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My primary activity in fandom is drawing. As fanartists for a book fandom, we're really only bound by the descriptions in canon. Though that very freedom can be a little tricky, as we have to make sure that our characters are identifiable. Certain boxes are ticked for certain characters, and Snape is oh, so very one of those.
Severus Snape - black, lank hair, dark eyes, and a Nose. These are such strong physical characteristics that it's very difficult to deviate from them. Every artist has a different style, and these key features allow the viewer to identify the character easily - lighten Snape's eyes, and he could well be mistaken for Sirius, nose aside. Dark brown hair? I beg your pardon, who are you?
There'll be someone who considers Snape a possibility for prettiness, and won't see a conventionally attractive face as a mark in the "Not Snape" column. Likewise, there are artists whose style leans toward a degree of conventional beauty in all characters, and again, Snape needs to be identified with those keys. The reverse is obviously also true :).
So, then, those particular identifiers seem to become a rather significant part of the character, more so than purely physical characteristics. There's weight to them, and they're more symbols than just features. Remus' scars, Harry's glasses, Voldemort's red eyes.
Snape's hair is far more than just a thing to be made palatable enough for romance by explaining the canon grease. It seems to function as a shield - Snape the emo-kid, hiding behind his hair. It's part of the elusive character of Snape, and yet another wall - the robes, the Occlumency, the thoroughly dreadful interpersonal skills, the hauteur, and the hair. Dark eyes peering out from behind a wall of even darker hair.
So, then - Snape's hair is part of his self-protection.
I recently drew a picture with a bald Snape. There was a context to the picture that meant the hair made sense, but still - Severus Snape without hair? As a gift?
Nervewracking, I tell you. It was a pairing specific fest, so identifying him as Snape in the context of the fest wasn't going to be an issue - I just had nerves about taking away such a key part of the character's immediate identifiers.
Bald. Not a strong bald, either, like the Snape in Home Fries Nazi. Vulnerable, fragile, stripped and laid bare.
I was surprised, at the end of the colouring process, to find that he was no less Snape for the lack of his hair. Viewer feedback seemed to suggest something similar. I've considered Snape's hair as a near sacred characteristic for so long that it was quite startling :).
Either I got lucky... or the bloody great nose made it less of a shock... or there's something more about Snape that his fans go for, regardless of the state of his coiffure.
Severus Snape - black, lank hair, dark eyes, and a Nose. These are such strong physical characteristics that it's very difficult to deviate from them. Every artist has a different style, and these key features allow the viewer to identify the character easily - lighten Snape's eyes, and he could well be mistaken for Sirius, nose aside. Dark brown hair? I beg your pardon, who are you?
There'll be someone who considers Snape a possibility for prettiness, and won't see a conventionally attractive face as a mark in the "Not Snape" column. Likewise, there are artists whose style leans toward a degree of conventional beauty in all characters, and again, Snape needs to be identified with those keys. The reverse is obviously also true :).
So, then, those particular identifiers seem to become a rather significant part of the character, more so than purely physical characteristics. There's weight to them, and they're more symbols than just features. Remus' scars, Harry's glasses, Voldemort's red eyes.
Snape's hair is far more than just a thing to be made palatable enough for romance by explaining the canon grease. It seems to function as a shield - Snape the emo-kid, hiding behind his hair. It's part of the elusive character of Snape, and yet another wall - the robes, the Occlumency, the thoroughly dreadful interpersonal skills, the hauteur, and the hair. Dark eyes peering out from behind a wall of even darker hair.
So, then - Snape's hair is part of his self-protection.
I recently drew a picture with a bald Snape. There was a context to the picture that meant the hair made sense, but still - Severus Snape without hair? As a gift?
Nervewracking, I tell you. It was a pairing specific fest, so identifying him as Snape in the context of the fest wasn't going to be an issue - I just had nerves about taking away such a key part of the character's immediate identifiers.
Bald. Not a strong bald, either, like the Snape in Home Fries Nazi. Vulnerable, fragile, stripped and laid bare.
I was surprised, at the end of the colouring process, to find that he was no less Snape for the lack of his hair. Viewer feedback seemed to suggest something similar. I've considered Snape's hair as a near sacred characteristic for so long that it was quite startling :).
Either I got lucky... or the bloody great nose made it less of a shock... or there's something more about Snape that his fans go for, regardless of the state of his coiffure.