Home Submissions About Staff and Board
Close
Circle Logo

About Us

Asterisks & Anomalies

Educational and research site of academic research related to the fantastical, from sci-fi to fantasy, from horror to action/adventure, from cryptozoology to conspiracies. We are interested in any media these research forms may address: from novels and short stories to poems, from social media to fanfiction, from films to streaming serials, from tabletop games to video games.

Search

Banner

Amber Bixby

Complicating Fandom Dynamics

29 April 2024

Conversations regarding context in contemporary media are born from how to morally handle controversy; or rather, how to handle the problematic past of a fan's favorites. These concerns rose from a climate of “cancel culture,” the emphasis on accountability from brands and public figures for past problematic remarks/actions. In “The Moral Risks of Fandom,” a question is posed surrounding how superfans should handle severe controversies surrounding their favorite pastimes. The writers discuss the ethics regarding supporting contributors of sports fandoms such as players and coaches, but this concept stretches across multiple disciplines. Fandoms are anchored in adoration from fans, and participating audiences of Sci-Fi narratives have likely encountered this issue at least once. Fandom seeps into personal identity, becoming a part of them similar to nationalist ideologies. When these coveted favorites are deemed problematic by society, fans feel an attack of their belief system, splitting reactions into two: a blind defense for something they consider a part of them, or completely step away from the fandom. A middle ground is proposed between these ideas: to be critical of the media consumed and understand when the right moment is to walk away. Morality in fandoms can be such a polarizing issue, snagging on the edges of what individual fans think is ethically correct against the level of change they believe they can illicit.

Where to Find

Moral Risks of Fandom