#com255

[dalegeeksout]

Zamii070 Controversy

In 2015, fan artist Zamii070 was posting art on Tumblr for fandoms like My Little Pony and Steven Universe. They posted some art that made the plus-size character Rose Quartz skinny and art that portrayed Fluttershy as a Native American, among other things. What followed was months of intense and persistent harassment across Tumblr from fans attacking them for their artistic interpretations, escalating into a total character assassination until the artist attempted suicide.

This situation's stakeholders included the artist, Zamii070, the fans harassing them, and the show's creators such as Rebecca Sugar, who got involved at one point to denounce the harassers. This controversy also involved many ethical concerns, including policing art, harassing individuals, organized and relentless social media threats and mockery, character assassination to the point of attempted suicide, and the misuse of labels like racist, ableist, pedophile, etc.

Reading this situation through a Rights Lens, the harassing fans infringed on an individual's right to make art and interpret a show's art style to their personal art style. The harassing fans claimed the artist didn't have the right to use their art as personal expression rather than exact duplication of the show's art style.

Reading through a Justice Lens, this whole situation was a gross miscarriage of justice. The fans believed they were carrying out their own justice online by calling the artist out for their problematic portrayals and giving Zamii070 fair treatment by forcing them to face the consequences of their actions. However, these fans took their so-called justice much too far, and instead completely destroyed the individual.

Read through a Utilitarian Lens, the fans were not thinking about the risk to the individual's mental health or physical safety by threatening them so much. They did not think about the consequences of their own actions in their attempt to prove they had the moral high ground—instead, they just dogpiled on this artist, joining in a mob mentality to hurt them.

The platform used in this situation was Tumblr. Its affordances that were taken advantage of were tagging, creation, and shareability, and lack of moderation. Because there were no moderators to stop the harassment, it kept going. The fans did not do much to moderate their own behavior. The fans relentlessly tagged the artist in harassment posts and threads. When it comes to the affordance of creation, the creator was able to put art out in the first place, but then harassers also had the ability to create memes, posts, and blogs degrading the artist. Shareability was also taken advantage of: fans could reblog, tag, and create blogs with the sole purpose of targeting the artist.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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. 

[fandomstudieswilberg]

fanwork 4

[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.

[noahfandomstudies]

The frameworks featured in this video include the visual and narrative framework