Fandom: simple fun or a true investment?

[otw_staff]



Taking part in fandom is fun or we wouldn’t do it. But being an active member of a fandom – whether through making art, writing fic, sharing thoughts – is also an investment of time and energy. And it has value to us and others.



Time spent in fannish activities can be valuable to you – it can make us better at a craft, more able to analyze media and understand how franchises are developed and built. It can be incredibly valuable to the creators of books, TV shows, movies, etc, too – and is increasingly seen (and counted on) as a marketing tool.
And there’s social capital: connecting with fellow fans and artists, sometimes becoming an expert in a fandom or a superfan.

How do you invest yourself in fandom? What do you find it gives back to you?

I want my hobbies back, by Kiriamaya


The Economies of Fandom: Value, Investment and Invisible Price Tags by Saathi1013


How the Corporate World Targets Fandom


Comic-Con: has corporate marketing killed good, honest fandom?


Fan Culture: The Evolution of Influence