Completing a degree in creative writing. Minoring in drama and miscellaneous ellectives in games design and pychology. Passions: pop culture, literature, film & TV, gaming
Junior Contributor I
Fandoms: what's the appeal?There are a number of TV shows and film franchises that have an almost cult-like following (e.g. Star Wars, Supernatural, MCU, Harry Potter, Star Trek, Doctor Who, BBC Sherlock). What's the appeal? How or where do these "fandoms" start? Why do they exist? What do these "fandom franchises" have in common? And does it say something about our society that these are the shows that have gained fandom followings?
|
Comic Books, Adults, and a History of Stigmatization | |
I had always classified superhero films as a sub-genre of speculative fiction. But with their growth (i.e the MCU in particular), I think it’s about time they moved into a genre of their own with the sub-genre’s to match. We can no longer lump them all into one sub-genre of speculative fiction. They’ve branched out far too much. That’s my opinion, anyway. | Super Heroes films as Genre Films |
Black Mirror had me on the hook right from the beginning (eagerly awaiting free time to start s3). The unpredictability and blunt honesty of what our society’s capable of was enough to give me goosebumps. It certainly made me question how easily our values can become twisted for the sake of entertainment and conformity. | Black Mirror: A Look at Modern Day Paranoia |
I always psyched myself out of reading comic books in high school. It was never an age thing for me, though.
I psyched myself out for the same reason I stopped playing video games and full-contact sports – they were “boy” things.
I never thought that only boys should read comic books and play video games, but unfortunately, I was stuck amongst people who believed that the only reason I played video games and read comic books was because I wanted all the boys to think I was cool.
There was always that shadow of “you don’t really know anything about comics and video games, you’re just talking about it for attention”.
I’m glad I grew out of that conforming mentality, though. I’m in university now, and whilst some of my friends jokingly calm me a nerd, I’ve yet to meet someone that’s told me I’m too old for comic books.
I’m just lucky, I guess.