On fandom

[just_keep_on]

An anon on my formspring posed a set of questions that I thought would be interesting to discuss, since I've seen this in both fandoms that I've been active in, those being Takarazuka and SNSD. (I'm not including SM 'cause I don't think this has happened - actually, does this ever happen in anime/manga fandoms?)

"... people make judgmental

Comments

[just_keep_on]

OMG, in trying to find some kind of definition of wota, I instead found a stash of J-pop vs K-pop articles. SO MUCH READING OMG.

ahjussi fans as people who don't go batshit spazzing at concerts but reserved watchers that are quietly concerned with their wealth follows more the "positive observers" angle.
But they went to the concert. And they also give really good gifts. Though they're quiet at the actual concert, they actually went. I'd say that a positive observer wouldn't go to a concert if it was only that group, who they're not very connected with. But if it's a concert with multiple groups, it's not just attendance, but actions during the concert that matter 'cause you've got other fan groups out there and this is where active participation would really play a role. Ooh, that totally does bring something new to the mix, when fan groups start competing with each other...

I'd say that what's defined as a good or bad fan goes back to collectivism vs individualism and even to culture (or even the rebellion against it).

Oooh, that was a great BNF post - totally true of any fandom and definitely makes me think of politics. But that's in regards to fanworks. How does one become a BNF *without* using fanworks to gain an audience? How did Silis get to be a BNF, for example?

[arbitrary_greay]

Eh, intlwota turned out to be actually quite a low ratio on regular blog entries to in-depth meta. They're mostly bloggers that aren't afraid to complain or analyse, but I find that only a few consistently examine meta issues. Those Jpop vs. Kpop articles were more about concrete differences such as the talent, fanchants, and product packaging/content. From which the differences in marketing and such can be extrapolated, but the blog entries themselves don't go there.

Wota is actually short for otaku, but nowadays it's usually used exclusively for pop music otaku. Some differences include leaving the house(to go to concerts) and being physically fit(cheering and dancing at said concerts). XD
I made the note about the difference in cheering style because while the middle-aged salesman Jpop fan would be usually a wota, the wota are also associated with their wota-gei dancing and loud fanchants during the concerts. So the ahjussi fans aren't completely following the wota stereotypes yet, even though the Infinity Challenge members were clearly parodying that when they attended SNSD's concert.

when fan groups start competing with each other
SUBBING WARS. WHO WILL SURVIVE AND WHO WILL SUB THE SCRAPS?

Silis became a BNF along with bossa by being one of the guys who translates Korean SNSD tidbits, including release rumors and news. Since SSF and AKP and other Kpop news sites tend to wait for official Korean articles, Silis's tidbits could be fresher and more personal, such as interesting happenings for some girl at such and such concert.

[just_keep_on]

Hrm. I guess I'll give 'em a skim later on, but I'll continue to defer to you for Jpop info XD

Wota and ahjussi would still be considered active participants though, right? Even if the ahjussi fans are more ... subdued during concerts.

That is a good point, the different fan groups *within* a fandom (i.e. members of SSF vs members of ... some other international site that supports SNSD? I honestly never looked for other sites ^^;). But I was wondering more about fans of different idols - for example, would ahjussi and other calmer fans of SNSD be viewed as non-fans by fans of, say, KARA? Though there are the same kind of fans in every group, when you put competing fandoms together, there's more of an emphasis on active participation, which needs good leadership, which requires a "government" of sorts. So ... the groups with the better organized fandom wins...? I'm not sure where I was going with this now ^^;

Still wondering how Silis gets that info.

How important are fanworks for a fandom? What would happen to, say, K-pop if fanfic wasn't allowed? In fact, how is fandom conducted in those fandoms of books where the author has prohibited fanfiction?

[arbitrary_greay]

SSF vs. Soompi? And actually, ffa might be the alternative site rofl.

Of course there's a difference in perception between fandoms. Most of STAND are fans of other Kpop groups, and they see Sones as cray-cray where the Sones would just see it as normal behavior.(Whether that's a justified accusation is another matter)
Yeah the group with the better organized fandom wins, they can better spam the album sales periodically to boost chart rankings! >:D And remember how for SBS Gayo Daejun every time the camera panned over the crowd you saw a swarm of GDTOP towels go up? Now that's very effective organization.

Silis just translates from Korean news and fan sites/forums.

Fanworks: D:
Because those people putting so much effort and money into cosplay could be spending that money on official merch, right?
But on the other hand, if fans are inspired by their object of fandom being able to express their ideas might be the only way to keep them invested in the fandom. Certain fic writers have said as such.
Mostly I think when authors prohibit fanfic they get ignored. XD

[just_keep_on]

LOL, that's true, snsd_ffa is totally an alternate site. 'Cept we get our news from elsewhere - though, hm, you can say that the same is true of SSF since they translate their news from Korean sites...

Because those people putting so much effort and money into cosplay could be spending that money on official merch, right?
And there's a line between bringing fame to the series/idol/etc that is being cosplayed and personal fame. Like supply and demand, I suppose.

But on the other hand, if fans are inspired by their object of fandom being able to express their ideas might be the only way to keep them invested in the fandom.
I wonder if that's why artists rarely say anything about fanfiction. I know JeTi's talked about it briefly (I think. It's been a while since I've watched their In The Booth interview) but it was with encouragement (and also brought on a slew of "Jessica or Tiffany is secretly a fanfic writer!" fics xP

But I wonder, is fanfiction really "proper fan behavior"? Imagining your idol in these situations, does it help to protect their image, as fans are supposed to do? Contrast that with what the idol actually does (i.e. sexy image on stage).