The Fandom Experience
Fandoms provide users with a variety of experiences, but most commonly, fandoms thrive because of a shared passion, a shared social purpose, and one that is exclusive. Many users on Tumblr report that they feel they can present a more authentic reflection of themselves because they are interacting with others sharing similar experiences and passions.
In fact, the Fandom Experience lends itself well to community building. A key attribute of Tumblr fandoms is that it is a place for fans to strongly unite over something. Those participating in fandoms can be extremely devoted to story lines, characters, alternate universes, and so on. Often, those passions manifest themselves through postings of social justice and how their fandoms represent and discuss social justice issues.
Social justice issues that fandoms address can include:
Often, fans connect social justice issues in the real world to issues represented within their fandom. And this presents a significant power for what fandoms can do in terms of mobilizing around particular issues. Given the collective passions fandoms unite and rally around, the potential to make a difference in the real world is one of great opportunity.
In fact, the Fandom Experience lends itself well to community building. A key attribute of Tumblr fandoms is that it is a place for fans to strongly unite over something. Those participating in fandoms can be extremely devoted to story lines, characters, alternate universes, and so on. Often, those passions manifest themselves through postings of social justice and how their fandoms represent and discuss social justice issues.
Social justice issues that fandoms address can include:
- Check Your Privilege
- Representation and Erasure (aka the lack of minorities in media)
- Inequalities and Inequities
- Illiteracy
- Human Rights
Often, fans connect social justice issues in the real world to issues represented within their fandom. And this presents a significant power for what fandoms can do in terms of mobilizing around particular issues. Given the collective passions fandoms unite and rally around, the potential to make a difference in the real world is one of great opportunity.