Media fandom
Encyclopedia
Media fandom refers to the collective fandom
s focused on contemporary television shows and movies. Media fandom has a focus on relationships and is distinct from science fiction fandom
, anime fandom, book fandom, music fandom, soap opera fandom, sports fandom, and video game fandom.
and Man from U.N.C.L.E. fans who shared a focus on relationships rather than on science fiction
. Media fandom provided a way of viewing source material that soon transferred to new fandoms.
Star Trek fandom itself traces itself back to a split between critical literary science fiction fandom
and creative visual television fandom. As a result, media fandom inherited science fiction fandom's structure of fan labor
activities as well as fanzines, fan conventions, amateur press associations, as well as much of its terminology (including filk, con
, Big Name Fan
, and gafiate).
In the 1990s, media fandom began developing a structure online. In addition to traditional zines and conventions, Usenet group electronic mailing lists and online, searchable fan fiction archives were established. The move online also paralleled the move of slash fandom into the visible mainstream.
By the late 1990s, many people were entering media fandom through discovering it on their own online, rather than through personal real-life friends. The availability of many kinds of fandom online has increased the cross-pollination between different types of fandoms such as comics fandom, soap opera fandom, and celebrity fandom. Media fandom fans easily transfer between different types of fandoms and different source texts.
and Man from U.N.C.L.E. fans generated creative products like fan art
and fan fiction
at a time when typical science fiction fandom was focused on critical discussions. The MediaWest convention provided a vid room and was instrumental in the emergence of fan vids, or analytic music videos based on a source, in the late 1970s.
Oftentimes, fans congregate on forums and discussion boards to share their love and criticisms for the specific show, movie or other media. This congregation can lead to a high level of organization and community within the fandom. Although there is some level of hierarchy among most of the discussion boards in which certain contributors are valued more highly than others, newcomers are most often welcomed into the fold. Most importantly, these sorts of discussion boards can even have an effect on the media itself as is the case in the television show Glee
. Trends on the discussion boards have been known to influence the writers and producers of the show. Further the media fandom for the show Firefly
was able to generate enough corporate interest to create a movie after the show was cancelled.
Fandom
Fandom is a term used to refer to a subculture composed of fans characterized by a feeling of sympathy and camaraderie with others who share a common interest...
s focused on contemporary television shows and movies. Media fandom has a focus on relationships and is distinct from science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
, anime fandom, book fandom, music fandom, soap opera fandom, sports fandom, and video game fandom.
History
Media fandom emerged in the early 1970s from a subgroup of Star TrekStar Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
and Man from U.N.C.L.E. fans who shared a focus on relationships rather than on science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
. Media fandom provided a way of viewing source material that soon transferred to new fandoms.
Star Trek fandom itself traces itself back to a split between critical literary science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
and creative visual television fandom. As a result, media fandom inherited science fiction fandom's structure of fan labor
Fan labor
Fan labor is a term used to refer to the productive creative activities engaged in by fans, primarily those of various media properties or musical groups...
activities as well as fanzines, fan conventions, amateur press associations, as well as much of its terminology (including filk, con
Fan convention
A fan convention, or con , is an event in which fans of a particular film, television series, comic book, actor, or an entire genre of entertainment such as science fiction or anime and manga, gather to participate and hold programs and other events, and to meet experts, famous personalities, and...
, Big Name Fan
Big Name Fan
Among science fiction, comic book, media and fantasy fans, a Big Name Fan is a member of a fandom who is particularly well-known, liked and celebrated for their writings in fanzines, semi-professional magazines and blogs; or for other contributions such as art and fanfiction...
, and gafiate).
In the 1990s, media fandom began developing a structure online. In addition to traditional zines and conventions, Usenet group electronic mailing lists and online, searchable fan fiction archives were established. The move online also paralleled the move of slash fandom into the visible mainstream.
By the late 1990s, many people were entering media fandom through discovering it on their own online, rather than through personal real-life friends. The availability of many kinds of fandom online has increased the cross-pollination between different types of fandoms such as comics fandom, soap opera fandom, and celebrity fandom. Media fandom fans easily transfer between different types of fandoms and different source texts.
Fan activities
Star TrekStar Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
and Man from U.N.C.L.E. fans generated creative products like fan art
Fan art
Fan art or fanart is artwork that is based on a character, costume, collage, item, or story that was created by someone other than the artist, such as a fan, from which the word is derived from. The term, while it can apply to art done by fans of characters from books, is usually used to refer to...
and fan fiction
Fan fiction
Fan fiction is a broadly-defined term for fan labor regarding stories about characters or settings written by fans of the original work, rather than by the original creator...
at a time when typical science fiction fandom was focused on critical discussions. The MediaWest convention provided a vid room and was instrumental in the emergence of fan vids, or analytic music videos based on a source, in the late 1970s.
Oftentimes, fans congregate on forums and discussion boards to share their love and criticisms for the specific show, movie or other media. This congregation can lead to a high level of organization and community within the fandom. Although there is some level of hierarchy among most of the discussion boards in which certain contributors are valued more highly than others, newcomers are most often welcomed into the fold. Most importantly, these sorts of discussion boards can even have an effect on the media itself as is the case in the television show Glee
Glee
Glee may refer to:* Glee , an English type of song music* Glee , an American musical comedy-drama TV series, and related media* Glee * Glee...
. Trends on the discussion boards have been known to influence the writers and producers of the show. Further the media fandom for the show Firefly
Firefly
Lampyridae is a family of insects in the beetle order Coleoptera. They are winged beetles, and commonly called fireflies or lightning bugs for their conspicuous crepuscular use of bioluminescence to attract mates or prey. Fireflies produce a "cold light", with no infrared or ultraviolet frequencies...
was able to generate enough corporate interest to create a movie after the show was cancelled.
See also
- Science fiction fandomScience fiction fandomScience fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
- TrekkieTrekkieA Trekkie or Trekker is a fan of the Star Trek franchise, or of specific television series or films within that franchise.-History:In 1967, science fiction editor Arthur W...
- Fan laborFan laborFan labor is a term used to refer to the productive creative activities engaged in by fans, primarily those of various media properties or musical groups...
- Fan conventionFan conventionA fan convention, or con , is an event in which fans of a particular film, television series, comic book, actor, or an entire genre of entertainment such as science fiction or anime and manga, gather to participate and hold programs and other events, and to meet experts, famous personalities, and...
- Fan fictionFan fictionFan fiction is a broadly-defined term for fan labor regarding stories about characters or settings written by fans of the original work, rather than by the original creator...
- Fan vids