| Popis: |
Media fandom — defined here by the curation of fiction, art, “zines” (independently printed magazines) and other forms of media created by fans of various pop culture franchises — is a rich subculture mainly led by women and other marginalized groups that has attracted mainstream media attention in the past decade. However, journalistic coverage of media fandom can be misinformed and include condescending framing. In order to remedy negatively biased framing seen in journalistic reporting on fandom, I wrote my own long form feature showing the modern state of fandom based on the generation of late millennial women who engaged in fandom between the early age of the Internet and today. This piece is mainly focused on the modern experiences of women in fandom spaces and how they balance a lifelong connection to fandom, professional and personal connections, and ongoing issues they experience within fandom. My study is also contextualized by my studies in the contemporary history of media fan culture in the Internet age, beginning in the 1990’s and to the present day. In both my academic and professional projects, I also examine how other journalists should best write about fandom spaces and other Internet communities populated by marginalized people. |
