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 primer on fandom
What it is (and isn’t)
Before discussing fanfiction, we must first understand the concept of being part of a fandom. According to an article titled “I Ship It: On the Meaning & Cultural Significance of Fanfiction” by digital content producer Iona Varga, fandoms are not only “communities of fans formed around specific objects of interest, either on- or offline, with various degrees of involvement” but also represent “the collective experience of fans, mainly women and genderqueer individuals, who build things together, support each other, and learn from each other.”
“Fandom is making every one of us sharper, smarter, more talented, more deeply creative, more subversive, and more politically and culturally aware, with every moment we’re in it.”
– Iona Varga, “I Ship It: On the Meaning & Cultural Significance of Fanfiction”
Each fandom displays its form of fan culture including mediums such as fanart, cosplays, and fanfiction. According to a pedagogical website named “Subcultures and Sociology” created by Professor Ross Haenfler in collaboration with students of Grinnell College, fan cultures are an example of participatory culture, stating that “Participatory cultures involve fans acting not only as consumers but also as producers and creators of some form of creative media.”
Fanfiction, among other mediums, “is a result of the collaborative creative process that is a core part of the fandom experience.” Despite its common perceptions that fanfiction is only a form of (poorly written) entertainment, according to a Literary Hub article written by independent scholar Milena Popova, “Fanfiction has great potential to create and make accessible new knowledge, to explore difficult issues, to allow us to see ourselves reflected in culture that habitually erases us, and to enable us to imagine things differently.”
A very brief history of fanfiction
According to Varga’s article, modern fanfiction is said to originate from Star Trek fanzines in the 1960s containing interpretive works diverging from the original universe. Traditionally, however, the concept of fanfiction has existed for a long time, even before the term was coined. The act of reusing content, whether it be from historical events, literary texts, or fables, to create works based on non-canonical oral interpretation can be seen in classic works such as Shakespeare’s Plays (Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, or Henry IV) or Homeric epics.
What fandoms, fanfics, and fanart can provide
So what exactly does fanfiction provide for the community? According to Kristina Busse, a professor at the University of South Alabama, “…fans use fan fiction’s reimagining of the source material to explore issues of identities and performativities, gender and sexualities, within a community of like-minded people.” The upsurge and inclusion of queer and diverse verse media in fanworks including fanfiction highlights and empowers those who are marginalized in modern society.
The following quote from Varga’s article perfectly highlights this view presented by Busse more in depth.
“Fanfiction might be overlooked and dismissed as lowbrow culture, but in many ways, it answers a need that is so often ignored by the elite. To this day, many stories fail to reflect the perspectives and experiences of too many fans—LGBTQ+ individuals, people of color, as well as individuals with any kind of disability are rarely at the center of the narratives we are exposed to. Fanfiction creates a space to change that, to challenge assumptions of whiteness or heteronormativity. It allows marginalized groups to rewrite the script and produce media that is inclusive of their identities in ways that aren’t stereotypical or fetishizing. In the words of Jenny Yao, fanfiction allows people to explore different narratives, while at the same time exploring themselves, providing a safe space for those who are normally marginalized.”
– Iona Varga, “I Ship It: On the Meaning & Cultural Significance of Fanfiction”
In such ways, fanfiction serves as more than just entertainment; it is a powerful tool for self-expression, exploration, and representation of marginalized communities. As Kristina Busse and Iona Varga illustrate, fanfiction empowers fans to reimagine narratives and center the voices and experiences often missing in mainstream media. By providing a space for diverse voices—LGBTQ+ individuals, people of color, and those with disabilities—fanfiction allows people to create media that reflects such voices authentically, fostering a community where fans can explore and find solidarity. Fanfiction, therefore, not only enriches fan communities but also contributes to a broader cultural shift toward inclusivity and understanding.
