No matter how the generations change, people may always be the fan of someone or something. With globalization, people have more opportunities to get in touch with other cultures, such as comics and films, through social media. They may show passion or interest in a particular culture and become fans of it. Attracting by the same culture, some fans set up a group to provide a platform to communicate with the fans from other places. The group will become a fandom in which the fans have spent a lot of energy and time to study the culture over time.
Why do you become a fan of it?
For me, I am a fan of anime. When I watched my first anime, the anime's background setting and the character attracted me. In the anime world, it seems that nothing is impossible, and the dream must come true at last. Those fantastic background settings may attract people because it makes audiences feel like they live in a new world and experience others' lives, totally different from the reality. Apart from the setting, the character's personality also is one of the attractions. Most of the animes' main characters are optimistic and encouraging. Watching the characters solve every difficulty with an upbeat attitude has given positive energy and motivation to the audience. Attracted by those elements, I became an anime fan.
Healing? or Hurting?
To acquire more anime information, I followed the anime forum and shared some opinions with others sometimes. Since I followed the platform, I feel that I am no longer an individual and become a part of the fandom. Aren't you glad to have someone share a common language with you and discover some details or Easter egg of the animation together?
However, when you become a part of the fandom, you may feel that you are deindividuated about losing your own opinion and moral value. For example, I saw a post about raising the problem of animation that we are fascinated by. It has received many negative comments from the fandom, and the fanatics verbally abused the writer. Even though the post has raised reasonable points, the fandom or fanatics still leaves negative comments and continues personal hominem attacks until the writer apologizes. Some fans know that humiliating someone instead of making a rational response to the post is wrong. However, this situation still exists because they could not tolerate people commenting on any “negative” comment to the animation they were fascinated with. Fascinating an anime that aims to spread positive energy to audiences and share opinions with people who have the same interest should be good. But when the fandom abuses someone for “protecting” the anime, things become inadvisable and invidious. I quitted the fandom at last and joined another fandom in which the members are more rational.
Even if we are in a group where we have the same interest, we still should have our independent thinking and not abuse someone to “protect” our favorite.
I am a fan of anime as well ! I agree that being in the fandom community allows me to share and exchange ideas with other fans, which is very interesting and fun. I also find it rewarding if others agree on my points and the analysis of the characters. On the other hand, the fandom community may be “toxic” sometimes ( for example arguing which character is the best / posting negative comments on others’ bias) therefore it is also important to strike a balance ;)