Fans & Fandom's (Week 6)

Fandom is a large and extremely vast topic. Fandom is part of our culture and subculture, it is how we operate socially with people and find the things we like, a common ground. We build relationships/connections, group circles, and create fandom's based on this. Can one person be in more than one fandom? Absolutely! But, what is a fandom? Fandom through the Oxford dictionary means:

(Fandom, n.d.) Fandom has existed, maybe not how itʼs been coined but it has existed in various forms in different regions around the world.

(Fan, n.d.) The history behind the term ‘fandomʼ is quite extensive, ignoring the image above if we were to consider the definition of just being a “fan” of something or someone, weʼve every so rightfully been a fan since eons. A hypothetical situation, perhaps during the early stages of human civilization somebody had done something “extraordinary” and unique. The people around that person are astonished and fascinated, and so we wish to see that person perform that same extraordinary feat once again. And that is how being a fan is all about.

(A Brief History of Fandom Part I, 2018) What about the word itself? The word comes “Fanatic” arose out of a Latin word, “fānāticus,” which, in turn, came from the word “fanum,” meaning “temple” or “shrine.” (Rutherford-Morrison, 2016). Fandom is a portmanteau consisting of fan plus the suffix -dom (Dr. Taylor, 2020). Fandom has grown with the digital era with advanced technology in the industry to create high-quality products for consumers. The fandom is an extremely large piece of society that one can call it an entirely new culture of its own. It is to know that with the internet at our disposal many individuals across the countries are participating in fan-fiction, where stories are being re-written, new endings are being produced and characters that are not meant to be in the original production are now being placed together (PBS Idea Channel, 2014). It is a world of creativity and continuity that gives everyone a chance to believe in themselves while creating new pieces of work. Furthermore, copyright is a tool for companies to take control of some works made by fans. This is not always true as fair use protects the use of any trans-formative work (PBS Idea Channel, 2014). Music, for example, can be sung about superheroes, artwork and stories about our favorite characters are being made, posters and films are being produced that are inspired by cartoons, and so much more. There is a further layer of complication regarding trademarks. However, a nonprofit Organization of Trans-formative Work protects many fans that have a creative piece of work from legal issues and company lawsuits (PBS Idea Channel, 2014). This goes much deeper and complex, albeit, this does not stop anyone from creating anything new every day. Artists across countries are creating newer pieces of work, commissions, producing fan-made films and stitching up their favorite suits for cosplay. It is a community to enjoy and build relationships and that is what fandom is all about. REFERENCES: A Brief History of Fandom Part I [Image]. (2018). Retrieved from http://www.blogs2018.buprojects.uk/jessicaallen/history-of-fandom-part-1-infographic/ Dr. Taylor, J. (2020). Fans and Fandoms. Retrieved from https://moodledubai.axis.navitas.com/mod/page/view.php?id=142325 Fandom. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/fandom Fan. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/fan PBS Idea Channel. (2014, May 7th). The Future of Fandoms | Idea Channel | PBS Digital Studios [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ3EBR1hlbI Rutherford-Morrison, L. (2016). Where Did The Word "Fandom" Come From? Behind The Term That Changed The Internet Forever. Retrieved from https://www.bustle.com/articles/144396-where-did-the-word-fandom-come-frombehind-the-term-that-changed-the-internet-forever APPENDIX: Bennett, L. (2013). Researching Online Fandom. Cinema Journal, 52(4), 129-134. Retrieved March 8, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/43653153 Busse, K. (2009). Introduction. Cinema Journal, 48(4), 104-107. Retrieved March 8, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/25619731 Dawson, R. (2017). The Ultimate Guide to Fair Use and Copyrights for Filmmakers. Retrieved from https://blog.frame.io/2017/08/30/copyrights-and-fair-use-for-filmmakers/ Lacasa, P., de la Fuente Prieto, J., García-Pernía, M. R., & Cortés, S. (2017). Teenagers, Fandom and Identity. Persona Studies, 3. 51. 10.21153/ ps2017vol3no2art648 Lacasa, P., Méndez, L., & de la Fuente Prieto, J. (2016). Fandom, Music and

Personal Relationships through Media: How Teenagers Use Social Networks, 6.

44-67. 10.5429/2079-3871(2016)v6i1.4en Pearson, R. E. (2010). Fandom in the Digital Era. Popular Communication, 8(1),

84-95. 10.1080/15405700903502346