So, what exactly is a fandom?
According to Urban Dictionary, a fandom is many things, including:
And so, where are these fandoms?
Really, everywhere. Fandoms can be traced back to the 1930s with the science fiction fandom, though Merriam-Webster Dictionary traces the usage of the term back as far as 1903. With the rise of the Internet, the makeup of fandoms has changed. Most recently, fandoms exist and operate predominately on Tumblr.
A quick search of what exactly Tumblr is via Urban Dictionary will yield perfect results of incoherence and confusion. Ultimately, Tumblr is a digital blog-like platform where users share and re-share (or re-blog) interesting things. Most importantly, I think, is that Tumblr isn't really talked about in the "real world." You either know what it is or you don't. Generally Tumblr isn't talked about in public or to people who don't have Tumblr. And when Tumblr does come up in conversation, eyes are averted and the topic quickly changes.
Ok, great. These great fandoms are out there, but Tumblr seems like a scary place. The best thing about Tumblr is freedom. The community is extremely open and nonjudgmental. While it does take some time to find THE blogs to follow, you will quickly find yourself wasting all hours of the day on Tumblr, searching and reblogging everything related to your fandoms. And no one will judge you for it.
According to Urban Dictionary, a fandom is many things, including:
- The community that surrounds a TV show/movie/book etc. Fanfiction writers, artists, poets, and cosplayers are all members of that fandom. Fandoms often consist of message boards, livejournal communities, and people.
- The microcosm made up of people who are fans of a fiction genre, or of a subgenre, who have their own clubs, conventions and amateur magazines
- A domain in the internet about a comic, a book, a TV show, a video game etc. There are several fandoms all around the internet, where fans converge and the communities are really big, many have forums, fanfics, fanart, etc.
- And my favorite: An emotional drug. With other such hypnotized fans just as addicted as you or any other fan are, to a specific subject. A large group of unstable and emotional fans that devote half of their time in daily life, loving the thing they are so dedicated to. Whether its the writers, the shippers, or the followers; they all emotionally go haywire over it as one.
And so, where are these fandoms?
Really, everywhere. Fandoms can be traced back to the 1930s with the science fiction fandom, though Merriam-Webster Dictionary traces the usage of the term back as far as 1903. With the rise of the Internet, the makeup of fandoms has changed. Most recently, fandoms exist and operate predominately on Tumblr.
A quick search of what exactly Tumblr is via Urban Dictionary will yield perfect results of incoherence and confusion. Ultimately, Tumblr is a digital blog-like platform where users share and re-share (or re-blog) interesting things. Most importantly, I think, is that Tumblr isn't really talked about in the "real world." You either know what it is or you don't. Generally Tumblr isn't talked about in public or to people who don't have Tumblr. And when Tumblr does come up in conversation, eyes are averted and the topic quickly changes.
Ok, great. These great fandoms are out there, but Tumblr seems like a scary place. The best thing about Tumblr is freedom. The community is extremely open and nonjudgmental. While it does take some time to find THE blogs to follow, you will quickly find yourself wasting all hours of the day on Tumblr, searching and reblogging everything related to your fandoms. And no one will judge you for it.