People who study audiences have historically thought of them as passive, blank canvases on which the content they consume leaves exactly the impression the producers intended. Fans know that this is simply not the case.
In fandom, we constantly are questioning the way that people and experiences are represented in our favorite media. We ask questions about whether things have been done well (or not so well), express our feelings about what these stories mean to us, call on creators to do better where possible and when all else fails, create the stories we want to see for ourselves.
It is important to note that although fandom tends to value social progressiveness and inclusivity, fans don’t always get it right. In fact, fan culture is often criticized for further marginalizing the voices of people of color and transgender individuals and in some cases, replicating/intensifying societal oppression such as sexism, racisim, homophobia, transphobia, etc.
This course focuses on the social good fandom is capable of, but it does not assume that all fans are agents of positive social change, or that all fan cultures promote or value these things equally. As discussed in the course “Am I a Fan Yet?”, there are multiple fan cultures, not just one. Keep these things in mind as you move through this course, but we encourage you to focus on making a positive impact through your own fandom practice.
At the end of this course, you will understand:
- How fandom can be a force for social change
- The relationship between (anti)fans and critique
- Why and how fans resist dominant culture
Week 1: Fandom and Social Change
Week 2: Race, Ethnicity and Fandom
Fans for Fandom Education 