Great Tumblr post on Women and Fanart, Fandom
It starts with a question for euclase
"Anonymous asked: Do you ever think you'll stop drawing fanart? No offense it just seems like the kind of thing you're supposed to grow out of. I'm just curious what your plans/goals are since it isn't exactly an art form that people take seriously."
She answers with some sweet sarcasm:
"Ah, fanart. Also known as the art that girls make.
Sad, immature girls no one takes seriously. Girls who are taught that it’s shameful to be excited or passionate about anything, that it’s pathetic to gush about what attracts them, that it’s wrong to be a geek, that they should feel embarrassed about having a crush, that they’re not allowed to gaze or stare or wish or desire. Girls who need to grow out of it.
That’s the art you mean, right?
Because in my experience, when grown men make it, nobody calls it fanart. They just call it art. And everyone takes it very seriously."
Others chimed in with some awesome thoughts on how many people see fandom vs sports and the old argument that fanart IS art. Check out the full thread HERE.
Another one of my favorite bits:
“Fandom” is not childish but we live in a culture that commodified women’s time in such away that their hobbies have to be “frivolous,” because “mature” women’s interests are supposed to be marriage, family, and overall care taking: things that allow others to continue their own special interests, while leaving women without a space of their own.
I'm a 45 year old single, child-free woman who spends her vacations going to fandom conventions. I've gotten the look, the odd questions, the occasional assumption that I'm not a responsible, mature adult because I prefer Supernatural over football or that I'm going to a convention instead of spending a week on the beach. While it can get frustrating at times, I just remind myself that I don't give a shit and continue loving being a part of fandom and enjoy the amazing art and fic that it produces!
"Anonymous asked: Do you ever think you'll stop drawing fanart? No offense it just seems like the kind of thing you're supposed to grow out of. I'm just curious what your plans/goals are since it isn't exactly an art form that people take seriously."
She answers with some sweet sarcasm:
"Ah, fanart. Also known as the art that girls make.
Sad, immature girls no one takes seriously. Girls who are taught that it’s shameful to be excited or passionate about anything, that it’s pathetic to gush about what attracts them, that it’s wrong to be a geek, that they should feel embarrassed about having a crush, that they’re not allowed to gaze or stare or wish or desire. Girls who need to grow out of it.
That’s the art you mean, right?
Because in my experience, when grown men make it, nobody calls it fanart. They just call it art. And everyone takes it very seriously."
Others chimed in with some awesome thoughts on how many people see fandom vs sports and the old argument that fanart IS art. Check out the full thread HERE.
Another one of my favorite bits:
“Fandom” is not childish but we live in a culture that commodified women’s time in such away that their hobbies have to be “frivolous,” because “mature” women’s interests are supposed to be marriage, family, and overall care taking: things that allow others to continue their own special interests, while leaving women without a space of their own.
I'm a 45 year old single, child-free woman who spends her vacations going to fandom conventions. I've gotten the look, the odd questions, the occasional assumption that I'm not a responsible, mature adult because I prefer Supernatural over football or that I'm going to a convention instead of spending a week on the beach. While it can get frustrating at times, I just remind myself that I don't give a shit and continue loving being a part of fandom and enjoy the amazing art and fic that it produces!