Fannish entitlement
From Fan History Wiki
Fannish entitlement generally refers to what happens when a fan (or group of fans) go beyond enjoying a source product, as produced, to demanding that that source product be produced to their specific wishes. It can also refer to fans' sense of entitlement from other fans in how the produced and share their fanworks.
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[edit] Historical Definitions
This section needs more information.
[edit] History
One of the ongoing discussions in 1990 on-line was fan rights and fan ownership. By this period, a number of Star Trek fen felt that if it were not for them, Star Trek was dead and that the attempts on the part of Paramount to crack down on some fannish activities. These activities included fanzine production and the distribution of fan fiction and fan art.
In May 2007, there was discussion in comics fandom over whether female comics fans were being unduly accused of fannish entitlement, in criticizing certain stereotypical elements of the source materials.[1]
In April 2009, this fannish entitlement essay was linked on Metafandom.[2]
In September 2009, the definition of fannish entitlement was being discussed and if it had been changing. cupidsbow said:
- Looking at all of this, you know what I'm starting to think? That whatever "fannish entitlement" originally meant, it has become a phrase like "think of the children".
- Yes, we can use it self-deprecatingly, as [info]seperis does, but when it's used in a debate, it seems to me it's usually used as a smack-down, a show-stopper, a policing action. To combat it, fans often end up saying (perfectly reasonable) things like: "No, I'm not just pissed off that Ianto Jones died; I'm pissed off that he was Fridged." Or, "This isn't about my personal taste; it's about writing grown men as though they are stereotypical women, which is misogynist as well as contextually unbelievable."
- What I'm wondering is: why do those opinions need to be justified with srs bzns??? I'm not arguing that there's anything wrong with serious debate, but why can't fans hold strong, emotional opinions without an accusation of entitlement (or hysteria, or whatever othering word is in vogue today) being made?[3]
[edit] Examples
[edit] Fan vs. fan entitlement
- "Fiction must be free" - Some fans have argued against purchasing fanzines or paying for subscriptions to archives such as RockFic, feeling that they have the right to read whatever fan-fiction they want for "free" on the internet.
[edit] Fan vs. source entitlement
In Spring 2009, some Supernatural fans (who appeared to be diehard shippers of J2) expressed outrage that one of the show's actors appeared at a signing event with his girlfriend. This was seen as a reaction of entitlement because the fans did not want the actor's girlfriend to interfere with their support of a Jared/Jensen relationship.[4]
[edit] External links
- You keep using that term, "fannish entitlement." I do not think it means what you think it means.: nenena on May 22, 2007
- Fan entitlement, my ass.: author-by-night on December 20, 2007
- "Let me show you my fannish entitlement" by cupidsbow: cupidsbow on September 4, 2009
[edit] See also
This section needs more information.
