alexcat: (fandom50)
alexcat ([personal profile] alexcat) wrote2024-02-01 01:50 pm
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Fandom 50 - 1. Do our fandoms choose us?

Fandoms – do we choose them or do they choose us?

This is my first post for Fandom 50 for 2024. Last year, in Fannish Fifty, I failed miserably. So, I decided to host a similar challenge this year. I did so with the permission of the person who hosted it last year.

The question is do WE choose our fandoms?

No. Yeah, we have types and such but for me, my fandoms chose me. I love many television shows, books and movies but I only write in some of them and I only engage in some of the fandoms. There are fandoms that are considered toxic – Star Trek and Star Wars come to mind. I love both franchises and have written a few stories in them but I am not part of the fandoms, by choice.

There are others that chose me. Lord of the Rings. When I read the books as a teen, I was lost in the world of Middle Earth. But many years later when the movies came along, I suddenly found myself hunting information on the actors and that led to finding fanfiction and other people who were as entranced as I was. Boom! I was in the middle of fandom.

Not ever content to just lurk, I noticed there was a gulf between Real person writers and fictional character writers in the fandom, a rather ugly and bitter one. I didn’t like that so I came up with LOTR Adult Fiction, a Yahoo group that allowed ALL LOTR related fiction and did not allow judginess. Like minded folks joined in and Of Elves and Men was born.

Years later, I’d always liked superheroes, but never got into the fandoms. UNTIL I went to see Captain America, The First Avenger. And it chose me. I could say it was Cheris Evans that did it, but that isn’t quite it. It was thatthat story. I watched the movies I’d missed and every one since. The characters have become like family, just as Legolas and Gandalf did before them.

If I try to explain it, I really can’t. Sometimes I think to myself, I need a new fandom and I’ll choose ______, but I never really fall in love with one I try to choose.

I think that what happens is that a particular fandom meets your need at the time it finds you. We all have gaps and holes in our lives, minds and hearts. We fill them with something. Religion, alcohol, sex, charity work, crafts, fandom…. Something.

I am glad that my fandoms chose me. The relationships have enriched my life and all those heroes have kept me sane in a crazy world.

What do YOU think?
shipperslist: nasa landsat image of a river looking like the letter S (Default)

[personal profile] shipperslist 2024-02-01 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
I think that we can be drawn to something or another due to our friends/social media feed/etc being enthused about a thing but the actual falling in love isn't up to us. Like you, I like a lot of things but only choose to be a part of selected few (and for a very good reason).

I think that what happens is that a particular fandom meets your need at the time it finds you. We all have gaps and holes in our lives, minds and hearts.

Yeah, exactly.
pattrose: SallyMN (Default)

[personal profile] pattrose 2024-02-02 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
Boy do I agree with you. This was well thought out.
greghousesgf: (Hugh Blue Eyes)

[personal profile] greghousesgf 2024-02-02 04:49 am (UTC)(link)
Unfortunately, every fandom has at least some obnoxious wingnuts.
wearing_tearing: black and white icon of a person holding a wolf mask to their face. (Default)

[personal profile] wearing_tearing 2024-02-02 12:40 pm (UTC)(link)
I would agree! There is a lot of media we enjoy, but it takes a little something extra to engage in fandom in some way. I think you put it quite nicely: I think that what happens is that a particular fandom meets your need at the time it finds you.

That's been my experience as well. Every new fandom I join is because something about it resonates with me/what I'm going through at that moment. It can be a real life line that way!
erulissedances: US and Ukrainian Flags (Default)

[personal profile] erulissedances 2024-02-02 01:04 pm (UTC)(link)
I have been enriched by the friends I've made in the fandom I chose (or that one chose me - the argument continues - LOL). I'm not normally a fan of that nature at all, but Lord of the Rings has been a focal of mine since the Ballentine books were first released.

- Erulisse (one L)
desdemonaspace: by <lj user="rightonicons"> (Uhuru is fabulous)

[personal profile] desdemonaspace 2024-02-03 03:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Star Trek and Star Wars are considered toxic? I am baffled.

I was chosen by The English and Hostiles. (It was like falling in love.) I could give a rip about 1883. Do you see a pattern here? I'm all about revisionist Westerns.
melusine6619: (Default)

[personal profile] melusine6619 2024-02-05 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
That's an interesting question! I've never considered it one way or another, but I enjoyed reading your answers.