Fandom Snowflake Challenge: Day 4

[rogueslayer452]

In your own space, create a fannish wishlist. No limits on size or type of fanwork; just tell us what you’d like to see.

This is one of those things where I actually debated answering since I'm kind of like "I don't want to be a bother" because, while I do have many things I wish to see among fandom, I also don't want to seem too demanding or selfish or anything like that. But since this is a challenge, I figured that I should just list the few things I wish to see more of in fandom no matter how attainable or not it is.

My Fannish Wishlist

** More fandom friending memes. One of the best things about fandom is making friends with similar fannish interests, but sadly it seems that friending memes designed specifically for fandom have either dwindled or taken over by non-fandom people which makes it harder to find more individuals to get to know over squeeing about fannish things. I know that the fandom side of LJ has quieted down significantly over recent years, but there are still a lot of fandom people out there and we kind of need more fandom-specific friending memes to find each other.

** Fandom discussions. I love talking about a fandom that I have either recently discovered or revisited, and while individual fandom communities are few and far between that doesn't mean we can't stop having discussions in our own journals. Whether it's just for your flist or inviting other people for a mere discussion, I just want more conversation happening on the fandom end of things. I miss connecting with people that way, of having endless comment threads squeeing and sharing that excitement of talking about mutual fannish interests.

** More fandom icons with varying styles and techniques. I am not an iconmaker so this may seem a bit demanding on my end, but one of the things I've noticed in recent years is how fandom icons in general have basically become more or less one type of style. Back when fandom dominated the LJ space there were a bunch of iconmakers who had a lot of variety of styles in creating their icons, all which evolved overtime but still there was a variety to choose from. These days, I feel like there's a limited amount mostly due to how many fandom iconmakers are still active here. I know that beggars can't be choosers and I feel horrible for even asking this, but I personally would prefer more similar icons like the one I am currently using or most what you see in my userpics; cropping especially of close-up shots, focusing on negative space, lighting/coloring and sharpening of an image, etc. Again, I am not an iconmaker (though I wish, I really want to make icons for myself but idek how or where to start) and I deeply appreciate and applaud the amount of talent and hard work those who do make icons, I just wish there was more variety instead of what I've been seeing lately, that's all.

** More icon requests for iconmakers. Self-explanatory.

** And to coincide with that, icons of the following characters/fandoms: Percival Graves (Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them), Two and Five (Dark Matter), Wynonna Earp (Wynonna Earp), Daisy Johnson (Agents of SHIELD), Faith Lehane (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Max Guevara (Dark Angel), Six, Athena, Boomer, and Kendra Shaw (Battlestar Galactica), Zoe Graystone, Lacey Rand, and Tamara Adama (Caprica), Draco Malfoy (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows), Julie Mao, Drummer and Bobbie Draper (The Expanse); Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Legend of the Seeker. These are just on the top of my head, since you know I have so many fandoms, past and present, and ever since Photobucket decided to do what it did, finding icons for them has become extremely difficult and near impossible these days. Also, I am awkward when it comes to approaching the existing iconmakers out there requesting for things.

** Percival Graves genfic. I love reading headcanons that fandom has come up with for his character, I have made some myself. But when it comes to fanfiction there are so few out that focus entirely on his character without any shipping elements. I would love more fanfic exploring his character, him dealing with the aftermath of everything, and just kind of going in the route of the headcanons I've seen but more in depth.

Comments

[maybe.livejournal.com]

I really miss fandom friending memes too, I tried to host one late last year and hardly anyone participated, so I ended up deleting it after a couple of weeks. And you're right that any other friending memes that go on non fandom people have taken over so I don't even participate.

I feel like fandom has also devolved into constant sniping at each other over likes or dislikes instead of mutual appreciation for things. I see it so much where if you like this character or that ship you are a terrible person.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

And you're right that any other friending memes that go on non fandom people have taken over so I don't even participate.

It makes me sad but also frustrated since I see people on those memes who share the same likes in shows and movies and such and I'm about to get excited when they suddenly go, "I don't do fandom" or any other variant of that statement. It's like, then why are you on a fandom-centric friending meme, a place where fandom people are trying to meet other fandom people? It makes no sense to me. I feel like multi-fandom friending memes should be circulated more among fannish circles, even if you aren't participating, just so more people can find other fandom people to befriend.

I feel like fandom has also devolved into constant sniping at each other over likes or dislikes instead of mutual appreciation for things. I see it so much where if you like this character or that ship you are a terrible person.

I know what you mean. Though I find that is more on places like Tumblr that are overly negative and spread that kind of harmful mentality. LJ, DW and some other fannish places thankfully appear to be more more rational these days.

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

, then why are you on a fandom-centric friending meme, a place where fandom people are trying to meet other fandom people?

I think it's because they don't really get fandom. They don't realize that fandom types are looking for people who actively talk about a common interest. And I mean, I don't regret making these friends at all, I'm GLAD I did. Very glad. I just realize from our conversations that non-fandom people don't always get the pull of a fandom, so I can understand why they'd participate if they didn't really see the relevance.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've noticed that too. Also, perhaps it's because I've been part of fandom for so long, but I don't view fandom as a singular thing as they probably do. There are particular fandoms for specific things, there's the general fandom, the fandom experience of participating in challenges and things like that, or just having your own space to talk about the things you like and finding other like-minded people who do the same. For me, fandom is a sense of belonging where it's about connecting with others who share the same excitement about similar fannish interests as you. It's not always about being an active participant in a very specific way, but just the overall sense of belonging to a community of like-minded people and celebrating that in various ways. So yeah, there's definitely a disconnect with non-fandom people not understanding the fannish community in that sense.

But even so, it still baffles me why they would even participate in fandom-specific memes if they're not at all invested or interested in fandom. That's like me going to a friending meme specifically made for sports fans and declaring that I'm not a sports person. I don't do that because I know it's not my place.

(Also, to clarify, I'm not saying that they can't find new friends on these memes, they absolutely can! It's just acknowledging the type of friending meme you're on and questioning whether or not this pertains to you specifically. Find new friends, just stay in your lane while doing so.)

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

You know what, I think I remember that. If I'm remembering correctly, it was a really good meme, too!


I feel like fandom has also devolved into constant sniping at each other over likes or dislikes instead of mutual appreciation for things. I see it so much where if you like this character or that ship you are a terrible person.

I think it was always there, but it seems to be worse in certain places. I was in the Harry Potter fandom when it was actually active, and my ship (Ron/Hermione) generally tended to be associated with elitist fans. Admittedly... there were Ron/Hermione shippers who seemingly proved their point. But it wasn't like we were the only wanky people in fandom. However, I think it's grown beyond that on tumblr, and maybe elsewhere?