Fandom

Fans love the same things.

They might love a book or a band. They spend much time on these interests.

Fans can meet at big events. These are called conventions.

People go to buy things there.

Some fans dress up in costumes. This is called cosplay. They look like characters from a story.

Fans also make new things. They write stories or draw art. They share these with other fans.

Being in a fandom feels like being with friends. It is a way to be together.

A fandom is a group of fans. They share a deep love for one thing. This could be a book, a movie, or a band.

Fans do more than just watch or listen. They spend a lot of time on their interest. They often feel like they belong to a big team. This feeling is called camaraderie.

Fans can meet at large events called conventions.

People go to these events to buy things. They also meet other fans. Some fans like to do cosplay. This means wearing costumes to look like a character.

Many fans like to make new things. They write fan fiction, which are stories about known characters. They also make fan art. Some fans make fan vids. These are music videos about a show or movie.

Fans use the internet to share their work. They use sites like Instagram or TikTok. This helps them stay connected to their community.

A fandom is a special group of people who share a deep interest. These people are called fans. They feel a sense of camaraderie, which means they feel like they belong together.

Fans do much more than just watch a show or listen to a song. They spend a lot of time and energy learning every small detail. This makes them different from people who only have a casual interest. Fandoms can grow around almost anything. They can focus on one single person or a whole hobby.

Some fans even join together to help others through charity work.

Being part of a fandom involves many fun activities. Some fans practice cosplay, which means wearing costumes to look like a character. Others create fan art or write fan fiction. Fan fiction is when people write new stories using characters they already love.

Some fans make fan vids, which are music videos made to analyze a story. On the internet, fans share edits, which are photos of characters in new scenes. They also use reaction gifs to show how they feel. Many fans use the internet to find others and share their work. This helps everyone stay connected to their community.

Fandoms have been around for a very long time. The word itself was used as far back as 1903. Some of the earliest groups were fans of the author Jane Austen. Around 1870, people who loved her books formed a group called Janeites. In 1893, fans of Sherlock Holmes even held public events to mourn him. They even wrote some of the first fan fiction stories back then. Other early fans were people who loved studying old railways. These groups helped show how much people can care about a subject.

Many modern groups started with science fiction fans in the 1930s. These fans hold a big meeting called the World Science Fiction Convention every year. They have even created their own special way of speaking called "fanspeak."

In the 1970s, new groups began for anime and manga. In America, fans would even make their own subtitles for Japanese shows. Other groups are very specific, like the furry fandom or the brony fandom. Bronies are fans of the show My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. They even make special characters called "ponysonas" to represent themselves.

Today, fandoms are everywhere in our world. You can find them in music, sports, and video games. Huge events called conventions bring many different fans together. Famous events include San Diego Comic-Con and New York Comic Con.

These big meetings allow people to buy merchandise and meet friends. Sometimes, fans are so loud that they change the media they love. For example, fans of the show Firefly helped create a movie for it. Fandom is a way for people to turn a simple interest into a huge community.

A fandom is a specialized subculture made of fans. These individuals share a deep, common interest in a specific subject.

Fandom members experience a strong sense of camaraderie with one another. This connection distinguishes them from those with only a casual interest. Fans often dedicate significant time and energy to their interests. They frequently focus on even the smallest details of their chosen subject. This involvement often occurs within a social network. These networks include specific practices that define the community.

Participation in a fandom involves various creative activities. These activities are sometimes called "fan labor" or "fanac," which is short for fan activity. One common practice is writing fan fiction, or "fanfic." These are stories based on the characters or universes of a specific work. Some fans practice cosplay, which means creating and wearing costumes to look like characters.

Other fans create fan art or "fan vids." Fan vids are analytical music videos that focus on a specific source. Digital tools have also led to the creation of "edits." These are photos of characters placed in different scenarios. Fans also use "reaction gifs" to express their feelings about certain events.

Fandoms can be organized around many different types of subjects. Some are narrowly defined, focusing on a single celebrity or a specific franchise. Others are much broader, covering entire hobbies, genres, or fashions. Many fandoms overlap, meaning a person can belong to several at once. Large annual conventions cater to these overlapping groups.

Examples of highly attended events include San Diego Comic-Con, Wondercon, Dragon Con, and New York Comic Con. These gatherings allow fans to buy merchandise and meet others. They serve as major hubs for film, comics, anime, and television fans.

History shows that fandom has long-standing roots. The term "fandom" traces its usage back to 1903. However, subcultures of devotion appeared even earlier. Feminist scholar Adrianne Wadewitz identified the "Janeites" as an early example. These were devotees of the 19th-century author Jane Austen, starting around 1870. In 1893, Sherlock Holmes fans held public demonstrations to mourn the character's death. They also created some of the first fan fiction between 1897 and 1902. In the late 19th century, railway enthusiasts also formed an early organized fandom.

Modern organized Western fan subcultures often stem from science fiction fandom. This community began in the 1930s and maintains clubs worldwide. Since 1939, these fans have held the annual World Science Fiction Convention. They even developed a unique jargon called "fanspeak." In the 1970s, media fandom split from science fiction fandom. This new group focused on character relationships in shows like Star Trek.

This era also saw the rise of anime and manga fandom. In the United States, fans created "fansubs" by subtitling Japanese anime to share with friends.

Some fandoms are defined by very specific identities. The furry fandom focuses on anthropomorphic animal characters with human traits. This group originated at a science fiction convention in 1980. Many furries create "fursonas," which are personalized animal characters. A 2020 survey found that 95% of furries have a fursona. Similarly, the "brony" fandom emerged in 2010 around the show My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. Bronies create "ponysonas" to represent themselves. They have also developed their own distinctive vernacular and participate in charitable activities.

Fandom can also lead to significant social and political engagement. Some fans practice "fan activism" to achieve civic goals. For instance, the Harry Potter Alliance runs campaigns for human rights. The Nerdfighters fandom, formed around a YouTube channel, focuses on "decreasing world suck." Even music fandoms, like those for the Grateful Dead, have had lasting impacts on technology. In some cases, fan organization can even influence the media itself. The fandom for the show Firefly generated enough interest to create a movie after the series was canceled.