Mashups

[solarcat]

<--This icon is too happy for this post. But Arthur is too adorable to replace with something ranty-er. >.>;;

Warning: This is me, getting my rant on. That said... I probably won't be spewing vitriol or anything. I suppose this is more of a "moderately dissatisfied grumble" than a rant, really... >.> Anyway, no offense meant to any parties in particular--I speak in the general, mostly because I am too lazy to research the "guilty" parties and name them by name. XD (And also because naming names just pisses people off, and that isn't the goal. The goal is to rant until I feel better, at which time I will rejoin fandom as my happy, cheerful, porn-writing self. =3 )




Once upon a time, there was a show called Merlin. The show was full of slashy goodness, and the fangirls saw that it was good. Thus, the Merlin fandom was born, and brought with it blessings for the fangirls, and gifts of fic and vids and icons, and for a time there was peace in the fandom, and all rejoiced.

And then some asshat decided to call the Merlin/Arthur pairing "Methur", and solar_cat's blood began to boil. And then some other asshat decided to combat this by naming the same pairing (presumably in its Arthur/Merlin variant) "Arlin", and solar_cat was forced to write a ranty LJ post about it.

Note: I mean "asshat" in the nicest of ways. Really. >.>;; no, mashups aren't a pet peeve of mine at all. why do you ask?

*ahem* Right. Where was I? Ah, yes.

Who decided this was a good idea? And for the love of fandom, why??? I ask, because I truly do not understand. There is an art to the name mashup, and it is an art I believe these unknown mashup-creators have not understood. So. A brief treatise on the Art of the Name Mashup is in order. I will preface by saying that this is simply my own observation and opinions, and of course, you are free to agree or disagree at will.

There are a few things to keep in mind when attempting to create a successful name mashup for your pairing. The first is--there may not be a successful name mashup for your pairing. And that's okay. Do you see the Kirk/Spock fans complaining? No. Because they realize that "Kock", no matter how funny it is, is just really NOT a good idea. *applauds them* My point is, just slamming two names into each other without thinking about the result is a recipe for disaster. Or at least a lot of headaches, mispronunciation, and spitting on each other. :\

To be successful, a name mashup must be, to some extent, logical. I shall draw from SGA here, because it is familiar to many of my fellow fen, and even if not, the examples are easy to follow. Observe:

We have a popular pairing: McShep. This is a name mashup that works. It works for a number of reasons. First, we begin with "Sheppard", which came with the built-in shortened version, "Shep". Okay. Then we have "McKay", which is great, because "Mc" is a prefix. It can be added to any number of names without sounding silly, because it is meant to be put in front of names. Putting these things together is logical, simple, and above all, sounds good.

This is key to a successful name mashup--if it's unpronounceable or sounds bad? It's really not going to be successful.

Another key, in addition to the "it should sound good" rule, to the successful name mashup is that the two names must share some commonality. There are reasons that names like "Clex" and "Snarry" (and yes, I'm pulling random mashups from random fandoms I've picked off my tags list. shaddup) work and have been widely adopted. Dissecting "Clex", which comes from "Clark" and "Lex", you can see that the fusion point is the L in both names. Likewise, "Snape" and "Harry" get fused at the A.

So! A quick summary:

The good name mashup will:

1. Follow from some logical combination and/or shortening of names. Names should "fuse" at a logical point (at a prefix, a shared letter or series of letters, etc).

2. Sound "good". This is a combination of ease of pronunciation and simply how well it rolls off the tongue. Also, avoid really bad associations or things that sound ridiculous. If the name is going to end up sounding like "Hitler" or something, it's probably a good idea to avoid it. (Use common sense, here.) Sometimes this can be worked to your advantage, like "Porne" (Parrish/Lorne, SGA), which is lulzy, but more often when this happens, it's of the bad, or at least the ridiculous. See the "Kock" example, above.


Got it? Good! On we go, then:

Following these rules, and going back to the fandom at hand (which is Merlin, remember), the mashup "Methur"? Makes... approximately zero sense.

Merlin. Arthur.

Now, I can see if someone tried to make "Merthur", which would join at the R and at least make some modicum of sense (though I personally feel it fails the all-important "it sounds good" rule, as well as making me feel like I'm going to spit on someone). But "Methur" is just... obnoxious. And feels very much like trying too hard. Also, is it "Mi-thur" or "Meh-thur"? Pronunciation is key, people! (As anyone who encounters Highlander fandom without seeing the show will realize the first time they see "Methos". *is not speaking from personal experience at all...* >.>;; )

The other option is, apparently, "Arlin", which I have to say I favor between the two of them, if I had to pick one (much as it pains me). Here, we have some sense. The two names are fused at the R, there are no glaring pronunciation issues. About the only issue I can find with it, following my guidelines here, is that it sounds sort of like a girl's name. (Though I admit, every time I say it to myself, I get King of the Hill flashbacks. Arlen, Texas, anyone?) But really--is it necessary? Do we really want to start going down this route?


Here's the thing, and it is a thing which is perhaps most paramount to successful name mashups--You can't have that many of them before they become the most horribly annoying things ever.

Merlin, by virtue of its awesome ( \0/ ), is already threatening to have nearly infinite pairing possibilities. Okay, so every show has that, but... really. Those of you in the fandom know that what I say is true. And as soon as you give in, as soon as you allow the mashup to take over your fandom...

It's insidious.

Someone who doesn't know Smallville fandom at all! I call upon you to go forth, find a big archive of SV fics, and report back to us how long it took you to work out the alphabet soup of pairings over there. This is not a rant against Smallville; don't get me wrong. But SV has mashups run amok, most of them beginning with C or L, so it's a useful example. Thus far, we have not approached this. I sincerely hope, my dear Merlin fandom, that we never do.

Is it so hard to write out Merlin/Arthur? Or even just "M/A", if it comes down to it? It's only the most popular pairing in the fandom; it's not as if anyone will be truly lost as to what you mean. Admittedly, the "M" could be Morgana as well, but... If you're posting on merlinxarthur? I don't think anyone is going to be confused. And it's really not that hard to put in the extra keystrokes and write their names out. Really. Watch: Merlin. Arthur. That took all of three seconds. You can do it! I have faith in you, fandom!

In Conclusion:

For the love of fandom, let the mashups die! If they are meant to exist, they will come about organically, but do not try to create them, fandom. I love you, but you know not what you do! Do not let the mashups take over your minds! Rise above, my friends! You have nothing to lose but your chains your confusion!

(And seriously, I may have to gouge my eyes out with a spoon if this continues. Don't make me gouge my eyes out. Think of the poor spoons. ;_; )



Ahem. Well, I feel better now. =)

Feel free to comment. Feel free to tell me I'm a nitpicky, easily-annoyed dumbass and that you all hate my guts now. (Well, I'd prefer if you didn't, but I'm not gonna stop you.) I have a new episode to watch, and then some promising-looking fics to read. >.>

(It occurs to me to add, because I don't believe I've ever made it known, that if a post of mine is public, and tagged with *public post, then you're free to link to it or direct anyone to it to your heart's content. So that goes for this post, and any other *public post entries. ^^ )

ETA: *ahem* Welcome, all ye metafandomers! Nice to see you all. Rest assured that I appreciate your comments, and I am trying to keep up with them as well as I can. Please be gentle, it's my first time. ;)

Comments

[driley1.livejournal.com]

I think the only fandom in which I use shorthand to describe pairings is Gundam Wing. I know some other shows (xxxHolic, for example) also use numbers for pairings, but to me they make no sense.

Even in the fandom where name mashups are king, Naruto, I'd still refer to the blond smartass and the black-haired emo kid as "Naruto/Sasuke," not "Narusasu."

So, in closing, thanks for writing this rant. I agree that the name mashing is getting to be a bit reedonkulus.

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

Gundam sort of has it grandfathered in. And it's so ridiculously obvious, at least for the main pairings. I mean, there are "01"s all over art of Heero, and so on. But yeah, other ones never made any sense to me. I still can't make heads or tails of Saiyuki pairing numbers... ^^;;

I just don't get what's so wrong with the classic "Name/Name" formation! Why does no one love it anymore?? T_T So yes. It was time to rant. XD

[ithiliana.livejournal.com]

Your great phrase "moderately dissatisfied grumble" made me think of how Fun it would be to "rank" rants on a spectrum!

This sort of thinking is what alwys gets me into trouble!

ETA: Edited to change RUN to FUN to like you know make sense!

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

We should! Because there are rants which are "real" rants, full of yelling and anger and other ranting behaviors, and then there are people like me, who are just sort of annoyed and feel like sharing. And then it would be easy to avoid the really angry people and just enjoy other people's moderately dissatisfied grumblings. =)

[fullmetal-cute.livejournal.com]

.... one of these days, I need to start watching this show...

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

Start now! XD

[neviditelny.livejournal.com]

I agree with drileyl - Gundam Wing shorthand for pairings are the only ones that ever made sense to me. Most of the charas had numbers in their names - easy translation!

But seriously. Mashups pretty much make me want to vomit. Also, ridiculous names for pairings? Like Yo!Bling? Gag me.

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear god. Do I even want to know what "Yo!Bling" is supposed to be a name for? o_0

I didn't used to be so against it, but that was when they were fewer and farther between. It seems like people took a good idea and ran with it so far that it became... not a good idea anymore. (And really, as soon as it hit Hollywood everyone remember "Bennifer"? *gags* we should have known it was time to give it up.)

[thisissirius.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much.

I've been wondering why people felt the need to shorten it at all escpecially in a comm like merlinxarthur where, DUH, i think we all get who you're talking about.

I'd have more constructive things to say but... IDEK why I don't D:

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

I am glad that, so far, the response to this little rant of mine has been positive, rather than "you heinous bitch GTFO of my fandom!" I admit, I was worried. XD

I don't know why people think it needs shortening. *throws up hands* If one of them had some ridiculously long name or something, then I can see that, but, c'mon. We gotta draw a line somewhere. =_=;

(And don't worry about being constructive. XD I already feel better having ranted. I am ready to re-enter a world where people use the term "Methur" seriously, though I have my trusty eye-gouging spoon at the ready, just in case. *clutches*)

[hils.livejournal.com]

I agree! I have never used Merthur and I never will

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

Yay! Another like-minded individual! \0/

[amalthia]

rofl, loved your post! And you're right mashups need more thought than just lumping two names together.

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I try to keep it somewhat lulzy. Cuts down on the number of people who get mad at you. XD

Yep, that's pretty much it. I don't mind a good, well-thought mashup (like the McShep example--much easier than typing/saying "McKay/Sheppard" all the time!), but when you mash names just for the sake of mashing names... *waves her eye-gouging spoon around vaguely*

here via the metafandom delicious

[ursamajor]

WORLD of YES. I didn't understand people who called Mulder/Scully "Sculder" because that sounded like something burned you scraped off your frying pan, nor "Mully" because that sounded like a baby mullet. There's a reason I put the interest "mocking portmanteaux pairings" in my profile. ;)

Re: here via the metafandom delicious

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

Your interest is relevant to my interests! XD

Gah, those are definitely bad ones! *winces* Really? "Sculder"? That's... sort of painful. :|

[llivla.livejournal.com]

I DO NOT GET NAME MASHUPS (lol Remix Edition!) and I probably never will.

I'M SORRY I LOL'D SO HARD AT KOCK. I'M NOT VERY MATURE AT THE MOMENT. :( I agree with your opinion on why McShep works, I still wouldn't use it, but it's not as WTF-inducing as 99% of all other mash-ups do to my eye twitch. But it doesn't make sense in Merlin/Arthur because lsdfjas;df their names are not long or complicated or ...ugh, I just call myself lucky for not finding any of these people yet. If they said it to me I don't know if I could restrain myself and be the bigger person on such a large (and weird) pet peeve of mine.

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

Well, it was made to elicit lulz in large quantities, so don't feel too bad. XD

The mashups keep popping up randomly on merlinxarthur, and I twitch every time I see them. I'll be going along, skimming summaries, opening fics in new tabs to read later, and then suddenly "Methur" shows up in front of me and I have the urge to strangle things. *sigh* It's so unproductive. =_=;

[kiss-me-cassie.livejournal.com]

Here from metafandom and.... <3 you almost as much as I abhor the mash-ups.

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

Hee. Thanks!

[rhosyndu.livejournal.com]

I concur entirely; I am incredibly glad that smushed fandom names never really caught on in my main fandom (Top Gear). We've had one or two people type 'Hammay' for Hammond and May, which is only mildly better than Richames.

Thank god for sensible mods and sensible tags.

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. No, no, no! They do this to Top Gear?? ;____; My Hammond-loving soul could not deal with that. Has he not been abused enough?? I cry. See? ;_;

Sensible mods are one of life's true blessings. /0\ *worships*

here via metafandom

[sol-se.livejournal.com]

Agreed! So, so agree.

Re: here via metafandom

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

\0/

[theladyscribe]

here via metafandom

It's funny that you mention this, because I'm in SPN fandom, where mash-ups are practically non-existent. I'd like to think that it's because we are of a higher breed of fen, but it's really more because they just don't work (other than Wincest and Padackles, which are two of the more creative mash-ups I've seen in general). ANYWAY, there's a new character that's just been introduced - her name is Anna, and she appears to be a good match for Dean. I am terrified that someone will decide to mash their names into Deanna, which is a) unfortunate, and b) the canonical name of Dean's grandmother. Which, yeah, I don't think I need to say any more.

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

*points to your comment* Again, mashups that work. "Wincest" is actually quite witty! And fun! And descriptive! So it all works out. And the fact that it's one of only a couple (I actually do like "Padackles", though I don't know if even I know why... XD ) used in the fandom means that they don't get overwhelming.

And I vote that if people begin to use "Deanna", you spam them with pictures of Deanna Troi until they stop. >.>

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

Hee. Well, it's better than "Wilhouse", which sounds like a Simpsons reject. XD

But yes, and also yes. I mean, usually people are good about making their pairings clear, but when they're not... Oi. *headdesk*

Here via metafandom

[amaresu]

I've hated name mashups ever since they started to become popular in Western media fandoms. At least with the anime ones you know there's a logic and a structure behind it. At least there was last time I was in a anime fandom. Most name mashups just don't make sense and sound stupid.

You also made me think of the creation of the Sparky name for Sheppard/Weir because it started as a big joke that somehow caught on.

Re: Here via metafandom

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

Hee. The Sparky thing is so full of lulz. Though I feel bad for newbies to the fandom who have no idea what the hell "Sparky" means. XD

I don't mind a logical and/or cute mashup. Some of them are quite alright with me. But then they just keep taking over and suddenly you end up with... well. See ladydreamer's comment below yours for a beautiful example. =_=;;; That way lies madness!!

[ladydreamer.livejournal.com]

Hahaha! Oh, SV fandom.

We have Clex. We have Chlex. Brex. Tex. We have Clark and Chlark. And Chlois and Clois, and Collie and Chlollie and Lollie (which, depending on who you ask, could be het or slash). Clana, Chlana, Chlara, Chruce, Loisana, Lexana, Loess, Lexina, Lexena, Kal-oe, Kalex, Karex, Bizex. That doesn't even start into the comic crossovers. Alphabet soup is really the best way to describe it.

I just joined Merlin fandom, and it would be nice if we came up with awesomer names. I like a mashup if it does something cute or really works. (I mean, I'm fond of Clex because you can stick it in ClexCorp and Clexmas very easily, but most of them are jaw dropping.) Outside of that, it should be something else. Either write out the name or make up something creative that indicates the pairing. Arthur/Merlin fans should come up with a name before Methur sticks!

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

Oh my god, I love your icon so much! XDDDD

*ahem* Now that I've gotten that out of the way... >.>

I kinda skim SV fandom by jumping from recs list to recs list, so I manage to avoid most of the "what pairing is it?" bingo game, but seeing them all written out like that is enough to make me cling to my eye-gouging spoon in despair. T_T

I agree with you on the "mashups are good... sometimes" thing. If it's cute or makes sense, then I don't have a problem with it. It's when it gets to the point where (as your list so ably demonstrates) it causes more confusion and dyslexia than anything else that it just needs to be stopped. >.

[brokenbacktango.livejournal.com]

I agree that name mash-ups are generally bad business (though I use a few cute ones like Mylar for Sylar/Mohinder... makes me think of balloons) but just wanted to note that Kirk/Spock does have a moderately popular mash-up name: Spirk. It boils my friggin' blood but some people insist on using it. When did it get so difficult to just write people's names?

Here from metafandom, by the way :) *waves*

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

This is my point, though! A few of them are cute, and that's cool. (And yes, Mylar makes me think of balloons too. XD )

...That "Spirk" exists makes me very sad. Sad solar_cat is sad. T___________T I mean, it sounds more like something you'd do to someone in prison than a pairing! And how lazy can you get, really? I mean, "Kirk" and "Spock" are possibly two of the shortest names in fandom. :\

[birdscore.livejournal.com]

I...am not quite sure how I got here, actually. I was f-list hopping and with so many tabs open I am just this side of slightly confused :D.

Anyway, kudos for breaking down what it is exactly about ship portmanteaus that sometimes make them so vomit-inducing. I had no idea they were creeping up in the Merlin fandom, to be honest. Most of the time I just find them v. amusing, but sometimes the use of really terrible ones (e.g. "Janto" from Torchwood, if you're familiar with it) to label fic actually puts me off from reading it at all.

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

Probably metafandom. ;)

I haven't decided how I feel about "Janto" yet. I've never really warmed up to it because... well, actually mostly because I just really like Ianto's name. XDDD But it's not really original or cute. And again, are "Jack" and "Ianto" really that hard to type?? Really??

(I'll admit, this rant was my sneaky way of trying to nip it in the bud with Merlin. I had sort of hoped my flist might link their flists to it, but apparently metafandom did me one better. XD )

and yes, I used this icon just for the banana

[snowpuppies]

Yes! Yes! A thousand times, Yes!

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

\0/ Huzzah!

[bluerosefairy.livejournal.com]

Here from metafandom, and YES. I've ranted about smushed pairing names at both fanficrants and TVTropes, and the short version is - AUGH THEY DRIVE ME UP A WALL. I just do not get why people cannot simply type out House/Wilson instead of using the idiot ship name of either "Houson" or "Hilson".

I think some of the more ridiculous smushed pairing names comes from wrestling fandom (which brings the lulz ALL THE TIME, trust me): Codiase (which, aside from sounding like the poor man's codeine, is Cody Rhodes/Ted DiBiase Jr), Centon (John Cena/Randy Orton), Takehardy (Undertaker/Jeff or Matt Hardy, and really, are you *twelve*?), Shawter (Shawn Michaels/Hunter), Rantista (which makes me think of an angry woman and not Randy Orton/Dave Batista) or Ortista (which is the poor man's Ortega), and Punkana (CM Punk/Colt Cabana, and really, there's just SO many ways you can run with that one).

Honestly, I think all pairing names should be banned, for my sanity.

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

Well, as I so helpfully suggested above, you could go with "Wilhouse" instead. *whistles innocently*

XD

Wow, those are some messed-up pairing names. o_0 I can totally see how wrestling fandom would bring the lulz to the house. Though "Rantista" and "Punkana" might make good band names. >.>;;

[deird1]

You can't have that many of them before they become the most horribly annoying things ever.

And, as proof of that, let me offer up this post on the subject, in the hope that you'll find it funny...

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

*sporfle* Oh my god, you're my hero. XDDDD *dies laughing*

[anarchicq.livejournal.com]

The first name mashup I ever encountered was "Romy",Rogue/Remy from X-Men. And I just can't picture the actual characters accepting being called that, yaknow?

Now, if I were to go by my fandom ships.....
Silent Hill, Heather/Stanley Heanley? Stather? Stlether?

Silent Hill, Claudia/Walter Clalter, Waudia. This isn't working.

Silent Hill, Claudia/Vincent Clincent?

Generation X, Jono/Penance(Penny) Jenny?


Where's that FF7 CliToRis icon when you need it?

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

Every time I see "Romy", I think this:
(http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e153/SolarCat05/?action=view&current=dd873f39.jpg)

Remy LeBeau would not put up with that shit. :\

Stlether--the newest in metal-plated leather technology! Find it at your nearest Hot Topic!

[stardust-rain.livejournal.com]

Here via metafandom, and let me just say a great big motherfucking WORD.

For me, the only places that mashups can work are anime/manga fandoms, where the names sound less awkward. Not good, but not mindblowingly cringeworthy at least.

On another note, I see this much less in smaller fandoms. Good Omens, Chuck, Ocean's 11, TSCC, for example, are blissfully exempt from this. My theory is that mashups become a fandom official tag when a community is made for a certain pairing, but you can't fit both character names in. And thus, namemash.

I'm not familiar with Merlin, but the Heroes fandom is what I consider to be one of the worst offenders. Consider: Pylar, Petlar, Syleter, Moheter, Plaude. And that's just the slash ships. The ship Sylar/Mohinder has been dubbed Sylinder, Syhindlar and Mylar, which are the most popular ones, but in the early days a variation drifting about was Molar. I joined the fandom later, but when I discovered that I laughed myself stupid.

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

This is true, I think. Just on memory, I do think that smaller fandoms tend to have less of the mashing going on. Or if they have a mashup, it's usually something very obvious or very cute.

The community name thing is interesting, and I think that would make a lot of sense. The comm name becomes shorthand for the pairing itself. Interesting!


Molar. *sporfle* XDDD

[oceanica.livejournal.com]

Here via Metafandom.

Maybe it's me, but name mashups have never really bothered me that much. It might be because I hang out mostly in anime fandoms, and Japanese-styled names tend to mash better and more distinctively than Western ones (yay for rigid syllabification!) not to mention that they tend to be longer. When you've got two four- or five-syllable names to put together, a mashup seems a lot more attractive.

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

See, I stick that under the category of "mashups that make sense". It's a lot easier to stick Japanese names together, because of the syllable structure. And, as you mention, they can get rather long, so shortening is often of the good. They also usually manage to sound okay, since you can't mess up the vowel pronunciation by changing the letter next to it the way you can with English, which means you don't mangle the words by sticking them next to each other.

So yeah, I'd say anime fandoms definitely have an advantage when it comes to making mashups work. *nod*

[kyuuketsukirui.livejournal.com]

I hate smushed pairing names (or cutesy ones) in general, but sometimes it's good just for the lulz. Snape pairings, for example. How can you not love* Snucius, Snermione, Snumbledore, etc. I wish they would call it Snotter instead of Snarry, though.



*And by love, I mean laugh at anyone who uses them in a serious manner.

[solar-cat.livejournal.com]

For some reason, "Snucius" just strikes me as the name of a cuddly but somewhat annoyed-looking teddy bear. >.>;; *is possibly an insane person* And I have no words for "Snumbledore". Luckily, I manage to avoid these horrible pairing names by not going within shouting distance of Snape pairings. XD

"Snotter" is lulz. XD

*uses her only HP icon, if only so it does not rust*