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

[masterofmercury.livejournal.com]

I think it's interchangeable for most people anyway, but AU is more widely used. I'm not sure how familiar you're with the Stargate, so.

In my understanding, AR is like a kind of spin-off from the canon at some point. Like (generic) you follow the canon up to when Sirius fell behind the veil, but then you make it so that Sirius grasped the veil and didn't let go, so he didn't die. And the story continue on differrently from canon from that point on, because you'll have to make the world suit Sirius' existence as well.

For AU, you can build everything from the ground up. You can make Harry as a vampire slayer living in a cave with his pet dragon and Voldemort as his evil stepfather. You can turn the world around and make the Order of Phoenix as the evil ones, and the Death Eaters as the good force.

I think cross-over fit in AU as well.

Err... does this even make sense?

If I remember correct, there's a poll like this once, but I can't remember who did it or when. It's really enlightening too. Sorry.

[painless-j.livejournal.com]

I think cross-over fit in AU as well.

Depends of what kind of x-over it is :) The definitions inside my head are opposite to yours (AU as a spin-off, AR is a completely different reality), but regardless, a x-over might be set in "the other" verse, then it will be AR (in my terms)/AU (in yours). Or it can be totally non-AU/AR at all, like Amanuensis' A Little Touch of Harry in the Night

[masterofmercury.livejournal.com]

This is really a splitting hair issue, isn't it? *g*

I think my/that 'AR' definition stuck me since I joined SG-1 fandom, and I have Sam's technobabble about what constitute 'Alternate Reality' stuck in my brain since then. I'm not sure you want me to go into technobabble as well, so. I guess the fandom and science (excuse my lack of appropriate vocab) are not always go along.

Ah yes, sorry about that. I agree that cross-overs are AU. That's a typo.

And now I'm curious, what do you think which cat 'The Pendulum of Choice' fit in?

But thanks so much for the link, I really miss Amy's fic. XD

I do not disagree with you, just so you know. I'm not even sure that there's a right definition at all.

[masterofmercury.livejournal.com]

*headdesk* Please stop me from drinking more coffee. It makes my brain melt.

Ah yes, sorry about that. I agree that cross-overs are AU. That's a typo.
I mean, I agree with you that it depends of what kind of x-over it is. From your def, I think most of them are AU(in your def)/AR (in my def). Because I think it's a new ground for a new series of interactions, you know.

[painless-j.livejournal.com]

I understood what you meant :)

Yes, probably most of them are AU/AR.

[painless-j.livejournal.com]

Heh, I'm not sure there is a right definition at all. I guess there's only what's accepted by the majourity, and even that is relative. Such is fandom :)

Pendulum I put into a separate category inside my head: multiple/parallel reality fic :D

[kennahijja.livejournal.com]

Makes perfect sense - everybody so far seems to agree on this being the main distinction between the two. Only that people give them different names :).