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[such-heights]

All The Magic We Made by such_heights fandom: Critical Role content notes: none music: Long Live (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift summary: I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you.

download at dreamwidth

[such-heights]

Also on vimeo here if the youtube version isn't working: https://vimeo.com/867508354

You're Losing Me by such_heights fandom: Good Omens ship: Aziraphale/Crowley content notes: none music: Taylor Swift summary:You might just have dealt the final blow. download: at the AO3 or dreamwidth.

[such-heights]

Truly hate that the original has been taken down - you can stream it on my channel here. https://youtu.be/evFKmowdfOo 

Hallelujah edited by purplefringe fandom: Good Omens music: Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, covered by Pentatonix summary: there’s a blaze of light in every word / it doesn’t matter which you heard / the holy or the broken hallelujah. On faith, and falling, and freedom.

Also at the AO3

[such-heights]

HI GANG I’VE LOST MY MIND. HOW ARE WE DOING.

it’s so fun seeing all the old Good Omens fans suddenly awake like

[such-heights]

End OTW Racism: A Call To Action

A fan protest against the lack of action from the OTW on addressing issues of harassment and racism on AO3 and within the organization

This is a Call To Action for Fans of Color and Allies

AO3 has acknowledged that they have a harassment & racism problem that its parent organization, the Organization for Transformative Works (OTW), needs to address. Currently, people can use AO3 to harass others through fanworks, comments, and tags. Just a few examples include: racist Untamed “spitefic” that used anti-Indigenous slurs and was written specifically to lash out at fans of color; a Transformer fic that used its Black-coded character to reenact George Floyd’s murder in July 2020; someone naming a fandom scholar who criticized their Nazi omegaverse fic in the tags of the fic specifically to incite harassment to the scholar; writers using racial slurs against commenters who pointed out racism in their hockey fic; and so much more.

In June 2020, after the murder of George Floyd, the OTW committed to addressing these issues. It has been nearly three years and they have not yet implemented any of the changes they promised, other than a blocking/muting tool that was already in development before 2020. We need to hold the OTW accountable to their own promises. (See the section further down on “Why Are We Doing This” for even more detail.)

As fans, together, we are powerful. We are organizing to protest the lack of action on promises made by the Organization for Transformative works to deal with issues of racism and harassment on their platform, Archive of Our Own.

We call on fans to do any or all of the following actions any time between May 17 to 31, 2023 to send a message to AO3 and OTW that we will hold them to their promises.

On AO3

Change the title of ten (or more!) of your most recent or most popular fanworks to include ‘End Racism in the OTW’ in the beginning, and provide a link to this post in your summary or first/top creator’s note

Post a new fanwork any time between May 17th to 31st with “End Racism in the OTW” either as the title or at the beginning of the title. The fanwork does not have to be long - it can be a 100-word fic, a quick sketch, a podfic of a ficlet, a 20-second vid/edit, a short piece of meta, etc. In the summary or first/top creator’s note, provide a link to this post

If updating any WIPs with a new chapter, add ‘End Racism in the OTW’ to the title and provide a link back to this post in your summary or first/top author’s note

Update your AO3 icon using the profile pic graphic in our Social Media Toolkit

Plan to maintain these changes until May 31, 2023, or longer if you wish

Send a message to the OTW asking for an update on their 2020 commitments!

For Readers: leave encouraging comments on fanworks with the "End Racism in the OTW" title to show your support of this initiative.

On tumblr

Reblog this Call to Action with the tag #End OTW Racism

Update your profile pics and banners using the graphics in our Social Media Toolkit

Follow this account for updates and signal boost our posts

On Twitter

Follow @/EndOTWRacism (remove the backslash) and signal boost our pinned tweet

Update your profile pics and banners using our graphics, and change your display name to include #EndOTWRacism

Use sample tweets and graphics from our Social Media Toolkit to tweet about your fanworks, and use the hashtag #EndOTWRacism

Help us make this a long-term campaign - sign up to help with other anti-racism projects and future actions!

What Do We Want?

Since their June 2020 statement, OTW has been working on updating their Terms of Service (TOS) to address racist and bigoted harassment, but with little transparency and only the vaguest of updates. It has been three years since their commitment to this update - we want to see the results of their work implemented in the next 6-12 months. Their TOS updates and complementary policies should include:

Harassment policies that can be regularly updated to address both on-site harassment and off-site coordinated harassment of AO3 users, with updated protocols for the Policy & Abuse Team to ensure consistent and informed resolutions of abuse claims

A content policy on abusive (extremely racist and extremely bigoted) content; by abusive, we are talking about fanworks that are intentionally used to spread hate and harassment, not those that accidentally invoke racist or other bigoted stereotypes

These points are not particularly new and are not our own innovation; please refer to Stitch's article written over two years ago, asking for several of these very things.

OTW has also already committed to various process-based actions for longer-term works towards centering antiracism, including hiring a Diversity Consultant. The last update that OTW published said that the consultant would be hired within the next five years (after already having had three years to work on it since their original commitment). That is not soon enough. We want to see the following process-based actions implemented:

Hiring a Diversity Consultant within the next 3-6 months

Committing to a policy of transparency on this topic, with quarterly updates on the progress of these projects including challenges and their plan for overcoming those challenges. These quarterly updates should be published on OTW News page and newsletters, not solely discussed in Board meetings

Why Are We Doing This?

16 years ago, Astolat famously published her manifesto calling for a fandom Archive of One’s Own. In that time, AO3 has grown to be a central pillar of fandom, likely far outstripping its founders’ original vision. It is more than just an archive now; it is a central hub of the modern fannish experience. AO3 and the OTW must continue to grow and evolve with fandom over time to remain a healthy and functioning pillar of fandom. To that end, there are several areas in which the organization, as it admits itself, is lacking.

In June 2020, in the wake of the George Floyd protests and the uprising of the Black Lives Matter Movement, The OTW published a “This Week in Fandom” referencing the works of Dr. Rukmini Pande and Stitch, among others in which they discussed ‘making change for a better society’ through ‘conversations about race and racism’. In response, Dr. Pande and Stitch submitted a letter to the OTW calling for a more formal public statement than an offhand reference in a News Roundup that only served to call for thoughts and discussion without any indication the organization intended to do anything, policy wise, to address the issues being raised.

Eventually, the organization did remove the references to the works of Dr. Pande and Stitch and then made an official statement on the issue of racism within the organization and AO3. In it, they identified several things they would be prioritizing to combat harassment and benefit users. Some of those have been implemented (notably those that were already under development). However as of this writing, little else has been done especially in regards to:

Improving admin tools for the Policy & Abuse team

Reassessing the current mandatory archive warnings with the possibility of implementing others

And, most importantly, reviewing the Terms of Service (TOS) to allow the Policy & Abuse team to address harassment that is currently not covered by the existing TOS

By their own admission, the current tools and policies of the OTW are not sufficient to deal with issues of harassment and racism.

Several people who were involved in the founding of the OTW, including previous OTW Board members and staff on the original OTW Content Policy Committee, acknowledge that the founding of the OTW in 2008 and early board iterations failed us as a fandom by not doing enough, and by not even considering the way racism is perpetuated in fannish spaces, despite a long history of racism in fandom.

It has been nearly three years since the original commitment by the organization with little visible, measurable progress on these three crucial issues and a complete lack of transparency on where they are in regards to even beginning to deal with these issues. In fact, in Q&As, it was heavily implied by a member of the board that those calling for OTW to deal with issues of racism (which OTW had already acknowledged as a problem!) were not really fans but outside agitators.

This has cast significant doubt on the organization's sincerity and commitment to their stated goals, and on their position as leaders of a central fan tent-pole. Fans of color are not outsiders. They are right here, members of our community, and they are being harassed and targeted and driven out while space and platforms are being given to racists.

We, as fans of color and our allies, find the current state of fandom and current actions (and lack thereof) unacceptable. Fandom is our space, all of ours. We, as a fandom, have a right to a racism-free space and have a duty to our fellow fans to create that space. Unlike so much of the world, this is a space we can control and make better. It is a space we must make better. To read even more about this movement, visit our FAQs.

[such-heights]

The End of the World by such_heights fandom: Exandria Unlimited: Calamity characters: The Ring of Brass content notes: violence, character death, physical triggers including quick cuts and bright fades/dissolves. music: The Rescues summary: I am not afraid.

fanworks used:

Smaller than grains of sand, kiframe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiHJZKRJ9l4 Laerryn and Loquatius, Linzer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bGQGvUFgHQ Exandria Unlimited: Calamity Finale, morbidnumbskull https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHhaZe-gsLE Cerrit's Promise, Sander Goldman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZRlSNe0fqE Art by Cersonality, Lap Pun Cheung, Japanne13, nicimonstart, EldritchBlep, tshortik here: https://critrole.com/fan-art-gallery-paradise-lost/ Art by Alexiel April, sharamaestache, MazieCrazyCloud here: https://critrole.com/fan-art-gallery-loves-design/ Art by lolthies, raedart, fey_wild, thatzombiecat and Lap Pun Cheung here: https://critrole.com/fan-art-gallery-the-devils-knell/ Art by terribleteacup amd kingcael here: https://critrole.com/fan-art-gallery-free-for-owl/ Art by I.M. Gibney, elahogn, Dungeons_and_drawing here: https://critrole.com/fan-art-gallery-questionable-taste/ Art by Cersonality https://critrole.com/fan-art-gallery-wrestling-with-faith/ Art by Sakyora: https://twitter.com/Sakyora/status/1540360551284473856/photo/1 Art by caravaggio2000: https://twitter.com/caravaggio2000/status/1606027834702450688?s=20&t=ThfSynMYM6UC88GGuMcE5A Art by nosnexus: https://www.tumblr.com/nosnexus/688318315767185408/the-ring-of-brass-endures Art by Dungeon_drawing: https://twitter.com/dungeon_drawing/status/1540496896921329665 Art by domeddi: https://twitter.com/domeddi/status/1552056662592311296/photo/1

[such-heights]

Black Tie by such_heights fandom: A League of Their Own characters: Max, Carson, ensemble content notes: none music: Grace Petrie summary: You will find the clothes that fit.

Download at dreamwidth.

[such-heights]

So I know I'm very rarely here any more (could change again thanks to twitter nonsense, who knows), but hey, I have a Star Trek podcast now! It's a good time! And obviously we had to talk about Threshold.

For this episode, on the 27th anniversary of its original airing, we watched 'Threshold'. You know, the one where Janeway and Paris have lizard babies. Happy Threshold Day to all who celebrate!

We're Amy, Cathryn, and Iona - join us as we discuss one episode per episode, from any series, in no particular order. Star Trek is really good, did you know?

[such-heights]

Unwritten | music by Natasha Bedingfield | The Legend of Vox Machina | Keyleth | Content notes: brief shot of a zombie, brief shot of a dead child, some bright lights/flashes

Reaching for something in the distance / So close you can almost taste it

Premiered at Fanworks 2022! Download links in the reblog.

[such-heights]

My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark by such_heights fandom: The Legend of Vox Machina characters: Percy, Cassandra content notes: graphic gun violence (animated), physical triggers (flashes) music: Fall Out Boy summary: My childhood spat back the monster that you see. Percy, Cassandra, and the price of revenge. notes: Many thanks to happydork and usuallyhats for beta services. Premiered at Vidukon 2022. I feel like this is probably one of the darkest vids I've ever made? I just love the Briarwoods arc so very much. Also on the AO3 and dreamwidth including download links.

[such-heights]

just dropping off some love for "Bohemian Like You" because I nearly choked on my soda when you introduced Izzy! it's a great, amazing vid, and I just wanted to let you know that!

Ah I'm so glad, thank you very much!

[such-heights]

Bohemian Like You by such_heights fandom: Our Flag Means Death ship: Ed/Stede content notes: non-graphic stabbing and general violence played for comedy music: The Dandy Warhols summary: No I haven't heard your band, 'cause you guys are pretty new.

Download the vid at dreamwidth.

[such-heights]

We Got The World by such_heights fandom: Dimension 20 RPF content notes: none music: Icona Pop summary: They say, "You're a freak," when we're having fun, Say, "You must be high," when we're spreading love. Say hi, intrepid heroes! download: at dreamwidth notes: For growlery in Festivids 2021. Clips from Fantasy High, The Unsleeping City, Mice and Murder, Misfits and Magic, The Seven, Shriek Week, and the trailer of A Starstruck Odyssey. Most Dimension 20 content is on their paid service Dropout, but they also have a lot of free stuff up on dimension20show if you're curious! It's a very good time. Also on AO3.

[such-heights]

Last of the Real Ones by such_heights fandom: Mass Effect: Legendary Edition content notes: none music: Fall Out Boy summary: 'I know this whole damn city thinks it needs you, but not as much as I do.' Shepard and her crew. download: download as 573MB zipped .mp4 | download as 149MB zipped .mp4. Download subtitles. notes: Premiered at Fanworks 2021. Many thanks to walkthegale and usuallyhats for beta and encouragement. Also on AO3 and on tumblr.

[such-heights]

Let Love Be Your Energy by such_heights fandom: Ted Lasso content notes: physical triggers: rapid graphics & flash photography music: Robbie Williams summary: 'He thinks he's mad now, wait til we win him over.' 'He'll be furious!' download: on dreamwidth or on the ao3 notes: Premiered at Vidukon 2021 - many thanks to con attendees for your kind words during the Premieres show! 

[such-heights]

Love You Like That by such_heights fandom: Crooked Media RPF ship: Ronan Farrow/Jon Lovett content notes: none music: Dagny summary: One look in my eyes and you should know the truth. download: at dreamwidth notes: Made for happydork's birthday and premiered at Fanworks Con 2020. Many thanks to laliandra for help with source! Also on AO3.

[such-heights]

A (lo-fi) Jon/Martin fanvid. 

Spoilers for S1-4. 

Content notes: Cartoonish/stylised images of: 

worms/maggots 

spiders 

blood 

dead body 

Many thanks to such_heights, raven and soupytwist for beta. Also posted at https://archiveofourown.org/works/25361104