Follow-Up Poll: AU versus AR

[kennahijja]

Alright, people - I ran into a definition problem with yesterday's poll. Basically, I used the options Alternate Universe (AU) and Alternate Reality (AR) because those often turn up as categories in archives, but I have no idea what they mean exactly.

Ok, I do know what area they cover - from 'nonmagical AU' to H/D as dragon riders in a fantasy dimension to Harry-in-Slytherin to Sirius/Remus living happily ever after after the war, no Veil. But the difference? Not a clue. So...


[Poll #785583]

And abuse the comments if you run out of space!

Comments

[liriaen.livejournal.com]

Yup. After a second cup of coffee it finally dawned on me that the way I've "defined" AR indeed applies to virtually 99,9% of all fanfic, regardless of setting, timeframe, and relations between characters. However, AU -to me- still is something wonderfully, wildly out there, prone to dabbling with concepts and ideas from all over the place, not "just" HPdom (rich as it is), and "AR" would seem comparatively tame to that. But maybe that distinction exists only in my mind. :)

[kennahijja.livejournal.com]

I think I had exactly the same definitions, only the other way 'round. Perhaps influenced by Star Trek TOS's Mirror-episode, I always felt that 'alternate realities' are the more different from canon... of course 'alternate universes' are implying quite a huge difference too... Argh!

Funny that the perception of the terms differs but everybody seems to agree that a Slytherin!Ron would be the minor diversion from canon, while gunslinger!Snape/horse-thief!Harry hatesex would be the larger diversion ;).

[liriaen.livejournal.com]

There you go! *g* And now we're all equally confused! To me, Slyth!Ron would be AR because it's still got more than a foot in JKR's world, whereas I'd see gunslinger!Snape/horse-thief!Harry hatesex (CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE WRITE THAT? PLEASE!) as AU. Looks I'm in the minority with that. Awww. Whatever! =)

And can I just say your cat's quite a bundle? ♥

[kennahijja.livejournal.com]

(CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE WRITE THAT? PLEASE!)

Not quite that, but have you ever read switchknife's wildwest AU (your def.)/AR (my def.) A Town Called Whinging?

The cat *is* quite a bundle. If she'd suffer someone to pick her up and hold her for five minutes (she doesn't!), they'd be in line for a new elbow ;).

[liriaen.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I know that one!!! =) It made my heart ache for more tumblin' tumbleweed-stories. I'm currently going for Teh Weird, anyway, so a re-write of "Blaze of Glory" starring the entire Pottercast sounds divine *g* Also, I needs me more HP/ff7 crossovers. No matter if AU, AR, or roses by any other name. :)
Funny your cat'd rather tell a mouse to piss off than try and chew on her... ♥

[kennahijja.livejournal.com]

a re-write of "Blaze of Glory" starring the entire Pottercast sounds divine *g*

I think I'd love you for life - ok, even more so than I already do if that's possible - if you wrote that... 'cause you do the AU/AR so well!

[liriaen.livejournal.com]

Die Geister, die ich rief... 8] It does sound tempting, doesn't it?! And just when my next idea for an AU/R was supposed to be a Paul Bowles/Lovecraft/moroccan fairytale crossover set in the 1920's, complete with French Foreign Legion and cities lost in sand ?_? Besides, the Renaissance has me firmly in its glovèd grip. But, but. Maaan, it DOES sound tempting. *feels fuzzy and loved :)*