#Fan Activism

[cfiesler]

TL;DR Fans are very good at collective action. Like, remember how Archive of Our Own started with a LiveJournal post saying: hey can’t we do this ourselves? I’m always just amazed by what fans can accomplish. :)

Here is a link to the video I’m referencing, about a recent incident where fans banded together to help folks whose fanfic was being stolen. 

Also here are links to my Slate story and paper about AO3 referenced here.

I hope y’all don’t mind the occasional TikTok share! Sometimes there are nice prompts for talking about fandom stuff over there.

[jennyandvastraflint]

Hiya! I run into your commercialization of fandom post and got curious about fan activism. Would you mind rambling about it?

Wouldn't mind at all! I'm gonna use some of my slides from my presentation again XD Also, my sources will be linked/cited at the very end once again, except for if I take something directly from a text.

Now, I'm gonna start with a definition of what fan activism actually is... Fan Activism describes fan-driven efforts to address civic or political issues using engagement with and strategic deployment of popular culture content. It's often conducted through the infrastructure of existing fan practices and relationships, and frequently framed through metaphors drawn from popular and participatory culture. Fan Activism can of course be directed towards goals such as keeping a show on air, but it can also be used for political causes.

(more under the cut)

Disclaimer that these "forms" I refer to here are a non-exhaustive list and are obviously not mutually exclusive, meaning one thing can fall into multiple of these or outside of them. It's just some examples Brough and Shresthova brought in relation to these.

Content-related Lobbying wants to keep programmes on air, and advocates for diverse representation - a negative example for this were white Disney fans screaming and sobbing about the casting of Haley Bailey as Ariel and threatening to boycott the movie because "that's not my Ariel >:(((" Of course, there are also positive examples of this, for instance fans' reaction to the cancellation of Warrior Nun (after a year or two of sooo many sapphic cancellations).

Fandom Forward is a campaign that advoates for human rights and equality by utilising narratives from popular media to run advocacy campaigns. Currently, for instance, they are running a campaign called "Save our Progress" encouraging people to vote, and one called "Book Defenders" which encourages people to stand against book bans! (Btw, joining such fan activist campaigns is not only a great way to get more politically engaged, but also to find new friends <3 AND you can use your passion and interest as a force for good in the real world as well :D)

As already mentioned, Fan Activism frequently uses pop culture imagery, and one very prominent example of that would be indigenous and Palestinian rights groups using the fictional Na'vi from the 2009 Avatar film to attract media attention for their cause. This is underlined by the fact that they related their own lives under occupation to the Na'vi people. The picture on the right in this slide is an image taken in 2010 in Bil'in in Occupied Jerusalem, when protesters from the West Bank came together to protest Israel's occupation of Palestine.

With the internet being at our constant disposal, online mobilisation and community building is also a form fan avtivism can take, and they are often followed by one of the other forms, utilising the community that has been built as a way to spread their efforts further.

Fan activism can also be put towards goals of education, for which fan conventions and panels for discussions are an example.

In the presentation I've taken an example for the integration with real-world issues where fans made very evident the parallels between the dystopian scenes in our world and the setting of the Hunger Games, with the richest lavishing in their colourful, beautiful ballgowns while people outside are protesting and a genocide is taking place. There are many videos following the same principle as this one, showing the Met Gala (which also has an incredibly ironic theme) and the ongoing genocide in Gaza at the hand of Israel while the song "The Hanging Tree" plays.

And one other thing that I wanna bring up are Fan-driven charity events! We've seen many artists take up their (metaphorical) quill and offering gifted artwork or fic as a Thank You for donations to Palestine, and the FTH has raised tens of thousands of dollars going to charities every year since 2016!

The brilliant thing about fan activism is that there is a pretty low barrier for entry, meaning any fan who wants to can join these causes with fairly little effort. Take a charity event, for instance; donating five dollars will not only go towards a good cause together with many others donating five dollars, but you also get a little thank you gift from the community.

However, we can't equate all acts of engagement with popular culture as inherently political and activist, as such a framing can have a depoliticising effect. Completely leaving popular culture and fan activism out of the picture, however, is a purist and ultimately unproductive way of viewing the political.

If you're interested in learning more about this, I definitely recommend checking out the sources I'll link, and also Henry Jenkins' concept of civic imagination which describes "the capacity to imagine alternatives to current cultural, social, political, or economic conditions; one cannot change the world without imagining what a better world might look like" (Jenkins et al. 5) and it requires (and is realised through "the ability to imagine the process of change, to see oneself as a civic agent capable of making change, to feel solidarity with others whose perspectives and experiences are different than one’s own, to join a larger collective with shared interests, and to bring imaginative dimensions to real-world spaces and places" (Jenkins et al. 5).

For my part, I can only say that fan activism has definitely played a huge role in me becoming more active politically, and especially in the past year or so, I've participated - while not (yet) as a fanfic writer - in multiple events particularly connected to Palestine. Maybe this is a wake up call for some to also take a step out into the political world through their interest!

(Also, some of these texts are Open Access - particularly the one on the TWC, but some are not - if you would like to read these and other texts, shoot me a message as I can get my hands on SO many texts thanks to my university giving us free access to a ton of academic texts!)

Sources:

Bennett, Lucy. "Fan Activism for Social Mobilization: A Critical Review of the Literature." In "Transformative Works and Fan Activism," edited by Henry Jenkins and Sangita Shresthova, special issue, Transformative Works and Cultures, no. 10, 2012.

Brough, Melissa M, and Sangita Shresthova. “Fandom Meets Activism: Rethinking Civic and Political Participation.” Transformative Works and Cultures, no. 10, 2012.

Shresthova, Sangita, Gabriel Peters-Lazaro, and Henry Jenkins. "Popular Culture and the Civic Imagination : Case Studies of Creative Social Change." New York : New York UP, 2020.

[fansplaining]

For me, there’s been a huge shift towards the political and towards activism. In doing my research on mental distress in fanfic, I’ve started to learn more about how things like stereotype, stigma, ableism, criticism and anti-criticism, and purity culture play out in both our stories and the communities around them… And though it might be confirmation bias or echo chambering, I’ve noticed other fans around me going on this journey towards resistance and self-reflection, too. Fans have always been a really thoughtful group, but I see a lot more activism and even rebellion going on around me than I used to.

— @melodioustear in our anniversary episode, talking about how her experience of fandom has shifted over the past year. Click through to listen to her whole voicemail or read a transcript!

[mika-mediastudies]

MDA20009 DIGITAL COMMUNITIES Week 6 Post

Has any fandoms you’re involved in been part of any protest or acts of social activism

"From Escapism to Activism: The Power of Protest in Animal Crossing"

So the fandom i be deep diving for this blog post will be about Animal Crossings

"When you see pictures of Animal Crossing, you might think of it as just another cute and carefree game in which people of all ages can relax, decorate, and spend time with friends and family. But what if I told you that, beneath its charming, innocent exterior, Animal Crossing has evolved into an unexpected forum for social activism? From virtual protests to displays of solidarity, fans have turned this cozy game into a one-of-a-kind platform for expressing powerful remarks and supporting worldwide causes. This lovely universe isn't just for playing; it also allows you to stand up."

In 2020, Animal Crossing: New Horizons was more than just a location to capture bugs and build trees; it was also a platform for real-world activism! Players from all around the world brought causes such as Black Lives Matter and Hong Kong's pro-democracy rallies to their virtual islands. From homemade protest posters to meetups with friends, Animal Crossing has become a surprisingly strong tool for making a message, demonstrating that even in a cozy game world, gamers can speak out for what they believe in.

Even before its release, Animal Crossing: New Horizons was largely regarded as a welcome respite from real-life concerns, particularly given 2020's harsh isolation measures (Hernandez 2020). However, when police violently interrupt protests across the country in response to the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, moderators are finding it increasingly difficult to justify keeping their communities completely cut off (Hernandez 2020).

Animal Crossing: New Horizons' online hosting capabilities let individuals of all ages to support ongoing rallies against police brutality and structural racism while staying at home during the pandemic. Typically, players construct an island paradise with buildings, artifacts, and interactions with other players and NPCs. Not only can students create their own worlds and residences, but they can also personalize the products and objects that their characters use. As Black Lives Matter rallies exploded around the world, fans began using these capabilities to construct digital protests, adding BLM iconography to placards and apparel, transforming the game into an unexpected social activism platform.

For parents who are hesitant to bring their children to physical rallies, Animal Crossing provides a safe and collaborative opportunity to support the Black community by organizing or attending virtual protests. Players using Nintendo Online can open their islands for these rallies; one such protest occurred on June 7, 2020. With a maximum of eight players per island, participants queued through a website to get a unique entry code when it was their turn. The host made personalized posters, cushions, memorial images, and a designated protest area where players were invited to contribute in-game cash (bells) to be changed into real-world charity donations.

On the other side, Protests in Hong Kong erupted, prompted by a contentious extradition bill that grew into a broader movement demanding greater democratic rights. Thousands of Hong Kong residents of all ages participated, often disguised to protect their identities. However, when Covid-19 spread, the demonstrations were halted by government-imposed lockdowns, which severely restricted pro-democracy demonstrators, culminating in over 8,000 arrests. To adapt, many activists turned to the virtual world of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, where they discovered a new forum to express their demands for freedom.

In Animal Crossing, players retreat to a deserted island where they can build homes, modify decorations, and engage with friends—ideal for a period of global self-isolation. Hong Kong residents brought their protest art with them, utilizing the game to circumvent political censorship. Joshua Wong, a renowned activist and member of Hong Kong's Umbrella Movement, adds, "Animal Crossing is a place without political censorship, so it is a good place to continue our fight." His virtual island is adorned with protest symbols such as a black banner, images of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam, and the city's famous cherry blossoms. Wong and others believe that the game's popularity has made it an unexpected weapon for advocacy.

The movement's creativity spilled over into the game, with participants creating protest art and famous designs on their islands and posting them online. Players like as Li, a young student, began contributing protest-themed art on local forums in the hopes of reaching out to individuals who were less politically engaged. Another protester, Fung, utilized the game's design capabilities to create clothes based on Hong Kong's unofficial protest mascots, a pig and a dog, and shared them with pals. Animal Crossing allows Hong Kong protestors to remind the world of their message despite lockdowns and limitations.

While some perceive these progressive shifts as a danger to their escapism, the Animal Crossing community has traditionally used the game as a political tool. Protests in Hong Kong have spread beyond international islands, prompting Chinese retailers to drop New Horizons. U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has utilized the game to make house calls to constituents. And now, the tropical paradise is hosting Black Lives Matter rallies. It's a logical progression that doesn't go against the game's ethos, because this is what it's always been about (Hernandez 2020).

Well that is all for me folks hope you have fun and thank you for taking the time to read all this. Goodbye for now.

Here are some links to YouTube to know more of these fan activism

References

Bernhard, M 2020, ‘On Lockdown, Hong Kong activists are protesting in Animal Crossing’, Wired, Conde Nast, viewed 9 November, 2024, <https://www.wired.com/story/animal-crossing-hong-kong-protests-coronavirus/>.

Hernandez, P 2020, ‘Animal Crossing’s escapist fantasy is getting a reality check’, Polygon, Polygon, viewed 8 November, 2024, <https://www.polygon.com/2020/6/2/21277972/animal-crossing-new-horizons-black-lives-matter-acnh-nintendo-switch-politics>.

Stavros, J 2020, ‘“animal crossing” users are wearing black lives matter shirts, making signs, and organizing virtual protests’, Business Insider, Business Insider, viewed 9 November, 2024, <https://www.businessinsider.com/animal-crossing-users-are-having-virtual-black-lives-matter-protests-2020-6>.

[blacknerdscreate]

#TheWaltDisneyCompany has been telling stories for 100 years. Many of those stories have taught us about what it takes to #BeAHero. However, many magic makers (especially those in entry-level positions) aren’t living a fairytale. Behind the scenes, the Company is ground zero of the widening inequality in the U.S. 

We’re looking forward to joining @fandomforward, The American Dream Doc, and Imperative 21 for a fan activist campaign in support of Disney workers. 

The livestream on Tuesday, July 18 at 4:30p.m. Pacific, 7:30 p.m. Eastern is the starting point of a positive, fan-led, and ambitious campaign about calling on Disney to have the courage to change the rules of business from Main Street to Wall Street. Hope you can join us! bit.ly/BeAHeroLive

[tentative-wanderer]

What a huge sum.

Noticed that SVSSS is punching above its weight with a five-digit contribution. A powerhouse. MDZS and TGCF are four-digits.

Carrd for the Fandom Gotchas for Gaza!

Hello, everyone! The major MXTX Gotchas are officially complete; but If you would like to participate in more fandom Gotchas to raise funds for Palestine, this carrd by KuroJesterheaD provides dates and details for all ongoing, planned, and completed events as well as a list of verified charities and GoFundMes to donate to.

If you're on Twitter, you can follow TGCFaction to receive event updates, as the moderators are now keeping track of/reporting on new fundraising events as they arrive. As of June 19, 2024, the fandom Gotchas have not yet closed donations include:

911 (complete; but still looking for volunteers to fill prompts)

Alien Stage

Arcane: League of Legends

ATLA (Avatar: the Last Airbender) (donations/sign-ups open indefinitely)

Black Butler

Bungou Stray Dogs (donations/sign-ups open indefinitely)

Cookie Run

Danmei (Chinese BL media) multifandom

Femslash multifandom

Genshin Impact

Given

Good Omens

Haikyuu!!

Hellaverse (Hazbin Hotel & Helluva Boss)

Honkai Star Rail

Identity V (Round 2)

Jujutsu Kaisen

Link Click (Round 2)

Merlin

Moriarty the Patriot

MXTX multifandom

Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint

One Piece (donations/sign-ups open indefinltely)

Our Flag Means Death

Rick and Morty

Shoujosei & Yuri multifandom

The Husky and His White Cat Shizun (2HA)

The Magnus Archives (donations/sign-ups open indefinitely)

Trigun

Twisted Wonderland

Vocaloid

Voltron

Key: regular text, donations open; italics, creator sign-ups open; bold, awaiting creator sign-ups/running interest polls.

If you'd like to participate in a Gotcha that's still in the interest check stage, be sure to locate its information on the Carrd and complete the interest check/poll to help make sure that the project goes forward. And if your favorite fandoms don't have ongoing Gotchas, consider working together with fellow fans to start one of your own!

Please keep in mind that the funds you donate to the Gotchas do add up, even though the individual donations may be small. As of June 19, these projects have raised over $50,000 USD in aid for Palestine.

[fuckusolas]

maybe this sounds crazy but as a dragon age enjoyer, i actually enjoy all 3 games

[composeregg]

edit (10/23/2024) now that the poll is over: Original version, with 10 questions, from April 2023 here

And, given that the original is from April 2023, that means I can very easily say:

No, this was not an ISAT reference!

Just because I use parentheses and 2nd person pov and love the same concepts of what a time loop can do to a person doesn't mean it's ISAT

(Yes, I like ISAT, the original poll is why I was recommended the game! But if you look at the original, you can see all the origins of the options to choose from, including what spurred me on with the moss option from the replies)

If I were going to make something for ISAT, I would never be so vague, you can simply look at my ao3 for proof of that

[brknmachine]

ULTRATOBER 17-19 : DESIGN SWAP

[rustic-space-fiddle]

✨Father Bruce and Nightmare-Child Dick✨

[madpatti]

Thought it would be a cute idea to draw copia with my bat version of him🦇

[tatck]

SURPISE, it's the start of issue 2, introducing Amy and Metal Sonic!

Ko-Fi - ISSUE 1 START - ALL CHAPTERS - NEXT

[chaoflaka]

[hakusins]

whitney stuffs i did during lectures

[taikin4]

the seeds 🛐