Fandoms aren’t just fan groups but become a place where people can create and show off their talents. Junior Chloe Nieves Ramos created a dance group called Charisma Crew, where they do covers of K-pop songs and submit their dances to competitions. Doing this gave her a secure group of friends that she could always depend on. It created a group of people she could always rely on. Not only did this group give her friendships but it also gave her a chance to create and choreograph her own dances as well as edit dance videos to enter into dance competitions. All her friends and dance group all stemmed from fandoms. Fandoms are art forms for many and are a way to express passions and portray them in a new light. We are so used to seeing art in a painting or a drawing but for many it is expressed in a collage or page about a show or artist.
“I do follow a fan page of Zach Bryan called Zach Bryan archives,” sophomore Victoria Moore said. “I like how Zach Bryan and Megan Moroney’s songs tell a story and display emotion or situations that I can relate to and I can connect to others who agree with me through the fan pages.”
Fandoms are a way that people can connect and share common interests, allowing them to form new friendships and feel as if they are a part of something. Many times people feel isolated and alone but creating a platform online builds a community where people can connect and form friendships.
“They’ve helped me so much, through so many struggles, they’re my best friends genuinely so when people judge that from an outside perspective it looks really shallow on their part because in reality they don’t know much about the inner workings of that fandom,” Nieves Ramos said.
Tumblr is a popular social media platform that is used for fandoms. The platform allows followers to see what is trending and what might interest you or see other people’s posts and feelings on topics that interest others.
“What I like about the fan page is I can see the news about [Zach Bryan] and any recent updates,” Moore said. “I also enjoy seeing the stories of his content and sometimes there are also leaked songs that come out and get.”
Another practice that can unite fans is merchandise. The creation and sales of merchandise allows people to have a physical sense of their fandom.
K-pop groups have albums which contain CD’s in them that have small cards within them that are trading cards or used as collector items. It is similar to baseball cards except for a player it is an idol on the card. Not only do fandoms unite people but at times they can also help advocate for social or political change. Social media is often used to promote political changes people want to see, but fandoms can be another way. A majority of the time, people in the same fandom have similar views and can use that fandom as an example of change.
“I also think that artists can influence changes around the world and issues that are also relevant to me and topics that they can have a positive change in is always exciting to me,” Moore said. “I like knowing someone I enjoy listening to and watching perform has the power to make such a big change.”
A big example of influences that social media had with fans is through the popular franchise Star Wars.
Despite the positive social and political impacts fandoms can have, they can sometimes prompt toxic behavior. Star Wars fans objected to an Asian-American woman in the Star Wars universe. Kelly Marie Tran was bombarded by sexist and misogynist social media messages. Fandoms created a rally in 2018 called #RallyforRose to spread awareness about allowing Asian Americans to play leads in big franchise movies.
For many, this is the only way they feel they can get their voices heard. Those who are sometimes hidden by the shadows now have a way to express their feelings and suggestions in the world. Fandoms also have the power to get the word out about different causes to donate to.
“A lot of idols start campaigns for mental health, where they donate to a lot of organizations and they publicize that people should donate,” Nieves Ramos said.
Recently the idol named Kevin from the boys, is a Korean Canadian and he recently spoke out about the election and used his platform to get his message out to his fans.
According to the website, Pop Culture, “Fans spend their time developing, experiencing and advocating for alternative worlds. Who better to initiate change for a better society than those who spend a great deal of time reimagining worlds.”
