The paper includes two parts:
- First Paragraph
After reading the articles, find one example of in a news article, broadcast, etc. and describe here how it exemplifies the kind of fan pathologization Jensen and Jenkins talk about. Please link to the media in your essay.
Readings:
- Jensen, “Fandom as Pathology”
- Jenkins, “’Get a Life!’: Fans, Poachers, Nomads”
- Second Paragraph
Provide some comments for the following essay.
The Worst Fandoms (https://www.wired.com/story/10-most-toxic-fandoms/)
This article ranks various fan groups for being the worst fanbase. Although they preface the article stating that a fandom is a “pure and precious thing” and one should not feel ashamed for being in the fandom they are in, they start off the article by generalizing fans as peevish, while also using words with negative connotations such as obsessive, petty, entitled, conspiratorial, and even abusive. So although they start the article using these words to generalize fans as weird and rude, they immediately try and take it back by saying it is okay to like what you like and this only applies to some people in the group, so then why make these generalizations in the first place? As a hook for readers to read the article? This insinuation still can reinforce the idea of fans as being abnormal even if you decide to take it back as it is already there, laid out for people, and is the first thing they read from the article. This article does point out valid arguments and criticisms to how fandoms can become toxic or participate in bad behavior that should not be tolerated.
