🔔And not because of overuse. But because it rapidly seems to be transmuting into an excuse for media conglomerates to never, ever, ever have an original thought or idea again. Why make anything new? Why chance it, when you can simply stick every IP you already own in a fucking blender and set it to puree? Why not have Lebron James meet Bugs Bunny and the Iron Giant? Put Rick and Morty in Smash Bros. with Superman! Who cares? Just make more of the content slurry. Pour it into the trough, as homogenous as we can get it. Everybody loves the slurry, and everything in our industry is fine. Everything is fine.
To be clear: I have no problem with... fanmade AUs, and crossover fics, because those are a product of enthusiasm and love. If I see someone on AO3 putting out fanfiction where Hawkeye Pierce meets Bill & Ted and they go on an adventure in Gensokyo, then I know for an absolute fact that is an expression of deep affection and personal joy that is as pure in motive and intent as the driven snow. THAT, I want more of. But I grow increasingly weary of vast corporate entities handing me cold Spaghettios and being told it is lobster bisque merely because it has shapes I vaguely recognize floating in it.
