In the digital age, it is not hard to find a fan of any given show or movie. This easy accessibility has led to the rise of “fandom” as a way of networking and sharing information about one’s favorite entertainments.
There is no doubt that fandom is a blog, in the sense that it is an online space where fans can share their thoughts, observations and photos about their favorite shows and movies. But is fandom a blog in the same way that other blogs are?.
There are a few key differences between fandom and other blogs. For one, fan communities tend to be more engaged with their content than regular blogs. Fandom members often post lengthy discussions and analysis of their favorite shows and movies, which can often be found on dedicated forums and message boards.
Additionally, fan communities often have elaborate iconography and symbolism associated with them, which can be seen in fanart, cosplay and other creative expressions. In some ways, then, fandom can be seen as an elaborately-crafted blog with a strong community engagement component.
But despite these similarities, there are some key differences that make fandom more akin to traditional media outlets such as newspapers or magazines. For example, fan communities typically operate as closed networks where members are typically limited to those who share similar interests. This restricts the amount of information that can be shared openly within the community, which may lead to less open discussion than found on dedicated blogs.
And finally, while fan communities are often engaged in conversation about their content, they are not always interested in engaging with other forms of media such as films or television shows. In this sense, fandom can be seen as more concerned with consuming content than creating it.
All things considered, then, it would seem that while fandom is definitely a blog in the sense that it is an online space where fans can share their thoughts and observations about their favorite entertainments, there are some key distinctions that make it more akin to traditional media outlets such as newspapers or magazines.