Fandom or Foe?
Oral Communication Practice
As long as we are putting things out into the world – a post on social media, a song cover, fan fiction, fan art – we are bound to receive feedback, whether praise or criticism. Creatives in the various industries are certainly no strangers to this and often bear the brunt of fandom disapproval. What are the kinds of feedback that are important to sharpen our work? What are the kinds we can do without? Watch the video and respond to the questions below.
1. How would you feel if you were one of the characters in the video?
2. Should fans have a say in the creative work of writers / singers / streamers / filmmakers?
Responses from around the world
Aamir Khan, 56, filmmaker and actor
on how feedback contributes to his work
“If someone is just making fun of me or attacking me for no reason, I don’t bother. If someone gives me criticism, which is constructive, I take it seriously because that’s where I am learning. As an actor and a creative person, it helps me learn and grow.”
Kate Gardner, cosplayer
on fan entitlement getting out of hand
“The only thing I would personally say that creators owe fans is to make their work not racist, sexist, or homophobic, and to not engage in toxic behaviour. Representation is the only thing fandoms are owed, because it’s a fairly moral imperative at this point in time.
Henry Jenkins, 62, professor of communication, journalism and cinema
on fans feeling that they, in part, own the stories told in shows/books
“We use stories to make sense of who we are. We use stories to debate our values, fears, and aspirations… There’s nothing odd about [fans feeling a sense of ownership]. What is odd is the idea that corporations want to claim a monopoly over the storytelling process, resist input from their audience… fandom is as much part of the solution as it is part of the problem.”
