King Charming and Fandom Introspection

[impala_chick]

Swagger published a new article about Bradley James. It notes that the interview was done via Zoom, but obviously a team was used to get these gorgeous photographs. The set and the styling are just top tier!!! so I'm honestly not going to overthink this. ETA the shoot was in LA in March, before the COVID lockdown.



He also appeared as a guest on the fan podcast Destiny and Chicken. I always have such mixed reactions to fan interviews. On the one hand, I'm so thrilled that an actor is humble enough to interact with "normal" people. On the other hand, it feels like I'm a bad fan somehow? Like I didn't put myself out there enough? These two podcasters have been fans for a long time, but the show started in August of 2019. How did they get so famous so quickly? Or at least famous enough to get to talk with Bradley James for two hours?

But then I feel guilty about thinking that, because I obviously want to be supportive of fan products and people who create that type of content - because fandom is absolutely an escape for me. I'm still of the mind that fandom should stay secret, to an extent? Not that I feel guilty about being a fan, but fandom is something too personal to be shared with someone who doesn't get it. And I'm weirded out by people who get famous because of the fan products they make - because I feel like those people are creating very bland, very "mainstream" works that garner a lot of attention without delving into the reasons I like fandom in the first place: i.e. the way we can freely talk about sexuality and gender issues in fanworks.

In other news, I finished season three of Schitt's Creek ♥ I like every single one of these characters, which is so rare for a TV show. Also, the found/actual family feels get to me. This is my feel-good show of COVID 20. So thankful it's on Netflix.

Comments

[nyctanthes]

those people are creating very bland, very "mainstream" works that garner a lot of attention without delving into the reasons I like fandom in the first place

I think about this. For example, I read occasionally the transcripts of the Fansplaining podcast. I enjoy it, but it's often tempered with a sense of: Hmmm....why so many generalizations about fandom? Why does everything have to be reduced to the LCD of what fandom 'is'? It inevitably leads to me feeling that I am not part of this fandom experience they're talking about.

Trying to talk about a sprawling culture which is made up of a great many subcultures, many of which the podcasters/writers/etc. aren't part of, is a tough endeavor. And now that you bring it up, it does make me wonder who this content is aimed at.

Hmmm....

Also, I should finish up Schitt's Creek. I love Moira and Alexis. And the Rose marriage is one of the great ones.

[impala_chick]

Trying to talk about a sprawling culture which is made up of a great many subcultures
That's a good way to put it. It's hard to just classify fandom was this one mono-lithic thing, which is probably why it feels wrong when people try to do that.

it does make me wonder who this content is aimed at.
Yeah, I was specifically thinking of all the "fan" podcasts and fan art popping up - with all the commercials/ads on Tumblr or Insta posts + links to everyone's patreon everywhere. But there are some writers who do this too. It's like it's more about popularity and making $, which is why it feels weird to me. Of course, that isn't every fan creator, but I do get salty when I see a lot of advertising.

It's such a dependable show, and that has a lot to do with how wonderful the Rose Marriage is, I agree.

[vivarocksteady]

I completely agree with you about the fandom stuff. I'm not familiar with this actor or the podcast, but "fan podcasts" are absolutely boring to me. It's basically just people discussing the show, right? Fair enough, but I don't really consider that an actual fan product. To me, fandom is more transformative, or at least immersive, like doing cosplay. Of course a podcaster can be the biggest fan in the world, and making a podcast is VERY different than just discussing the show on a forum or with friends. But it's not how I define fandom or a "fanwork."

I also feel like fandom should be secret, lol. At least somewhat. At least the way I do! That's how I'm comfortable with it. I don't really care about mainstream readings of things. Maybe it would be more appropriate to call those fans who get famous "reviewers," unless they're being unfailingly positive.

In any case, definitely don't feel bad about yourself for not "putting yourself out there as a fan." The idea of the actors of a show becoming aware of my fanfiction and talking to me about it is so stressful even thinking about the hypothetical makes me want to tear out my hair lmao.

[impala_chick]

That's a good way to put it, because fandom podcasts certainly don't feel like "fanwork." It's funny because I love to have conversations with other fans about shows/movies/books I like, but just listening to other people talk generically about a show is just so bleh.

I also feel like fandom should be secret, lol. At least somewhat.
Same! It feels so wrong/bad when I see platforms promoting "fan" content. And I'm like - that network/website/youtube video is using your work for their own profit!

Thanks for this thoughtful comment, definitely made me feel a little better :)