fandom: an introduction to the cultural phenomenon of fandom

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CULTURAL PHENOMENON OF FANDOM

Focus• What is Fandom? • Fandom as a Subculture• Fan communities• Fans as textual producers• Various Fandoms• Why become a fan ?• How to join a Fandom/s ?

What is Fandom?fan /fæn/:nan ardent admirer of a pop star, film actor, football team, etca devotee of a sport, hobby, etcEtymology: 17th Century, re-formed C19: from fan( atic)

Fandom as a subcultureJohn Fiske noted that, “Fandom has been associated with the tastes of subordinated formations of people, particularly those disempowered by any combination of gender, age class and race”

Fisk said that fans :

- Establish a sense of ownership of favourite media texts

- Engage in interpretive activity with these texts

- Fans develop a sense of self-identity for themselves

Two Aspects of Fandom1. SOCIAL ASPECT

2. INTERPRETIVE ASPECT

Fan Communities- Fan activities are built around popular texts

- They read into texts with great detail

- Fans debate these details

- Fans integrate these cultural materials into their lives

Fans code language1. Linguistic codes 2. Symbolic codes

Fans as Textual Producers

- Fans not only interpret texts but become textually productive.

- Productivity: 1) Close reading of primary texts 2) Material production of creative texts CREATING BRAND NEW NARRATIVES

Producers Consumer/ Producer

message

message

Consumer other Consumers

JENKINS ARGUED THAT:

“Fans possess not simply borrowed reminents snatched from mass media, but their own culture built from their semiotic raw materials” (1992: p49).

Fan FictionFans write stories about their favourite media texts. This is called ‘Fan Fiction’ or ‘FanFic’.

Various Fandoms- 99% of Fandoms are Fantasy or science fiction related with 1% dedicated to religion and politics.

Why join Fandom- Eustress (Positive Stress)- Escapism- Entertainment- Group affiliation- Self- esteem- Sense of belonging- Emotional investment without getting hurt

How you can join Fandom

ONLINE: - Live Journal.com - Twitter - Facebook - Tumbler - Websites of your interest/s

Or: Comic book conventions, Sports events, Concerts etc.