50 Shades of Morally Grey: An Exploration into the World of Fan-Fiction

Introduction

Like many women who grew up in the 2000s, I loved fan-fiction. I read it constantly. I especially liked 'dark' fan-fictions. I was never a huge fan of any particular celebrity or boy band, I simply liked the sense of community. The voting, the commenting, it felt more interactive that a traditional book. As I got older, I moved away from the genre. However, the moment I applied for university, I knew what I wanted my dissertation to be about: my long-lost love of fan-fiction. Though, that love had turned to confusion, then a morbid curiosity of sorts as the years ticked by. What once seemed like the most romantic stories I could could comprehend, had morphed into something much darker as my older eyes took a second look.

I wrote 50 Shades of Morally Grey to investigate this change. 

In this dissertation project, I examined how the world of fan-fiction operates differently from traditional publishing, as well as the popularity, tropes and implications of the writing culture. I have extended this project to encompass more themes and explain the world of which I am exploring in more detail.

I hope you enjoy.