In this week’s discussion, we spoke on the stances fandom communities have on our society. Fandom communities within media becomes a central place where a similar mind can connect and cultivate stories, jokes, media, content, and culture of what a community finds attractive. As stated in, Fandom, “on the hand, studies of ‘we’ (intellectuals) consume culture – the disciplines of English literature and art history- have worked on the assumption that readers actively make interpretations, drawing on a detailed set of already held knowledges about similar texts, previous great works and other forms of cultural capital..” This community’s central idea is what makes ComicCon, DragCon, NYC Makeup experience, BlackGirls Rock, and so much more. The central idea and teaching of a group of individuals create a community of like-minded thoughts and concerns.

Fandom communities have always been apart of my life. Growing up, I have been within the serval communities spanning around television shows, music bands, celebrities, black girls in media, pottery, etc. Growing up, I found a group of people who thought similar thoughts, which allowed me to express my creativity and concerns in these spaces. These spaces welcome open conversation and new information. Finding out about new pieces of music, techniques, meet-ups, etc., through their fandom communities, also became a plus. The specification of these communities makes for more open conversation, which was also mentioned in our screening with scholar Henry Jenkins.

“Henry Jenkins on Participatory Culture” spoke on the political changes fandom communities had on society. With his desire to fill the gate between political concerns and students’ leisure activities, Henry Jenkins wanted to recreate similar energy within conversations about anime or Harry Pottery into the political atmosphere. How can these Fandoms communities make a change within their organizations? He stated a Harry Potter community that has already created global initiatives such as supply food and water in Haiti. While these fandom communities may have started in the small and local area, these ideas can surface in the world and develop in other organizations.
Fandom’s initiative to make a change is a massive way of preparing our students and adolescence to be active citizens. Creating these global changes adds value not only to an individual but to the world. If we are willing to open our minds to others’ likes and dislikes, we as a society can build a future that educates and helps one another create a better place.

My question to the reader: what are some fandom communities you have been apart? How has this increased your knowledge?