Legitimation Paradox in a Context of Ukrainian Fanfiction

Defining fanfiction as a type of transformative text, the article uses the term “legitimation paradox,” coined by Judith May Fathallah in “Fanfiction and the Author,” to describe the ambivalent relationship between fanfiction writers and their chosen canon. As paradox implies, regardless of its author’s intention, a fanfic simultaneously defies and supports the ideas of the original work.Examples of such paradox are found in the Ukrainian segment of “Hetalia: Axis Powers” fandom in 2010–2013. Despite fanfiction writers’ efforts of changing the canonical depiction of Ukraine (by making her less emotional and more ruthless, less submissive and more freedom-loving), some of her core traits remain the same, particularly her whiteness and her sibling relationship with Russia. Even the most radical reimaginings remained in the shadow of imperialistic stereotypes found in the original manga series.In contrast, the situation in Ukrainian historical RTF fandom, formed in 2019–2020 around shipping Symon Petliura and Volodymyr Vynnychenko (so-called petliurchenky), appears different. At a first glance, petliurchenky fanfiction writers turn those historical figures into collections of tropes, archetypes that can be changed on a whim. However, it becomes apparent, on closer inspection, that even the most subversive fanfics romanticize Ukrainian Revolution.The article concludes that described functions of legitimation paradox are determined not only by the individual authors’ choices, but also by the expression of their national identity at different points of Ukrainian history. For example, pre-war works of fanfiction repeated colonial narratives more often than those written after 2014.