#officeofdocmalone

[fandomstudieswilberg]

Fan Autoethnography 

I have played tennis my whole life. My dad first took me to the courts when I was around 4 years old, and since that I have not left. I got the chance to travel the world and become a student athlete at the University of Tampa. One of my favorite memories of tennis besides winning, and succeeding, is meeting my idol, Roger Federer.  

I was lucky enough to work at the camp where I grew up playing tennis at, for the last 3 years. A place I often call my home, away from home. Verbier, Switzerland. My time working at a tennis camp was more than just a job. It was here, amid the lively courts and the buzz of enthusiastic players, that I developed a profound connection with tennis and, particularly, with its iconic figurehead, Roger Federer, because I was lucky enough to meet him. Let me take you through the journey of this bond and its lasting impact on me.  

I embarked on a mission to collect Roger Federer's signature hats from his Nike days, when I was around 12 years old. Each hat, adorned with his unmistakable logo, meant more to me than just a piece of clothing. It was a tangible symbol of my unwavering support for the Swiss tennis legend. With every addition to my collection, I felt a surge of pride, a testament to my loyalty to one of the greatest athletes of our time.  

Within the context of my fandom, there is a sense of camaraderie among fellow fans, creating an "us" versus "them" dynamic between fans and non-fans, or between fans of rival players, like fans of other great players. This dichotomy influences how fans perceive themselves within the larger tennis community, and who wears what gear. Like the Rafa hat vs the Roger hat.  

But my connection with Federer went beyond mere material possessions. It found expression in the vibrant community of online fan groups, where enthusiasts from around the world came together to discuss Federer's matches, analyze his strategies, and revel in his victories. In these digital spaces, I found companionship and shared passion, united by our admiration for the tennis champion. So, to answer the question, how does anonymity affect the way your fandom communicates online? I would say that anonymity fosters openness and freedom of expression within online fan spaces. It allows fans to engage in discussions and interactions without fear of judgment, facilitating deeper connections and a sense of community among individuals with shared interests, like I have done.  

Revisiting Federer's matches online became a cherished ritual, each stroke and serve a reminder of his mastery of the sport. Through social media platforms like Instagram, I followed Federer's journey, gaining insights into the life of a sporting icon. The day I had the opportunity to interact with him felt surreal, a brief but unforgettable connection with a figure who embodied excellence both on and off the court.  

In a world where fandom can sometimes be misunderstood, I have often reflected on the significance of my allegiance to Federer and tennis. While some may view it skeptically, I see it as a testament to the enduring power of passion and admiration—a reminder of the profound impact that sports and their heroes can have on our lives. 

Tennis and Roger Federer are not just interests to me; they are integral parts of my identity. While some may view fandom as a compensatory outlet, my experience suggests that it goes beyond mere compensation. Instead, tennis and Federer have enriched my life, providing joy, forging connections, and offering a deeper understanding of myself, indicating a more profound and fulfilling relationship with the sport and its iconic figure. Through my unwavering devotion to sport and its most celebrated ambassador, I have discovered joy, forged connections, and gained a deeper understanding of myself. As I continue to support him and watch tennis, I am reminded of the transformative power of fandom, which can turn spectators into active participants in the rich tapestry of sports history. 

[pookiepatty]

What Is Fan Labor?

"Labor" is anything done with effort and determination to pursue an ending goal. Honestly, this could literally be anything you set your heart to. Although, I cannot help but think of labor as something that is done to receive payment, credit, or admiration from. Maybe this is closer to what is considered "hard labor" rather than "labors of love". I can see a labor of love being something done only for the sake of completing a personal goal or as a catharsis of some sort. In my fandoms, this would be considered fanart including commissions and fanvids, and anything you spend a decent chunk of your time on for a media. The most common form of art in the fandom of Twenty One Pilots is artwork of paintings, drawings, and sketches of the band and their narrative incorporating meaningful colors based on album eras. For my first fan work, I approached it very excited but soon realized that with how elaborate aspects of the Twenty One Pilots lore is, it has gotten pretty time-consuming. Outside of the classroom I would definitely consider this fan labor with the amount of effort put into it. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE this band and what they stand for but there's just... a lot of stuff to get at. I love getting the opportunity to talk about them and I remember most of the lore of the band, however, the fact checking has gotten extensive at times. For fan work #2 I will definitely try to get more specific on what element of the band I decide to hone in on.

[noahfandomstudies]

Week 3 tumblr post

The tags that stood out to me were

Alternate Universe-Vampire

Crossover-nobody asked for

they were ROOMATES

Queer analysis could be applired to Willow Park as she is confirmed the shows creator to identify as pansexual. This is a very unique example as it is becoming more normalized and accepted to incorporate confirmed sexual identities in childrens animated shows. Luz is also confirmed to be bysexual. The show incorporates a lot of LGBT representation as confirmed by Dana Terrace (the shows creator) to pave a new way of incorporating societal norms into childrens televeision.. The showrunners work in the representation very well by adding them not just as a character trait but also aiding in the characters evolution and arc. In the final season luz actually comes out to her mother in a video featuring the bisexual flag.

One of the things that stands out to me in the fandom posts is that most of the art follows the same style. I find this really interesting because for some reason they all pursue the same medium which basically makes a cartoon into a different kind of cartoon and I’m not too sure on the relevance. One other thing that stands out to me is the lack of memes but more so analyzed captioned pictures. As most people know memes are huge thing that brings fans together to not only have a good laugh but also think deeper on aspects of the media. I also found it really interesting on how much non-kid fan content there was due to the show being made for kids.

My favorite episode so far has been the teenage abomination. I found the school dynamic in the show very fun to watch as it reminds of classic shows on cartoon network that I grew up watching to it was very nostalgic for me. I found the slapstick probably to be the best part because it reminded of why I used to enjoy watching the cartoons.

[livlarounis]

Week 13

For my group's fan experience, we decided to make video games specifically Call of Duty accessible. We discussed adding certain trigger warnings and changing the pace of music and lights for people who have epilepsy. In video games such as COD, it can be very triggering for people who have epilepsy with loud noises repetitive music, and certain flashing lights. We also discussed for certain COD modes there should be trigger warnings for people with PTSD. The price of the game would not be more expensive for the modifications it would still be the same price for everyone. The overlap I think there might be in real life when there are certain conventions for video games not just making the video game accessible but also the events as well.

[fandomstudieswilliams]

The Slytherin Aesthetic (Fanwork 4)

For this fanwork, I focused on Harry Potter - specifically the Slytherin house - and visual analysis, with a little work on dramatistic/narrative analysis.

For the media itself, the Slytherin house is portrayed as the house where the majority of evil characters originate in Harry Potter. The comes into conflict with the characters because Harry is constantly questioning Draco Malfoy's motives and allegiance as Draco is the biggest student character we see from the Slytherin house. A few of the images I selected show Draco in the bathroom before Harry attacks him, struggling with the weight of the Dark Mark and the implications of being a Death Eater and then in another image when he finally reveals the Dark Mark to Dumbledore right before he tries to kill the Headmaster.

In those images, the lighting is very dark, going along with the tone of the scenes where a fight is occurring and the internal struggle that Draco is facing. In the bathroom scene, the camera is angle is from Harry's perspective as the audience is viewing everything from Harry's eye, just as the books, but also we can interpret not being able to see Draco's face as he unable to face himself and his actions/what he must do in order to save his family (ie: kill Dumbledore).

For the fandom, the fans have taken images from the media itself and non-media images to describe what it might be like to be apart of the wizarding world of Harry Potter and, more specifically, the Slytherin house. These images usually are saturated in the color green because that's Slytherin's house color or feature a muted-scale more black color palette. The images usually fit the aesthetic of dark academia. A lot of images use the symbol of the snake because that is the Slytherin house animal but also represent the sentiment of what Slytherins are: snakes who cannot be trusted. This comes from the overall sentiment from the canon text feeling of the Slytherin house that they produce "bad" or "evil" wizards like Voldemort.

A lot of images that pop up when searching Slytherin also feature the Dark Mark because lots of Death Eaters come from the Slytherin house, or lots of parents of Slytherin students are Death Eaters. Fans use this when creating moodboards for the Slytherin house in general or for specific OCs when wanting to reference parentage.

Overall, the visual sentiment for the Slytherin house between media and fandom is clouded in green and black with a muted color palette. The symbols include snakes and skulls, references to death and the weight of the political climate during the Golden Era of Harry Potter where no one's lives are certain.

[fandomstudieswilberg]

Taylor Swift pop up museum

Reflecting on our class discussion, I'm really proud of the fan experience concept we came up with. Creating a pop-up museum centered around Taylor Swift's eras feels like a fantastic way to engage fans and immerse them in her world. We've put a lot of thought into making the experience accessible to people with disabilities, and I'm glad we're prioritizing inclusivity.

In terms of disability and economic accessibility, we've covered a lot of ground. From physical accessibility features like ramps and wide spaces to sensory accommodations like avoiding flashing lights and providing quiet spaces, we've tried to think of everything. Offering friendly fonts and audio descriptions is another important step to ensure everyone can enjoy the experience to the fullest.

Recognizing the overlap between disability frameworks and fan spaces has been eye-opening. By implementing measures to ensure accessibility, we're not only addressing the needs of individuals with disabilities but also creating a more inclusive environment for all fans. I'm proud that our approach reflects the social model of disability, which emphasizes the importance of removing barriers to participation and ensuring equal access for everyone.

I'm excited about the potential of our pop-up museum to create a welcoming environment where all individuals can fully participate and enjoy the celebration of Taylor Swift's music. By prioritizing accessibility in both digital and real-life fan spaces, we're setting a positive example for how fan experiences can be made more inclusive for everyone.

Overall, I'm really pleased with the direction our fan experience is taking. By incorporating principles of accessibility and inclusivity into our planning and execution, I believe we're on track to create a truly memorable and enjoyable experience for all fans.

[pookiepatty]

Week 13 Post: Disability Awareness in Fandom

For my partner and I's fan experience we chose a livestreaming platform bands/artists can use to stream their concerts online to engage more people at shows. This will be more accessible to fans as it would make it easier for disabled and neurodivergent fans to see concerts that are otherwise difficult to attend due to how the experience has been normalized. We would plan this experience to be accessed through a free website that has custom features for all people including those with different disabilities to watch concerts with ease (listed in google slides). As a result, from an economic perspective, instead of literal money involved as is with buying concert tickets, the commodity or valuable thing that can be collect in this fan experience would be watching as many concerts as your heart desires! :)

I hope that fandom expands the culture to become more open and informed about individuals with disabilities and ensure they have a voice in all fan communities. Be patient and kind to others who are newer or need help getting the hang of things. This includes ensuring space for all fans from the media's side of things is provided to maximize the community. I definitely think a digital medium to attend concerts beyond their expected contexts should be available in the future (especially after what the Covid era has shown us is possible) too. Fans should be there for each other and help make marginalized groups voice's louder. This includes on social media and in preparation for fan meetups in person. Fans to fight for closer seating for fans with disabilities at concerts and provide conditions that make the concert experience more comfortable for everyone attending. I have seen wheelchair user fans have to skip out on shows because the space was proven to be unsafe for them to go. I have hope for the future of fandom!

[noahfandomstudies]

Acessibility

For our fan experience we came up with special ticketed yankee games that have aspects to make the game-watching experience as enjoyable as possible for a guest with a disability. Some ways that we would incorporate accessibility include lower stadium capacity, ear muffs for guests, and re-configured concession stands. Some other ways that disabilities might overlap in fan spaces with the economic framework could be that due to a disability a fan might not have the economic resources to partake in events with other fans.

[livlarounis]

Fan Work #4

[fandomstudieswilliams]

Fan Autoethnography

Reflection

To start off, the two fandoms I'm going to be talking in depth today are Batman and Harry Potter. I'm choosing these two because Harry Potter has been a fandom that I've been apart of for many years and I've been deeply involved in the community and Batman is a fandom that I've been shallowly apart of for years but have obsessively fallen into lately and reflects a recent desire to analyze media that I engage with.

I own a few pieces of fan merch, mostly Harry Potter or MCU. I have official HP merch from Universal like a Deathly Hallows crop top and a Slytherin pendant necklace and scrunchie. I also have non-official merch like a tumbler with HP plants or various MCU stickers that I got from my friend's business. I don't own anything Batman related.

Recently, I have gotten into analyzing the movies/TV shows that I watch and while I don't go back and rewatch them, I do look them up online to see the cinematography choices, themes, and other relevant information which I've done with various Batman media. I've also just deep-dived into how Batman has been portrayed in animated movies, TV shows, and live actions like the Burton movies, Nolan, and latest R-Pat revival because it's an interest of mine.

I've definitely been involved in fandom communities. I engage with fanfiction for both communities respectively, right now Batman but I have engaged with Harry Potter fanfic in the past and probably will again in the future. I've also created fanworks - like, really long fanfictions for Harry Potter and other fandoms, including Batman - and in doing that I've engaged in discussions with other people in those fandoms. I've also been apart of groupchats with people and started friendships online over mutual interests.

I've definitely followed actors from media that I engaged with in the past, but I no longer do that because I don't want to follow celebrities. I fan a finsta for my fanfic writing and all I follow are other fandom members on there.

I've only engaged with rewatch podcasts slightly. My only experience was watching the pilot episode of the Lost Girl rewatch podcast because they just aren't what I enjoy. I'd rather just listen to music. I'm much more interested in watching videos about fandom on YouTube, whether it be discussing the media itself or the fandom. It doesn't matter if I'm apart of the fandom the video is about, I just like learning about fandom so I'm inclined to watch the video if I like the creator, like Strange Aeons.

Analysis

I do think there is an "us" vs. "them" binary because of the way fans are viewed but those who don't see themselves as participating in a fandom. I also see it in myself when discussing fandoms that I'm not apart of because I'm an outsider of a community. In my fandoms, I'm an insider. For Harry Potter, I think I'm expert who is accomplished and has spent several years writing and has a good amount of followers. For Batman, I think I'm newer and still learning about the media so that I can feel like an expert. But for mainstream, I think bleeding feels uncomfortable, because for me growing up there was such strict separation to where now when I try to blend the lines I feel such push back internally because of the many years I tried to repress this part of myself.

I think anonymity affects online fandoms by making people feel more comfortable. When I was younger and making my way into fandom, if I had to use my legal name and add a picture, I would've run the other way, but instead I had the freedom to choose a name that I liked more than my legal one and the ability to be whoever I wanted. My pseudonym allowed me to write what I wanted and gain control over my thoughts and feelings and in turn meet people online that I never would've had the chance to in real life. Anonymity makes people feel free, which is good, but I do see the downsides because I saw firsthand the bullying that comes when people don't see the repercussions for their actions. When I was creating my podcast, it helped me because I already had the experience of existing in a fandom space and knowing about Harry Potter and the queer community but also felt the freedom of speaking into my phone mic under the guise of not giving my name.

I think fandom has acted as both a site for me to built autonomy and intimacy but I did use it for psychological compensation. I went looking for something when I went online; I wanted to engage more with a media I loved, and then I wanted to continue the story. I did have a parasocial relationship - or perhaps a hyperfixation on certain medias - where I just need to cling onto a media and continue the story either through reading about it continuously or writing about it. However, through fandom I also found community and people. People I could talk to about my day, people who gave me advice, people who become my friends. I also became more confident in my writing and my abilities in simple graphic design, the latter which I wouldn't have engaged with if I hadn't been apart of fandom.

Language that associates me with my fandom outside of fandom spaces is asking "what house are you?" and saying in response "Slytherin." Harry Potter has become so large that the use of the four Hogwarts houses or just asking someone for their house outside of a fandom space immediately cues someone in that you're talking about the series. It automatically lets the other person know that you're apart of the fandom, or at least a little bit enough of a fan to associate with a house or have taken the quiz. I don't really use it outside of fandom spaces. The only time I have is after I had taken an in-depth fan made house quiz and I loved it and thought it was completely thorough and wanted to share it with them but we weren't talking about the fandom, but otherwise I wouldn't bring it up.

[maxcavallo]

My main takeaway from the Busse chapter was that online fandoms could be considered either actual facts, or just rambling on from people who have nothing else better to do. I put people pver facts because sometimes when you dive too deep into something involving facts then it takes away from the entertainment aspect. I was a little confused about how all of this ties in.

[fandomstudieswilberg]

fanwork 4

[pookiepatty]

Fan Work #4: Joshler in TOP Fandom

Canva link: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGCPdTBJYU/RVhivd02T_QrYNuRk3rjmA/edit?utm_content=DAGCPdTBJYU&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

For this fanwork, I broke down the ship of "Joshler" (Tyler and Josh) in the Twenty One Pilots fandom using queer analysis. The ship, Joshler, is so prevalent in the fandom that there was no way I could not bring it up for an assignment at some point for this class. Not only has this ship been a source of enjoyment for the fandom, it has also been the catalyst for the band to test societal norms and standards/categories in public spaces. Besides fans making fanworks shipping the duo, the band likes to joke heavily during interviews, behind-the-scenes videos, on social media, etc. to see how those who are unaware of their humor react. When someone expresses discomfort in their gay-esk/homoerotic remarks toward one another, it leads to an influx of these jokes. For fans online, when someone expresses distaste for Joshler on social media fans will immediately post photos and clips of Joshler fanvids, artwork (like the one beside "fandom reactions" that is a known meme to post in response to Joshler hate or mentions with no caption), and other content of the band in response. This happens so much between fans and TOP that it genuinely makes people question the band's sexualities. It is funny, though.

Tyler and Josh love to be uncomfortably close to each other (I swear they're only just BFFs, they are both married to women and one has kids.. I SWeAr) and post Joshler on their social media accounts. Tyler Joseph (lead singer)'s most liked post on Instagram is an edited photo combining a photo of Josh Dun proposing to his wife and a photo of Tyler seeing his wife in her wedding dress for the first time. he captioned this post saying "Yes, a thousand times, yes." which led to fans going along with it and confused newcomers viewing the post as a loaded 'coming-out' and unknowingly, congratulating the two. In a tweet from today, Tyler confirmed a theory held by fans that he is the reason why a sensual-like clip of Josh was inserted into their latest music video for their song "Next Semester" (see: screenshots by "Where It Stands Now"). This is the most recent example of the band feeding into the Joshler ship online. And that is Joshler in the fandom of Twenty One Pilots! Now, here's a photo of Tyler Joseph with a pride flag at a concert in 2019:

Good night! <3

[noahfandomstudies]

Autoethnography

As a huge fan of the popular television series "The Sopranos" I try to interact with the fandom as much as I can. One of the ways that I participate in Sopranos fan culture is by buying various merchandise such as apparel from Etsy, funko pops, prop replicas, and signed posters. A majority of the merchandise that I purchase comes from sites where the products are mostly focused on being created by fans of particular media. The Sopranos is a show where it has lots of hidden symbolism, themes, foreshadowing, and ideas that I could not personally catch on the first viewing of the series. With that being said, I proceeded to watch The Sopranos 13 more times (Yes I kept track) to try and find something different each times in which I ultimately did. The show deals a lot with dark themes integrated with foreshadowing which I fully understood after I knew what going to happen based on watching the series prior. Currently, I am involved with a few Sopranos fan groups online such as being an active member in TheChaseLounge (A sopranos Forums page), a member of the r/TheSopranosmemes subreddit, a discord server with fans who like to analyze The Sopranos, and a follower of many Sopranos memes Instagram pages. In my spare time I do enjoy creating memes for The Sopranos ' Instagram and Reddit pages. I also actively participate in making Sopranos fan edit videos for TikTok. I have also been following various cast members on Instagram including Michael Imperioli, Steve Schrippa, Robert Iler, and Jamie Lynn Sigler. I currently engage with numerous Sopranos fan works such as Pod Yourself a Gun, the memes of r/Thesopranosmemes, multiple theories on The Chase Lounge, and Poda Bing.

Since The Sopranos tries to portray the culture of Italian Americans in northern New Jersey to the best of the showrunner's ability and part of that includes to try include the kind of language and slang that they use. Whenever I hear commonly used words in the Italian American culture I immediately think back to The Sopranos because the slang and the language are such an integral part of the identity of the characters in the show. Although (to my knowledge) some of the words are not the same as they are in native Italian, they are still iconic and heavily adapted to the Italian American culture. I have personally heard words such as “Marone”, “Piacere”, and “Bafangool” used in sentences in my lifetime although I’m not sure if they were referring to the show or not, still, it is an example of how the language “bleeds” into the real world. Anonymity impacts the way that fans of The Sopranos because they are most likely all different kinds of ages. While many may not really care about instances such as 17-year-olds bonding over a fandom with a 57-year-old, others would find it a little weird due to how untraditional it is. As far as knowing people's actual names when communicating goes, I don’t feel that it has much relevance to the interactions and discussions that fans have. The reason that anonymity is not a huge relevant factor in Sopranos is because anyone can enjoy the content of the show and bond over their understanding of what the show entails. The only reason that anonymity could affect the fandom would be if a fan's cultural viewpoints do not intertwine with that of the show’s content, this could create arguments among fans. With that being said, I feel the anonymity might be better for the fandom because it eliminates some of the possible controversies that could arise in engagement. Regarding the “us vs. them” construct, I feel that within the Sopranos fandom and my own personal experience members of the fandom do not really feel alienated because of their fandom. I feel that fandom nowadays and mainstream society blend together due to the media and the hype that it has the ability to generate amongst a particular fandom. I also think that  peoples involvement in social media has allowed fans to become more vocal about their fandom and having it encouraged.

[livlarounis]

This playlist represents soundtracks for The Sopranos and The Godfather. The Mobster Mashes soundtrack also connects to media-centered analysis and how this could change how you look at fandoms through this playlist. Through media logic, you will be able to have a better understanding of this Apple music playlist. This soundtrack will take you back to make you feel like you are in both of these media. Enjoy listening!

[fandomstudieswilliams]

The Loss of Innocence Playlist (Fanwork 3)

For fanwork 3, I explored the ramifications of war and the loss of innocence in children/teenagers in the Harry Potter and PJO fandoms using psychoanalytic theory. I did this looking at songs that focused on themes of childhood, sacrifice, dying, and guilt. I looked at those themes because of the relationships these children forged with each other and how they grew and changed, and perhaps the ones they lost.

For reference, in Frank Ocean's "Ivy", he said "we'll never be those kids again", and I used that in context to this assignment because at the start of each series the characters were much more carefree and innocent, not having endured bloodshed, death, and violence but after reaching sixteen and seventeen respectively the characters have changed to battle and kill their major antagonist and can no longer go back to the state they were at the beginning of the series.

A lot of these songs also confront the Reality Principle, with confronting a desire the artist wish exists before coming to the conclusion that it can't which I can also apply these child characters in these fandoms who have just had to become child soldiers and are now left to pick up the pieces, left with desires they wish they could enact but ultimately confront with a new reality that is unforgiving.