What do you think of when you hear the word “fanfiction”?
Contrary to what everyone believes, fanfiction is much more than inspired writing where you self-insert yourself or make two characters you like to kiss. Admittingly, while a decent portion of it is, in this blog post, we will investigate how fan-created content, such as fanfiction and fanart, fosters a sense of belonging and community among diverse audiences, offering creative spaces for reinterpretation, subversion, and celebration of beloved pop culture franchises.
A Fandom’s Role in Culture
According to Professor Kristina Busse of the University of South Alabama, a fandom “…frames fiction in three key ways: an individual and collective erotic engagement; as a shared interpretive practice in which tropes constitute shared creative markers and illustrate the complexity of fan creations; and as a point of contention around which community conflicts over ethics play out.”
Creating communities, in turn, fueling culture
“Through it all, published and fanfic authors around the world agree: there is power in creating space for those who don’t usually see themselves in mainstream media. In teaching and allowing people to create on their own terms, in a supportive environment. In spite of the controversy, fanfiction—as a creative practice, as an outcome, as a concept, remains one of the most culturally relevant content forms produced nowadays.”
– Iona Varga, “I Ship It: On The Meaning & Cultural Significance of Fanfiction”
Fandoms create community foundations surrounding a common interest, encouraging some members to find their unique creative outlet; however, a fandom ultimately unites people together. For example, according to digital content producer Iona Varga, a fandom “allow[s] people to find each other, to organize in communities that show them the understanding and support they might not otherwise find…” Such understanding and solidarity not only encourage activism for marginalized groups, but also fuel what Milena Popova, an independent scholar and activist, calls “an activism of care.”
“Leetal Dean has argued that fanfiction communities practice an ‘activism of care.’ They define this as activism that sees care as radical, makes use of community members’ existing skills, is embedded in everyday community practices, is at least in part intersectional, and is specific to the needs of individuals and the community. When we write fanfiction for each other in which our favorite characters share our struggles—be those depression, anxiety, or existing within rape culture—we are caring for each other and helping each other survive in a hostile world.”
– Milena Popova, “How Fanfiction Can Inspire a Meaningful Cultural Activism and Challenge Social Stigmas”
By fostering community and providing a safe, caring space for shared passions, fandoms consequentially do more than celebrate a common interest. The created sense of belonging empowers individuals who belong to specific social groups—whether it be in mental health, sexuality, or ethnicity—to find their voices within a caring and accepting environment. Professor Ross Haenfler of Grinnel College states in the article “Fandom and Participatory Culture” that, the “theory of participatory culture suggests that rather than being ‘cultural dupes, social misfits, and mindless consumers,’ media fans can be understood as ‘active producers and manipulators of meaning.’” The act of being producers and manipulators of meaning in media that supports harmful ideologies allows new, resistant voices to be shared and heard to cater to one’s desire.
For example, Henry Jenkins, an American media scholar who focuses on the theory of participatory culture, suggests that a “fandom’s very existence represents a critique of conventional forms of consumer culture” while also providing “a space within which fans can articulate their specific corners about sexuality, gender, racism, colonialism, militarism, and forced conformity.” Fanfiction can explore specific themes that are easily overlooked in the original media content; it could share and explore themes/stories that particularly interest the female-dominated parts of the community that a male-dominated media industry fails or lacks interest in telling.
In today’s cultural landscape, fandoms play a transformative role, moving beyond passive appreciation to become sites of critique, resistance, and creative expression in inclusive communities. Rather than just being consumers, by actively engaging with the source material, the participatory culture of fandoms highlights and contributes to culture by highlighting issues related to gender, sexuality, or disabilities, giving voice to perspectives the media industry overlooks.
