Fandom
In 1870, a group of women in England began writing letters to each other about the novels of Jane Austen. These Janeites formed one of the first documented fandoms, sharing deep knowledge of minor details and creating early forms of fan fiction. By 1893, fans of Sherlock Holmes mourned publicly when the detective was killed off in a story. They wrote new stories featuring him between 1897 and 1902, establishing a tradition of creative engagement that continues today. Railway enthusiasts also organized into clubs during the late 19th century, focusing on trains rather than media. Science fiction fandom emerged in the 1930s with organized clubs holding annual conventions starting in 1939. The World Science Fiction Convention has run every year since then, creating its own language called fanspeak. Marion Zimmer Bradley, Poul Anderson, Randall Garrett, David D. Friedman, and Robert Asprin were all members of science fiction groups who later became famous authors themselves.
Media fandom split from science fiction fandom in the early 1970s, focusing on relationships between characters in TV shows like Star Trek and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. Fans created fan art and fan fiction at a time when most science fiction fans only discussed criticism. The MediaWest convention provided a video room where fans made fan vids, or analytic music videos based on source material, by the late 1970s. Anime and manga fandom began in Japan during the 1970s before spreading to America as an offshoot of science fiction fandom. Before anime was licensed in the U.S., fans leaked copies of movies and subtitled them to share with friends, marking the start of fansubs. The Grateful Dead subculture emerged between the late 1960s and early 1970s, creating a global fandom around hippie culture that influenced society and technology. Music fandoms like Beatlemania, Swifties, Deadheads, and Barbz developed alongside popular music culture, involving concerts, fan art, and online communities. The furry fandom originated at a science fiction convention in 1980 after a drawing of Steve Gallacci's Albedo Anthropomorphics sparked discussion about anthropomorphic characters.
Fans write stories called fan fiction that may or may not follow the original story's plot lines. They create costumes known as cosplay, often combining role-playing with reenacting scenes from their chosen sources. Fan vids focus on analytical music videos while others produce fan art or edits showing characters in different scenarios. These activities are sometimes called fan labor or fanac, representing unpaid work that benefits creators without compensation. Gaming companies use fans to alpha and beta test games in exchange for early access or promotional merchandise. The TV show Glee used fans to create promotional materials without paying them. Some fans have turned their work into careers, such as E.L. James who rewrote Fifty Shades of Grey after it was removed from FanFiction.Net for mature content. Her book sold over 100 million copies but made many fans unhappy because she profited from community-created ideas. Lev Grossman has written stories in Harry Potter, Adventure Time, and How to Train Your Dragon universes under pseudonyms. S.E. Hinton wrote about Supernatural and her own books, The Outsiders. Daniel Radcliffe cosplayed as Spider-Man at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con before Andrew Garfield gave an emotional speech about what Spider-Man meant to him.
The Internet shifted fandom communication from print zines to global online networks and social media platforms. Fans congregate on forums and discussion boards to share love and criticism of specific works, leading to high levels of organization and occasional infighting. Online communities help facilitate the exchange of fanworks through sites like Instagram, TikTok, Tumblr, and Pinterest. Early engineers traded Grateful Dead set lists and discussed concert speaker systems called the Wall of Sound on ARPANET, a precursor to the Internet. Tape trading evolved over FTP, and the Internet Archive began adding Grateful Dead shows in 1995. Online tape trading communities such as etree became P2P networks trading shows through torrents. After the birth of the World Wide Web, many communities adopted Deadhead practices online. Mark Duffet noted that online social media platforms challenge ideas that electronic mediation is alienating or impersonal. Social media gives fans more ways to connect and participate while allowing public figures to express themselves and engage with fanbases on deeper levels. Twitter and Facebook have changed how fans interact with professionals, creating new opportunities for connection and participation.
The entertainment industry refers to devoted fans as fanbases and promotes work directly to them through conventions and events. Studios create elaborate exhibits, organize panels with celebrities and writers, provide Q&A sessions, screening sneak previews, and branded giveaway merchandise. The interest and reaction of fandom communities influence how studios proceed with projects and products they exhibit. Science fiction writers like Ray Bradbury, Harlan Ellison, Patrick Nielsen Hayden, and Toni Weisskopf participated in science fiction fandom themselves. Ed Brubaker was deeply upset by Bucky Barnes' death as a child and wrote Captain America volume five bringing him back as the Winter Soldier. Movie actors often cosplay as other characters to enjoy being regular fans at cons. Before The Amazing Spider-Man released, Andrew Garfield dressed up as Spider-Man and thanked fans for their support. Some fans have made careers from their work while others feel exploited when companies use unpaid labor. Contention exists over fans not receiving payment for time or creative output. Toxic behavior including harassment of other fans or creators sometimes occurs within fandoms at places like Comic Con. Fans4Writers supported the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike, extending trends of self-aware consumer power. In 2023, Lana Del Rey appeared in Taylor Swift's song Snow on the Beach, but both fan bases felt her contribution was insufficient until Swift released an updated version.
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Common questions
When did the first documented fandom form and who created it?
The first documented fandom formed in 1870 when a group of women in England began writing letters about Jane Austen novels. These Janeites shared deep knowledge of minor details and created early forms of fan fiction.
What year did science fiction fandom begin holding annual conventions?
Science fiction fandom began holding annual conventions starting in 1939 with the World Science Fiction Convention running every year since then. This tradition established its own language called fanspeak and included members like Marion Zimmer Bradley, Poul Anderson, Randall Garrett, David D. Friedman, and Robert Asprin.
How did media fandom split from science fiction fandom in the 1970s?
Media fandom split from science fiction fandom in the early 1970s by focusing on relationships between characters in TV shows like Star Trek and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. Fans created fan art and fan fiction at a time when most science fiction fans only discussed criticism.
Which anime and manga fandom activities started before official licensing in America?
Anime and manga fandom began in Japan during the 1970s before spreading to America as an offshoot of science fiction fandom. Before anime was licensed in the U.S., fans leaked copies of movies and subtitled them to share with friends, marking the start of fansubs.
When did the furry fandom originate and what sparked its creation?
The furry fandom originated at a science fiction convention in 1980 after a drawing of Steve Gallacci's Albedo Anthropomorphics sparked discussion about anthropomorphic characters.