always you @achilleanlouis - Tumblr Blog

spaceboyfrnk

Anonymous asked: My Chemical Romance or One Direction?

tomlinsun

next step: louis in high waisted trousers

16meets18history

Harry and Louis’ Papillon inspired tattoos

Liam Sparkes about tattooing Harry - “We started off with a butterfly on his torso based on an old French prison tattoo inspired by ‘Papillon’. Traditionally it would mean the wearer is a thief - something to do with the double meaning of ‘Je vole’, which translates as both ‘I steal’ and ‘I fly’.”

x

#lt

stylesinthewild

Harry and Mitch - 6.27.18

#hs #hs 18 #hs tour #hs lot #mitch

harrehmadness

3.16.18

#hs #hs 18 #hs tour #hs lot

dogsliampaynedoesntinstagram

How is Louis positioning himself?

Well in that tweet he was positioning himself as very much aware for and available to the fans.

But more broadly I think X-factor is working in ways I hadn’t quite anticipated and therefore offering benefits I hadn’t seen.

First, it’s a provider of a huge amount of content and I think it’s clear how much fans hunger after content.

Second, the auditions in particular have the feeling of being unfiltered content (and the live shows will also provide elements of that). What we’re seeing is taken by fans, and described by fans and understood by fans. It feels like we’re getting down moments and things not intended for the camera and not processed by anyone official. Now obviously it’s actually none of those things - Louis is on from the moment he steps into the auditorium and X-factor is hugely well organised television machine. But I think that feeling makes a difference.

Third, it’s offering fans a chance to be fans. I’ve seen accounts of people coming from Germany and Egypt to see him. If fandom is a good fun experience where you get to do stuff with other fans (or even a shitty experience where applause store is against you and your friends, but Louis appreciates how difficult it is and is there for bat for you) that in itself grows fandom. (If you think of fandom as a muscle that grows from use - all Louis’ fans have been doing for a long time is voting in fandom polls and arguing with each other about his situation. This is building up the fandom muscles that would be useful when it comes to tour).

It’s not that these things can’t be provided outside of X-factor. But to do so requires investment in doing it well and a good sense of what parts of your life you’re happy to show your fans (which I think is a real issue for Louis). X-factor is not costing Louis a penny - quite the opposite.

loubootins

I love all of this, and I just want to add on to the third point – I’ve seen a lot of complaints that certain ‘fans’ or fan groups have more access to the boys, specifically Louis and Harry, than other fans and I think that also creates tension and anger in the fandom.

TXF is a place where Louis can be seen and interact with fans without giving any one group preferential treatment. It levels the playing field for who has access to Louis and does it in a way that isn’t invasive and stalker-y. Louis is now in a professional setting that’s accessible to fans, if they want to go see him, and it’s now known where/when he will be there because it’s his job.

And @louis going to bat for fans vs. an app of course increases our love and commitment to him. It allows fans to bond over a common enemy, with their leader at the helm: that damn app.

dogsliampaynedoesntinstagram

Thanks for these points - I think they’re really pertinent. And X-factor underscores why providing fans any sort of access to Louis is so difficult (and why there’s a purpose to providing tip-offs to UA). X-factor is providing a venue and security and a ticketing system and a greater purpose so people aren’t just queuing up to see Louis, which would quickly get stressful. It works incredibly well as fan service in ways that I hadn’t anticipated. (I also totally agree that fans love the idea of bounding with their common enemy).

The thing I didn’t mention, but is becoming increasingly obvious and I’ve seen a bit of comment on today - is that X-factor is allowing Louis to interact with LGBTQ culture without outting him. One of the many problems with Louis’ closet has always been how it has almost seemed more like a light switch than anything else - in a way that has only become more entrenched and reinforced with time.

I don’t want to make any big claim about the effect or intention of these interactions yet. But when thinking about the sort of fan service that X-factor enabled - I think these interactions have to be included.