chapter 8. fandom & subcultures
Why study fans
- early fan studies set out to debunk many negative stereotypes associated with fan activities - transformative fandom --> participation transformed into political resistance
Stereotypes of fans
- misguided at best; delusional at worst - brainless consumers - cultural materials that fans tend to spend their time thinking carefully about are also seen by many to be culturally worthless - social misfits, intellectually immature, & feminized
Fandom
- takes experiences beyond moment of consumption --> production - alters & creates new cultural experiences out of media texts (writing reviews, tweeting)
Big Bang Theory Movie
-stereotype that only males read comics, not girls - girls who like comics are social misfits - guys (nerds) are socially awkawrd
Ex. of fan activism
1) Star Trek 2) Jericho - 1 more season of 7 episodes 3) Firefly - came back as movie called Serenity 4) Chuck - fans bought $5 subway to prevent cancellation
2 waves of fan scholarship
1) fans produced own works (newsletters, fictional stories, artwork, poems, etc)--> liberation from traditional passive role 2) focused on sociology of consumption & how behaviors of fans were reproducing some of the same cultural hierarchies they were trying to escape
2 aspects of fandom
1) social aspect- where media fans band together in either informal or more formally structured groups to share mutual interests with each other 2) interpretive aspect - fans act as interpreters & producers of media content
Canon wars
Debated if George Lucas coined the name of Coruscant - if he hadn't would have elevated Zahn to the same canon status as Star Wars
Fanfic
Fan fiction - short stories fans write about favorite cultural texts 1) mary sue stories - women saves the world 2) slash fiction
Methods of media poaching
Fanfic, filking, & slash fiction
What is the difference b/w watching a series and being a fan?
Intensity of emotional & intellectual involvement
Tumblr video
Real fans new how to use tumblr (knew how to pronounce GIF)
What act of fan activism spurred other acts?
Star Trek letter writing campaign led by Roddenberry
_____ b/w fan authors allows them to give supportive feedback & critiques to on another, cementing a strong sense of community
circulation of stories
Dick Hebdige's book "Subculture: Meaning of Style"
argued that groups dedicated to specific music genres were distinctive cultural entities unto themselves - such forms of cultural expression not only established a sense of self-identity for these groups, but also functioned as acts of emancipation from traditional authority
continuity
awareness of character & plot development of a particular program
Why do negative perceptions of fans arise?
b/c materials that fans have selected to rally around are typically found on the low end of cultural hierarchy
Who are fans?
consumer --> enthusiast --> fan --> petty producer
Importance of fan fiction
creative expression, adding to existing stories - not plagarising
poaching
de certau's conceptualization of act of reading is as an inherently creative & imaginative process, full of play & invention with the mind of the reader
A fan is a ___ or _____
devotee or fanatic
Slash fiction
explore sexual relationships
What causes controversy b/w fans & media creators
fan audiences feeling so connected to the narrative that they develop a sense of ownership about the text
Fan activism
fans can be mobiliezed to press producers & media corporations for change
Developing communites & subcultures
fans spread their enthusiasm by interacting with their peers in internet chat groups, fan websites, & even informal and formal social gatherings
can fans change society
fans who outwardly & proudly claim their affiliation with their favorite popular culture texts, particularly when those media are generally considered to be "fluff" or mindless distractions from reality, may be challenging the status quo through their activities
Subcultures
fans who outwardly claim their affiliation with their favorite popular culture texts
What causes fans to become angry or raise their "ire" if a new plot element is introduced?
if the element is inconsistent with earlier stories
Are fan communites that much different rom existing economic hierarchies in society?
no b/c fan communities have "experts"
Are fan cultures that different from society
no b/c fan groups create clear boundaries b/w casual fans or enthusiasts & "real fans"
The category of a fan has expanded b/c
of smaller niche media products & platforms available today
Fandom culture allows
people to share thoughts i.e. Brony movie
Filking
process of fan music making
Cultural hierarchy
scandal stems from perceived merits & cultural status of these particular works rather than anything intrinsic of the fans behavior
Canon
term used to describe a group of texts that are considered significant & valuable
