Signal Boost: January Talking Meme: Day #26

[morgandawn]

 

settiai posted: January Talking Meme: Day #26

 

I've seen fandom go from people having to put disclaimers ("not mine! don't sue!") to people having no idea where something like that comes from. I've seen FF.net go from being the pinnacle to the Pit of Voles. I've seen the rise of the AO3.

I've seen fanvids go from being a very niche part of fandom that took a huge amount of investment (and multiple VCRs) to becoming something anyone can easily try to do if they want. I mean, I got into the vidding part of fandom when online vid downloads were just starting to become a possibility to... well, the age of YouTube.

Fandom changed. And, well, it hasn't at the same time. It's very cyclical, and the longer I'm involved with it? The more I see that.

There have always been people who've said "don't write this!" or "you can't draw that!" There have always been people who've used things like "think of the children!" or "don't you have morals?" as a way to pretend they have the high ground. Yes, the current version of fandom is better on some things. (I very much remember when it had to be rated PG-13 or R if it had a m/m relationship, even if it was nothing but G-rated fluff. Or when so many fics featuring f/f or m/m or even graphic f/m was only posted under lock.) But it's backslid on others.

Fandom is fandom. It's always changing, and it will never change. That's part of why it means so much to me.

 

Comments

[tabaqui]

Yes!! Fandom was around long before I 'discovered' it, and no matter how much it changes, it's always going to *be* there. With people writing stories, obsessing over characters and plots, making art, and just talking, talking, talking....
I love it. :D

[catalenamara]

That's for sure. The pendulum has swung back and forth so many times on so many issues it's dizzying.