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Here's a roundup of stories on sports fandom that might be of interest to fans:

Jane Dough cited a study on football viewership that revealed "Women, actually, love watching football. More than they like Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, and American Idol. So pipe down, imaginary husbands and whiny beer commercials. Sunday Night Football is the third most popular primetime show among adult women." These current numbers demonstrate a continuity from the fandom's early days discussed in Football Girl. "Similar to the matinee girl, the football girl was a common subject of male journalistic curiosity. That someone of the "fairer sex" (gender stereotypes of women as emotional, overly-sensitive, and nurturing were alive and well in the 1900s) would be interested in watching a competitive match involving "brute" physical force was both titillating and confounding for many male writers."

Sadly not much has changed in sports media depictions. Baseball Nation took the show MLB Fan Cave to task on its treatment of women. "In the last few years, many media outlets have reported that women now comprise 45-47 percent of all baseball fans, making it the most gender-balanced of the four main professional sports." Yet the women who do appear on the show are there primarily for gratuitous appeal to male viewers. "The 2011 version of the Fan Cave offered nothing for the score-keeping, numbers-crunching, roster-watching woman fan. Well, if you don't count insults to her baseball intelligence."

The Baltimore Sports Report wrote about the personal connections in sports merchandise. "This holiday season, I am sure anyone reading this will probably wind up getting a sports-related gift of some kind, but I encourage you to consider it more than an overpriced logo or even a way to show off your team. It is a reflection of where you are in life, what you care about, and what you value. I was a UVa fan because of what I thought they represented (way in the past now, mind you), and my Dad went nuts for that jersey not just because he loved the Ravens but because he felt a meaningful and permanent connection with the city of Baltimore."

Meanwhile, the Baltimore Sun reported on baseball fan get-togethers which included everything from conversation and trivia games to guest lecturers. "He and his fellow conversationalists are looking forward to the next "Talkin' Baseball" on Jan. 14, when Maryland author Bob Luke is scheduled to discuss his latest book, "The Most Famous Woman in Baseball: Effa Manley and the Negro Leagues."" Manley is "the first (and still only) woman admitted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. Her story is one of a million threads in the fabric of baseball, which people such as Paulson see as a game but always, in addition, something bigger. "You never run out of things to talk about," he says."

If you take part in a sports fandom, why not contribute to Fanlore? Additions are welcome from all fans.

We want your suggestions! If you know of an essay, video, article, event, or link you think we should know about, comment on the most recent Links Roundup — on transformativeworks.org, LJ, or DW — or give @OTW_News a shoutout on Twitter. Links are welcome in all languages!

Submitting a link doesn't guarantee that it will be included in a roundup post, and inclusion of a link doesn't mean that it is endorsed by the OTW. Mirrored from an original post on the OTW blog. Find related news by viewing our tag cloud.

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Here's a roundup of stories on female fandom that might be of interest to fans:

FemPop claimed that Women Geeks Rule. "Male geeks are the “real geeks” right? The rare female geek who share [sic] the same interest is a girl geek first and a geek second. But according to this infographic male geeks and the fandoms they are most commonly associated with are in the minority. Between them Harry Potter and Twilight fandoms have more than 51 million fans on Facebook. That’s six times as many fans as Doctor Who, Pokemon, Star Wars and Star Trek combined. By sheer numbers female dominated fandoms rule the earth." The MarySue also pulled out some evidence when pointing out that men and women were equally interested in genre films. "Perhaps Hollywood will see this and realize they don’t need to subscribe to the school of thought that men and women like opposite things."

FemPop was certainly right in suggesting that men are the ones thought of when it comes to fandom, by both the media and the men themselves. In his first column for NextMovie.com the author of "Planet Fanboy" wrote "And lest you think you lack the cred to attain true geek glory, I'm here to inform you that all are welcome. Seriously, the more we let in the club, the more likely someone is to introduce us to their sister." Apparently sisters themselves could not possibly be part of the audience. Similarly, while Unleash the Fanboy (as opposed to just Fan) hosted a column about girl geek myths they also managed to be derogatory about older women in a column about fandom knitting. "At one time in our lives, knitters were the most despised people in the world. Mostly comprised of grandmothers and other matronly figures, they would force us to adorn ourselves in ridiculously embarrassing attire that their hands had diabolically fashioned."

By contrast, The Fangirl Next Door created a podcast on women who are part of the Star Wars franchise adding, "I must make a point to mention that you do not have to be a Star Wars fan for this podcast to hit home. This particular episode is all about empowerment."

If you take part in Star Wars or any other fandom, why not contribute to Fanlore? Additions are welcome from all fans.

We want your suggestions! If you know of an essay, video, article, event, or link you think we should know about, comment on the most recent Links Roundup — on transformativeworks.org, LJ, or DW — or give @OTW_News a shoutout on Twitter. Links are welcome in all languages!

Submitting a link doesn't guarantee that it will be included in a roundup post, and inclusion of a link doesn't mean that it is endorsed by the OTW. Mirrored from an original post on the OTW blog. Find related news by viewing our tag cloud.

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In a week following widespread Internet protests against proposed legislation in the U.S., there is an effort going on internationally to protest the potential effects of ACTA. The OTW is concerned about this treaty which has potentially large implications but about which there has been very little information. "In October 2007, the United States, the European Community, Switzerland, and Japan simultaneously announced that they would negotiate a new intellectual property enforcement treaty the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement or ACTA. Australia, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Mexico, Jordan, Morocco, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Canada have joined the negotiations."

"The main problem with this treaty is that all the negociations are done secretly. Leaked documents show that one of the major goals of the treaty is to force signatory countries into implementing anti file-sharing policies under the form of three-strikes schemes and net filtering practices."

Tell your MEPs and government representatives you want more transparency before this is voted on. Here are some places where you can take action:

Help sign the Written Declaration about ACTA

Direct.Gov's UK petition

Whitehouse.Gov's US petition

E-petition (Deutsch)

Suggested guidelines for contacting representatives

Mirrored from an original post on the OTW blog. Find related news by viewing our tag cloud.

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Here's a roundup of stories on legal actions that might be of interest to fans:

Many fans who were not already aware of the proposed SOPA and PIPA bills in the U.S. legislature became aware of them along with much of the rest of the online community after last week's blackout day of protest in which numerous sites, including those of the OTW, either went dark or sported banners in opposition to the bills. Individual fans also blacked out their own sites or, like blogger Serena Wilken at the Huffington Post, wrote about how fandom might suffer if this legislation was enacted.

Some fans have already been affected by anti-piracy efforts. The Wall Street Journal reported that "The Federal Bureau of Investigation shut down Thursday one of the world's most popular file-sharing websites, MegaUpload.com, and announced the arrest of four of the people behind it in a global crackdown against the suspected online pirates." Online locker services are heavily used by fans engaged in transformative works such as podfic recordings, music videos, collections of artwork, or even single story fan fiction downloads intended for eReaders. The sites targeted by local law enforcement were located in various countries, a demonstration of the international scope of U.S. enforcement efforts.

Unfortunately, government actions against "piracy" are only part of how fandom may be impacted by legal activity. In a disappointing ruling on January 18, the same day as the Internet blackouts, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that works in the public domain could be put back under copyright. While the change is intended in part to standardize international copyrights, and thus equalize the standing of foreign creators under U.S. law, this change will also affect numerous artists, musicians and other creators utilizing works previously in the public domain.

If you are concerned about copyright or use file sharing services, why not contribute your experiences to Fanlore? Additions are welcome from all fans.

We want your suggestions! If you know of an essay, video, article, event, or link you think we should know about, comment on the most recent Links Roundup — on transformativeworks.org, LJ, or DW — or give @OTW_News a shoutout on Twitter. Links are welcome in all languages!

Submitting a link doesn't guarantee that it will be included in a roundup post, and inclusion of a link doesn't mean that it is endorsed by the OTW. Mirrored from an original post on the OTW blog. Find related news by viewing our tag cloud.

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Here's a roundup of stories on the attention paid to fandom that might be of interest to fans:

The creators of Jersey Shore are turning their attention to fans, sending out a casting call for a new unscripted show. "According to a press release, the new reality show “is going to profile eight people obsessed with the sci-fi culture in some shape or form.”" In the meantime, another series has already launched focused on toy collectors. "Toy Hunters" recently premiered on the Travel Channel. Its host noted ""I have a real love affair with pop culture, nostalgia and vintage toys," he says, rattling off a series of prized toys he's had that includes everything from GI Joe figurines to Star Wars replica X-Wings. The stigma behind the fanboy identity is waning, Hembrough maintains."

While not a show about fans, the TV series Portlandia filmed episodes having to do "with fans of silent expressionist horror classic The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and of Ronald Moore’s supermodels-in-space reboot of Battlestar Galactica." Producer Carrie Brownstein claimed writing about BSG turned her into a fan. "“For film and television, it’s interesting how fans feel that their particular ways of manifesting their affections are the correct ones,” Brownstein said. “It’s not just about being a fan, it’s about how you perform your fandom. That’s always been interesting to me.”"

Many publishers, producers, and news sites host fan fiction contests these days as a way of promoting the canon product, usually with tight restrictions on form and content. Explanation site Ehow suggests other ways to get one's fan fiction read. While they begin with the sensible suggestion of "Choose a Popular Niche" they conclude with a less than helpful legal advisory: "Include a disclaimer at the end of your work that states that you do not intend to use the fan fiction for commercial purposes." They do raise the issue of fair use though they misunderstand how fair use works. "Fair use is a statutory exception that protects fan fiction as long as the fiction is not used for commercial purposes and doesn’t negatively affect the commercial success of the original work. The fiction must transform the creative work and add new things to it." (In fact, commercial uses can also be fair uses; consider a case like the novel The Wind Done Gone, which rewrites Gone With The Wind.)

If you write fan fiction, are part of Battlestar Galactica fandom, or have something to say about fandom and profit why not contribute your fandom experience to Fanlore? Additions are welcome from all fans.

We want your suggestions! If you know of an essay, video, article, event, or link you think we should know about, comment on the most recent Links Roundup — on transformativeworks.org, LJ, or DW — or give @OTW_News a shoutout on Twitter. Links are welcome in all languages!

Submitting a link doesn't guarantee that it will be included in a roundup post, and inclusion of a link doesn't mean that it is endorsed by the OTW. Mirrored from an original post on the OTW blog. Find related news by viewing our tag cloud.

lucyp

The internet has been abuzz recently with comments about the 'Stop Online Piracy Act' (SOPA) currently under debate in the US House of Representatives, and its counterpart the 'Protect IP Act' (PIPA) in the Senate. Organizations such as the EFF and the Library Copyright Alliance have raised concerns that the bills - which are ostensibly aimed at curbing 'rogue' foreign sites - have significant implications for the web internationally, and will work to curb free speech and online creativity.

Here at the OTW, we've been following developments since the bill was first mooted. SOPA has particular implications for sites which include user-generated content because of the broad language in the bill. This means that it has the potential to negatively affect many popular fansites - including the Archive of Our Own and Fanlore - if it is implemented in its current form.

Following protests from many groups, the Obama administration issued a statement which was seen by the New York Times as a significant blow to the proposed legislation. Nevertheless, the EFF argues that it still poses a significant threat.

In order to make sure that members of the US Senate and House of Representatives understand the problematic nature of the proposed legislation, many sites around the internet are taking part in an 'internet strike'. The OTW will be joining this day of action with a banner on the Archive of Our Own and a blackout on our main website, transformativeworks.org. If you are a US citizen, we urge you to contact your representatives and senators to let them know how you feel about these bills.

Mirrored from an original post on the OTW blog. Find related news by viewing our Tag Cloud.

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Here's a roundup of stories on fannish modification of canon that might be of interest to fans:

Electricpig posted about the best gaming hacks created by fans, comparing them to "fan-fiction: painstakingly crafted alternate stories, features and transformations born out of sheer love for the source material. In some cases they breed entirely new games in themselves."

While the gaming hacks are presented as something that create more fan interest in the original content, one journalist wonders if fansubs really do create a larger market for anime. "[M]any are arguing that it’s fans like me that are killing the industry. Just the fact that we watch— and therefore support— fansubs is enough." She then questions how both the entertainment industries and the journalism industry she is a part of are actually resisting marketplace demand rather than finding a way to satisfy it. "Things aren’t perfect in journalism. It’s significantly less profitable than it used to be, and it’s a lot harder to get work as a reporter...Maybe this means I should be more sympathetic to the anime industry. But from my standpoint, I don’t see a dying industry; I see a changing one."

In the case of E.L. James' new novel it is fans who are questioning fan actions. "[A] number of readers commented that the series, Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James, began as Twilight fan fiction. Some of the commenters went so far as to say there could be copyright infringement issues, because of the connection." James' publisher denied both claims of infringement and any real similarity to Twilight. "Twilight and Fifty Shades Trilogy are worlds apart, new readers are totally surprised it was ever a Twilight fan fiction story."

If you write or read fan fiction whether about Twilight, games, or anime, why not contribute your fandom experience to Fanlore? Additions are welcome from all fans.

We want your suggestions! If you know of an essay, video, article, event, or link you think we should know about, comment on the most recent Links Roundup — on transformativeworks.org, LJ, or DW — or give @OTW_News a shoutout on Twitter. Links are welcome in all languages!

Submitting a link doesn't guarantee that it will be included in a roundup post, and inclusion of a link doesn't mean that it is endorsed by the OTW. Mirrored from an original post on the OTW blog. Find related news by viewing our tag cloud.

otw_staff

Here's a roundup of stories on freedom of expression through fanfic that might be of interest to fans:

A presentation about stylometry discussed how the new tool Anonymouth could de-anonymize online users and serve as a challenge to "the balance of power between trolls and moderators, between dissidents and dictators, between employers and whistleblowers, between astroturfers and commenters, and between spammers and filters." However, something else was on the mind of some audience members: "a questioner asked whether Anonymouth's methods could be used by, say, fanfic authors to make their writing style match the author whose universe they're dabbling in" suggesting that the tool could be used to anonymize authors as well as reveal them.

AfterEllen looked instead at femslash when asking "Does lesbian subtext still matter?". Citing the period between Xena and Rizzoli & Isles, the author noted, "Both dynamic duos have produced fervent fandoms committed to creating alternate narratives in fan fiction and fan videos, as well scrutinizing every touch and word exchanged between the characters." These fictional worlds are still of great importance to people whose own worlds deny the existence reflected in fan fiction. "Subtext matters because it creates a virtual playground for lesbian fans to interact with each other on fan forums and Twitter and Tumblr and in the comments sections of the greatest lesbian entertainment website in the world. It matters because lesbians can use that subtext, that chemistry between two female characters, to create their own versions of the story. And it matters because subtext is a gateway drug for main text."

An article on the GayNewsNetwork had a similar take on the importance of slash. "Slash is about seeing the whole world through queer eyes. While most mainstream entertainment is still as straight as a lightsabre, slash allows anyone and everyone to be queer. For once, we can be the heroes." However, fan fiction is seen as welcoming more than queer desires. "There's a great tradition in fandom that admonishes kink shaming - that is to demean or label unacceptable something which another fan fetishizes. Dark desires from the crusty corners of your id are not only allowed a space but encouraged. In fandom, I have discovered kinks not only that I didn't know I had but that I didn't know even existed."

If you write or read fan fiction whether about Xena and Gabrielle, or Rizzoli & Isles, why not contribute your fandom experience to Fanlore? Additions are welcome from all fans.

We want your suggestions! If you know of an essay, video, article, event, or link you think we should know about, comment on the most recent Links Roundup — on transformativeworks.org, LJ, or DW — or give @OTW_News a shoutout on Twitter. Links are welcome in all languages!

Submitting a link doesn't guarantee that it will be included in a roundup post, and inclusion of a link doesn't mean that it is endorsed by the OTW. Mirrored from an original post on the OTW blog. Find related news by viewing our tag cloud.

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Here's a roundup of stories on the meaning of fandom that might be of interest to fans:

Indonesian filmmaker, Mouly Surya wants to explore the great influence from Japanese culture on Indonesia’s younger generation and is planning a movie titled Fandom Diary, which is itself inspired from Western "movies like ‘Almost Famous’ and also documentaries on The Beatles’ fans. There are so many things that we can explore about the differences between fandom in those days and now.” Her film will not be a documentary but "a dark comedy feature. It will highlight the different identities of many Indonesian teenagers, both online and offline" and will focus on involvement with "the J-Pop boy bands to comics and anime costume play."

A post on Muppet Central asked about the likelihood of fandom growth with new projects and speculates on the pluses and minuses of being "the world and internet's most under the radar fandom." While enjoying the reactions of the general public to Muppet fare, the poster writes "I have a feeling the majority of Muppet fans are NOT online, or at least arent on here or TP. Im hoping Disney finally does a Muppet fan weekend celebration to bring out all the closested Muppet nerds:) Still, would be cool to see more Muppet geeks out there at conventions that I go to or out and about...tho in a way, its kind of nice to have it more underground and have it still be kind of a cool secret you kind of have to discover."

While hardcore Muppet fans may be wanting some more company, at least one football fan celebrates the joys of being alone. "It used to be a given that my friends would meet up at someone’s house each week. And this year, only four out of 12 of us bothered to show up for our fantasy draft barbecue. The Bowling Alone effect isn’t just for participatory sports any more. In this age of fantasy football and DVR, rooting for your favorite team has become a pastime that’s best enjoyed by yourself, hunkered down in a fandom isolation chamber. We are now millions of audiences of one."

Whether you wish for a bigger fandom or more solitary pursuits, or wish your fandom was closer to home or farther away, why not contribute your fandom experience to Fanlore? Additions are welcome from all fans.

We want your suggestions! If you know of an essay, video, article, event, or link you think we should know about, comment on the most recent Links Roundup — on transformativeworks.org, LJ, or DW — or give @OTW_News a shoutout on Twitter. Links are welcome in all languages!

Submitting a link doesn't guarantee that it will be included in a roundup post, and inclusion of a link doesn't mean that it is endorsed by the OTW. Mirrored from an original post on the OTW blog. Find related news by viewing our tag cloud.

lucyp

We recently announced that from now on we will be posting minutes from Board meetings - we hope this will help people both inside and outside the organization get a flavour of what the Board gets up to and what we're currently working on.

Each meeting generally begins with an “open session” that is open to all OTW committee chairs. The second part of the meeting is a “closed session” that is open only to the Board. Closed sessions are used for discussing confidential matters such as legal or personnel issues (in the latter case, the minutes generally do not record the names of the personnel involved), while open sessions cover a wide variety of topics. Following each meeting, minutes are drafted by the Secretary and then approved by the other Board members.

We had our first Board meeting on 22nd December. This meeting was devoted to setting things in place for the Board's work in the new term, so we didn't have any open session topics. We talked about policies and communication for the new term, and appointed new officers (the folk who play a specific role within the Board to keep its work running smoothly).

Congratulations to our new officers! The people appointed are:

President: Kristen Murphy

Treasurer: Nikisha Sanders

Secretary: Jenny Scott-Thompson

Vice-Secretary: Julia Beck

Read the rest of the minutes for 22nd December here.

Thanks and congratulations to all the people who worked hard to make the 2011 term a success - we're looking forward to seeing even more great work in the new year.

Mirrored from an original post on the OTW blog. Find related news by viewing our tag cloud.

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Links roundup for 27 January 2012

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Stop ACTA

Links roundup for 23 January 2012

Links roundup for 20 January 2012

OTW Action on SOPA/PIPA

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Links roundup for 13 January 2012

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Latest from the Board: Board minutes 22 December 2011

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