Ah, the glorious world of fandoms – those passionate gatherings of individuals who’ve banded together in the name of their favourite obsessions. It’s a place where you can find both heartwarming celebrations of new releases and an alarming number of keyboard warriors, ready to annihilate anyone who doesn’t pass their stringent “fan” test. But let’s dive deep into the cauldron of fandom culture, shall we? Because beneath the surface lies a cesspool of toxic behaviours and delusions.
Fandoms, my friends, are no mere casual affair. They’re like a full-time job with no pay but lots of drama. It’s not enough to be a fan; you must be a connoisseur, a scholar, and a social media guru. It’s a community that once served as a haven for the misunderstood but has now transformed into a breeding ground for toxicity. So, let’s embark on a perilous journey through the dark underbelly of fandoms.
In the article “Into the Fandom Abyss: Unveiling the Dark Side of Obsession”, we will be discussing the dangers of fandoms.
The good news is that not all fandoms are toxic wastelands. Some are warm, supportive enclaves where fans lift each other, collaborate, and share their adoration for their idols. But, alas, toxic fandoms are like the flip side of the coin – they scrutinize, criticize, and attack fellow fans, all in the name of proving their superior knowledge. “Oh, you didn’t know that obscure fact about our idol. You must be a casual, not a real fan!”
From the Barbs to the Swifties, fandoms are ruled by one crucial factor and that is teenagers. Adolescence is already a tumultuous rollercoaster, with hormones, identity crises, and a penchant for drama. You feel things ten times more, and you are passionate about everything.
Fandoms are no expectations. Fandoms only amplify these emotions, and the advent of social media allows celebrities to forge an illusion of personal connection with their fans. This blurred line between admiration and obsession giving birth to a new term: “stan.”
Siri, play “Stan” by Eminem.
You know you’ve crossed into creepy territory when you’re named after a character who went all Eminem on his pregnant girlfriend..
And let’s not forget the ferocious defence squads these fandoms form. Take the Netflix show “Ginny & Georgia,” for instance. Netflix has been notorious for having a very bad out-of-touch writing style. The writers made the grave mistake of making a tired joke against one of the biggest pop stars of our generation, Taylor Swift.
The Swifties did not like that one.
Taylor herself took to Twitter to vent her ire. What ensued was a barrage of hateful messages to the actors, some of which dipped into racist territory. It’s almost like these fans are defending their blood relatives, not celebrities.
Enter “Swarm,” birthed from the minds of Janine Nabers and Donald Glover, is an American satirical psychological thriller that focuses on Andrea “Dre” Greene who is obsessed with a pop start Ni’Jah. The limited series takes a deep dive into the unhealthy obsession, and we see just how far she will go to support her favourite singer. Ni’Jah’s aesthetic and style are very similar to Queen Bey herself; Beyoncé, and it’s no coincidence. The show’s fictional fan base is known as “The Swarm”, which is parallel to Beyoncé’s “Bey Hive”. The show highlights the darkest parts of fandom, all the while showing us the dangers of idolizing celebrities or people in power.
There are three ingredients for the making of a toxic fandom:
- Possessiveness
- Believing that they own the content, they will see the thing or person as their territory or property, and that others do not deserve to “have” it.
- Entitlement
- This goes together with possessiveness. For now, they believe that the creators must do whatever they demand. A great example of this is the lack of music that is coming from Normani (no shade of course…maybe). Her fans have been demanding and questioning where her debut album is, and if it doesn’t get released soon the singer may lose her fans. There could be multiple factors as to why the album hasn’t been released yet, but that doesn’t matter to die-hard fans.
- Feelings of Superiority
- Toxic fans will feel a sense of superiority towards other fans, especially if the other fan is new. Calling non-fans “normies” and having a derogatory fan-speak makes them feel like they are part of an elite club.
But here’s where it gets tricky. The vocal minority of the fandom can become the very poison that taints the whole community. Toxic is the word that describes this subgroup, for they poison the very soil that the fandom grows in. A great example is the fans of Star Wars, millions write fanfiction, create art, and contribute to updating Wookiepedia. Millions contribute to the fan community, but it’s the smaller, more vociferous faction that catches the creators’ attention. And that’s when pandering to a toxic fanbase begins, casting a shadow over the fandom’s true essence.
But let’s not jump to conclusions – we’re not calling for the demise of all fandoms. They do serve a purpose, often shining a light on critical details that studios and creators might otherwise overlook. For instance, Hollywood’s notorious penchant for whitewashing wouldn’t be as apparent without the vigilant eyes of fandoms.
However, the time has come to stop pandering to the loudest voices and treating fan desires as a shield for poor creative decisions. Fandoms should be celebrated for their contributions but not coddled when they veer into toxic territory. It’s time to strike a balance, preserve the essence of fan communities, and save pop culture from drowning in a sea of toxicity.
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